Question & Answer: Somerset Inc. has finished a new video game, Snowboard Challenge. Management is now considering…..

9-3 Break-even analysis Somerset Inc. has finished a new video game, Snowboard Challenge. Management is now considering its marketing strategies. The following information is available Anticipated sales price per unit . .. .. . $80 $35 . .. . . . . . .. Anticipated volume 1,000,000 units $20,000,000 $15,000,000 *The cost of the video game, packaging, and copying costs 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 thats the wrong way to go. Youre 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 dont think thats reasonable. Well never cover the increased advertising costs. Which strategy is best: Do nothing? Follow the advice of Thomas Seymour? Or follow James Hamiltons strategy?Support your anwer with actual accounting analysis.

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
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