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Somerset Inc. has finished a new video game, Snowboard Challenge. Management is now considering its marketing strategies. The following information is available: Two managers, James Hamilton and Thomas Seymour, had the following discussion of ways to increase the profitability of this new offering: James: I think we need to think of some way to increase our profitability. Do you have any ideas? Thomas: Well, I think the best strategy would be to become aggressive on price. James: How aggressive? Thomas: If we drop the price to $60 per unit and maintain our advertising budget at $15,000,000, I think we will generate total sales of 2,000,000 units. James: I think that’s the wrong way to go. You’re giving too much up on price. Instead, I think we need to follow an aggressive advertising strategy. Thomas: How aggressive? James: If we increase our advertising to a total of $25,000,000, we should be able to increase sales volume to 1,400,000 units without any change in price. Thomas: I don’t think that’s reasonable. We’ll never cover the increased advertising costs. Which strategy is best: Do nothing? Follow the advice of Thomas Seymour? Or follow James Hamilton’s strategy?
Expert Answer
Current | Thomas’s strategy | James’ s strategy | |||
Units sales | 1000000 | 2000000 | 1400000 | ||
Sales price | 80 | 60 | 80 | ||
Sales revenue | 80000000 | 120000000 | 112000000 | ||
Variable costs | 35000000 | 70000000 | 49000000 | ||
Contribution margin | 45000000 | 50000000 | 63000000 | ||
Fixed costs: | |||||
Production costs | 20000000 | 20000000 | 20000000 | ||
Anticipated advertising | 15000000 | 15000000 | 25000000 | ||
Total fixed costs | 35000000 | 35000000 | 45000000 | ||
Net operating income | 10000000 | 15000000 | 18000000 | ||
James Hamilton strategy should be followed as it has highest net operating income |