Mikey W. Smitty, an emerging rapper, is getting ready to cut his first CD, called “Western Rap.” The cost of recording the CD is $5000 but copies are $5 apiece. If the CDs can be sold for $15 each, how many CDs must be sold to break even? What is the breakeven point in dollars?
Patricia Zell, a dollmaker from Olney, Maryland, is interested in the mass marketing and production of a ceramic doll of her own design called Tiny Trisha. The initial investment required for plant and equipment is estimated at $25,000. Labor and material costs are approximately $10 per doll. If the dolls can be sold for $50 each, what volume of demand is necessary for the Tiny Trisha doll to break even?
Although it will fulfill her lifelong dream, Patricia is not confident that demand for her Tiny Trisha doll will exceed the breakeven point computed in Problem 6-5. If she chooses a less appealing site and does more of the work by hand, her initial investment cost can be reduced to $5000, but her per-unit cost of manufacture will rise to $15 per doll.
a. What is the breakeven point for the new process?
b. Compare this process to the process proposed in the previous problem. For what volume of demand should Patricia choose this process?