COST BASED PRICING, TARGET PRICING
Carina Franks operates a catering company in Austin, Texas. Carina provides food and servers for parties. She also rents tables, chairs, dinnerware, glassware, and linens. Estefan and Maria Montero have contacted Carina about plans for their soon to be 15 year old daughter’s Quineanera (a festive party thrown by Hispanic parents to celebrate their daughters’ fifteenth birthdays). The Monteros would like a catered affair on the lawn of a rural church. They have requested an open bar, a sit down dinner for 350 people, a large tent, and a dance floor. Of course, they expect Carina to supply serving staff, tables with linens, dinnerware, and glassware. They will handle the flowers, decorations, and hiring the band on their own. Carina put together this bid:
|
Food (350 X $25) |
$ 8,750 |
|
Beverages (350 X $15) |
5,250 |
|
Servers (6 X 4 hours X $10) |
240 |
|
Bartenders (2 X 4 hours X $10) |
80 |
|
Clean up staff (3 X 3 hours X $10) |
90 |
|
Rental of: |
|
|
Dance floor |
300 |
|
Linens |
80 |
|
Tables |
200 |
|
Dinnerware |
120 |
|
Glassware |
150 |
|
Total |
$15,260 |
Required:
1. Explain where costs for Carina’s services and profit are calculated in the preceding bid.
2. Suppose that the Monteros blanch when they see the preceding bid. One of them suggests that they had hoped to spend no more than $10,000 or so on the party. How could Carina work with the Monteros to achieve a target cost of that amount?
3. Estefan Montero protests the cost of dance floor rental. He says, “I’ve seen those for rent at U Rent It for $75.” How would you respond to this remark if you were Carina? (Hint: You want this job so telling him “Go ahead and do it yourself, Cheapskate!” is not an option.)