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Break-even point. Using a spreadsheet software program, create a chart showing the costs of your product or service and at least three different price points you might consider selling the product. In a separate area on the spreadsheet, explain the chart and the price points (use your own words). Select your BE point and explain why you selected that specific BE point. (Explanation should be a minimum of 500 words, spelling and grammar count. Use Times New Roman 12 point font, double spaced. Note: even though you are writing within the spreadsheet use APA style.) In your explanation, be sure to consider the cost of: raw materials, labor, fixed costs, delivery, and advertising. You may need to be creative as you come up with pricing (this is ok). This spreadsheet will be included in your final Marketing Plan (see Week 8).
Paper For Above instruction
The purpose of this assignment is to analyze the break-even point (BEP) for a new product or service by creating a detailed financial projection using a spreadsheet. This process involves calculating and visualizing the costs at various price points and determining at which price the sales revenue will equal total costs, ensuring the product is financially viable. This analysis is critical for setting strategic pricing and understanding financial risks associated with new product launches.
To begin, I selected a hypothetical product—custom-designed reusable water bottles. This product aligns with current market trends emphasizing sustainability and eco-friendliness. The first step involved identifying all pertinent costs, including raw materials such as high-quality BPA-free plastics, labor costs for manufacturing, fixed costs like equipment and facility expenses, delivery charges for distribution, and marketing and advertising expenditures. Estimating these elements provides a comprehensive understanding of the baseline costs necessary to produce the water bottles.
Using spreadsheet software, I created a cost analysis chart that plots total costs against different selling prices. The three price points considered are $15, $20, and $25 per bottle. These prices were chosen based on market research indicating typical retail prices for similar eco-friendly bottles and an assessment of customer willingness to pay premiums for sustainable products. The chart illustrates how costs vary based on the chosen selling price, with the associated profit margins at each level.
In a separate segment of the spreadsheet, I explained in my own words the rationale behind each price point and how the costs interact. For example, at the $15 price point, the profit margin is minimal, and the breakeven point occurs at a higher volume of sales. At the $20 and $25 price points, profit margins increase, reducing the volume needed to break even. This analysis helps identify which price point is most strategically advantageous based on sales volume expectations and market positioning.
The critical component of this assignment is selecting a specific BE point and justifying this choice. After analyzing the data, I selected the $20 price point as the optimal breakeven target. This choice balances competitive market positioning, acceptable profit margins, and realistic sales volume expectations. To arrive at this conclusion, I considered the fixed costs, variable costs per unit, and the estimated sales capacity based on marketing efforts and distribution channels. The $20 price point allows for a reasonable profit margin without pricing the product out of the target market’s affordability.
This approach aligns with strategic financial planning, ensuring that the pricing covers all costs and supports growth initiatives while remaining attractive to potential customers. Additionally, emphasizing marketing and advertising at this price point can enhance brand visibility and market penetration, ultimately leading to sustainable profitability. Understanding the BEP at this level provides a financial safety net and guides future pricing strategies in the final marketing plan.
References
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- European Commission. (2018). Eco-design and sustainable marketing practices. European Environment Agency Reports.
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