City: Calor Gas profits heat up by 62pc despite dip in turnover)
1 Explain the meaning of these terms:
a) gross profit
b) net profit
c) turnover
d) profit and loss account
e) conglomerate
f) dividend.
2 a) What are the advantages and disadvantages of reducing profit margins?
b) From the data at the top of the article 'M&S doing Europe in style', which is increasing faster for M&S - turnover or pre-tax profit?
c) Would these figures please the shareholders? Explain your answer.
d) Would the figures please the employees? Explain your answer.
e) The article 'M&S stores ring up a prosperous Christmas' states that trading both at home and overseas remains 'extremely competitive'. What exactly does this mean?
f) Why did the share price fall as a result?
3 Both Calor Gas and M&S had increased their dividend. Why do firms want to do this, if possible?
4 a) Read the article 'Iceland edges to £33.6m as sales dip.'. What is meant by 'price deflation'?
b) How could a marketing campaign help Iceland?
Activity
(City: M&S warns on 'profitless' Sunday trade)
1 a) What are the advantages and disadvantages of Sunday trading for retailers?
b) Explain in your own words why M&S decided to open some stores on Sundays.
c) How could the company judge whether the decision was a success?
Activity
(BA steps up profit share for staff)
1 a) What is meant by 'motivating' workers?
b) How do profit sharing schemes provide motivation?
c) Compare the benefits of bonus schemes and profit sharing schemes.
Activity
(City Diary: Bubble bursts for pop star )
1 a) George Michael has his own private company. How does this differ from a plc?
b) What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a private company?
2 a) What is an operating profit?
b) What does 'all the profit was retained' mean?
Activity
(Tottenham Hotspur advances to £5.3m)
1 a) What is an institutional investor?
b) Why did the club want to encourage investment?
c) How else could it raise money, if it wished to expand?
2 Why might a football club want to increase its profits?
3 What, if any, are the differences between managing the finances of a football club and a small corner shop? Give as much detail as you can.
4 How can marketing help to make a football club more profitable? Give examples to support your answer