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How do the added costs to produce BK’s new lower-calorie fries affect the fry breakeven point?

Burger King has launched a new kind of French fries called “Satisfries.” These new fries are made with a batter that is less porous and absorbs less oil than Burger King’s regular fries, resulting in 20 per cent fewer calories in Satisfries than regular fries.  Satisfries contain 340 calories versus 410 calories in regular fries. Consumers […]

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What is the gross margin on the Apple iPhone 5S and 5C?

According to the GottaBe Mobile website in September 2013, the Apple iPhone 5S with 16 GB memory sells off-contract for $649, while the iPhone 5C with 16 GB memory sells off-contract for $549.  The same phones with 32 GB memory sell off-contract for $749 and $649. According to Bloomberg Businessweek and IHS iSuppli, the iPhone […]

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What are the costs and ethics involved in a recall of surge protectors?

In October 2013, Schneider Electric recalled 15 million of its SurgeArrest surge protectors.  The models recalled were the series APC 7 and APC 8 (manufactured before 2003.) The company warned at that time that the surge protectors could overheat, smoke, and start a fire.  These surge protectors were manufactured before 2003; between the date of […]

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Meet more students in your large classes by offering a “Get Out of Jail Free” opportunity

My classes are generally pretty large, with anywhere from 100 to 250 students enrolled in a particular section.  It is too easy to go through the entire semester without getting to know too many names – that is a lot of students!  In many ways, I miss the days of having smaller sections where I […]

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How will the increasing cost of chocolate impact Hershey’s variances?

The price of chocolate had been predicted to increase rapidly beginning in late 2013 and continue into 2014, according to the Wall Street Journal.  The price increase is due to multiple factors, including a shortage of cocoa beans and an increase in demand by consumers. Although the demand for all chocolate has been increasing, consumer […]

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Student handout: Four steps to determine what to debit or credit

Here is a handy list of questions to help guide students through the thought process involved with determining what to debit or credit in a given transaction.  (I also have this list in pdf format for handout purposes.) Step 1:  Pick ONE account that is affected by this transaction Step 2:  Is this account you […]

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What assumptions go into preparing a budget for a New York Fashion Week show?

In a recent news article in Business Insider, estimates of the various costs associated with putting on a show during New York Fashion Week were listed. These cost estimates are listed below: Rent $0 to $100,000 Hair and makeup: $0 to $100,000 Stylist: $5,000 to $20,000 Public relations: $10,000 to $20,000 Models: $0 to $200,000 […]

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What do the dates mean in the press release for Pier 1’s quarterly cash dividend announcement?

Pier 1 declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per common share on September 27, 2013. The press release read: “Sep. 27, 2013– Pier 1 Imports, Inc. (NYSE:PIR) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a $0.05 per share quarterly cash dividend on the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock. The $0.05 quarterly cash dividend will be paid on November 6, […]

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What does the two-for-one stock split at Tractor Supply mean for shareholders?

The Tractor Supply Company (TSCO) declared a two-for-one stock split of its common stock on August 29, 2013. The following news release appeared in PR Newswire in 2013: “BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Aug. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO), the largest retail farm and ranch store chain in the United States, today announced that its Board of Directors […]

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How much does it cost to make a soda with a SodaStream system?

SodaStream is a system that consumers can use to make their own soda and seltzer water.  The SodaStream machine allows the consumer to carbonate water combined with flavored syrup (“SodaMix”) to make soda in a variety of flavors.  Consumers can also carbonate plain water to make seltzer water. SodaStream has been experiencing strong sales growth […]

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