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Just 4 Kids Bill Travis owns two Just 4 Kids stores in Florence, South Carolina. He believes that the stores have been successful and he wants to open a new store in Sumter about 30 miles west of Florence. Bill has been in the retail line for over 20 years, and he worked at his uncle's hobby shop while in high school and college before starting his own store at the age of 25. Two big secrets to a successful toy store operation are good location and product selection. Bill's first store is located in downtown Florence. Since Bill had been born and raised in Florence, he attracted a good customer base that remained loyal to his store after some of the giant chain related toy stores began to move into the area. About 10 years ago, Bill saw the change in customer shopping habits and purchased a second store near an interchange to Interstate 95 in a rapidly growing retail area. Lots of new families had moved into the area, and Bill could not totally rely on the "good old boy" market alone to sustain his market share. This second store catered to the younger more mobile generation that shopped at or near malls. Bill now was looking into other markets. Sumter was not located on the interstate, but the area was growing because of its proximity to the state capital of Columbia, which was just 30 miles to its west. Bill believed that the people of Sumter who commuted to work in Columbia would prefer to limit their driving for shopping activities to the immediate Sumter area. Also, since Bill was a respected citizen of Florence, his reputation as an honest businessman had spread to Sumter. He believed he could quickly build up a new customer base in that location. The big chain type stores also did not seem as interested in the Sumter area, preferring instead to locate in the larger metropolitan areas of Columbia and Florence. The appropriate toy items to feature in his stores were very important. Bill felt that his area of influence was strictly regional, and he did not have to carry much of the standard inventory of the national chain type of toy stores. His toy lines were more a reflection of local interest; thus NASCAR related items were hot sellers. Bill's clientele also seemed interested in computer action games and a new line of Ya'll talking dolls. Bill went to the Florence National Bank to inquire about funding for the new store location. He had found an abandoned furniture store in downtown Sumter along Main Street that was up for sale for $280,000. The store seemed to be the right size and at a good location. A grocery store was in the same block with ample off street parking. Bill brought his balance sheet for the last two years and an income statement for the last operating year to the bank to support his request for a retail loan of $250,000. (Copies of the financial statements are listed at the end of the case.) Nick Tightwad, the local bank loan vice president had been a friend of Bill's for many years. He was a customer at Bill's toy store on close out sales, and his bank had underwritten the funding for the second store. Nick was excited about Bill's expansion goals and the prospect of another business loan with his friend. At the same time, Nick had to live up to his reputation. He was not about to approve a loan unless he was almost 100 percent sure that the borrower would not default. Bill's past success had alleviated much of Nick's concern, but he still wanted to finish a detailed analysis of the financial performance of Just 4 Kids during the last calendar year. Upon reviewing the balance sheet, Nick noticed a drop in cash during the last year even though Bill showed a strong profitable performance. The current financial statements did not seem to give enough information to answer Nick's questions and he asked Bill make a statement of cash flows for the year ending December 31, 2007. Just 4 Kids Balance Sheet December 31, 2006 ASSETS Cash $ 38,500 Accounts Receivable 43,000 Inventory 126,000 Other Current Assets 17,500 Total Current Assets $225,000 Land $100,000 Furnishings, Fixtures & Vehicles $150,000 Less Accumulated Depreciation -30,000 Furnishings, Fixtures & Vehicles (net) 120,000 Building 400,000 Less Accumulated Depreciation 175,000 Building (net) 225,000 Total Long-Term Assets 445,000 Total Assets $670,000 LIABILITIES Accounts Payable $ 57,500 Short-Term Notes Payable 20,000 Other Current Liabilities 13,000 Total Current Liabilities $ 90,500 Long-Term Notes Payable 400,000 Total Liabilities $490,500 EQUITIES Capital $100,000 Retained Earnings 79,500 Total Equities $179,500 Total Liabilities and Equity $670,000 Just 4 Kids Income Statement For the Year Ended December 31, 2007 Sales Revenue $600,000 Less Cost of Goods Sold 310,000 Gross Margin 290,000 Less Operating Expenses Selling and Administrative $106,200 Depreciation 20,000 Total Operating Expenses 126,200 Operating Income 163,800 Interest Expense $50,000 Loss on Vehicle Sale 2,500 Total Other Expenses 52,500 Net Income Before Taxes 111,300 Less Income Taxes 39,300 Net Income $72,000 Just 4 Kids Balance Sheet December 31, 2007 ASSETS Cash $2,600 Accounts Receivable 71,000 Inventory 193,000 Other Current Assets 18,900 Total Current Assets $285,500 Land $100,000 Furnishings, Fixtures & Vehicles $166,000 Less Accumulated Depreciation -28,500 Furnishings, Fixtures & Vehicles (net) 137,500 Building 400,000 Less Accumulated Depreciation 190,000 Building (net) 210,000 Total Long-Term Assets 447,500 Total Assets $733,000 LIABILITIES Accounts Payable $ 91,500 Short-Term Notes Payable 35,000 Other Current Liabilities 7,000 Total Current Liabilities $133,500 Long-Term Notes Payable 388,000 Total Liabilities $521,500 EQUITIES Capital $100,000 Retained Earnings 111,500 Total Equities $211,500 Total Liabilities and Equity $733,000 Analyze the performance of Just 4 Kids based on the financial statements. Look at financial ratios. If you were Bill, how would you explain the issues, which could be brought up from the financial analysis? If you were Nick, would you approve the loan for Bill? Why or why not?