W05 Case Study: Continuing Maria's Story into May
and June
By May 2025, Maria's Soup Shack was finally starting to see signs of
stability. Marco's marketing ideas and operational insights had already
shown a positive impact, and Maria decided to move forward with the
purchase of a commercial dishwasher. This decision marked a pivotal
moment in Maria’s business operations.
May: Growth with Purpose
May brought a steady rise in business as Maria’s Soup Shack gained a
stronger foothold in the community. Marco’s marketing ideas, coupled with
the operational improvements, helped the restaurant gain momentum. The
"Soup of the Week" spotlight drew attention to Maria's existing menu,
encouraging customers to try items they might have overlooked. Marco
emphasized the value of quality, showcasing behind-the-scenes posts of
Maria preparing her beloved recipes and explaining what made her soups
so special—fresh ingredients, traditional techniques, and love in every bowl.
Additionally, Marco tapped into the local community by partnering with a
popular downtown walking tour. Tour guides began recommending Maria’s
Soup Shack as the perfect post-tour lunch spot, bringing in a steady stream
of hungry patrons.
Increased Efficiency in the Kitchen
The new commercial dishwasher, installed at the about the 20th of the
month, proved invaluable. It not only cut down on the time and effort
required to clean but also improved workflow in the kitchen. The cook and
server adapted quickly to loading and unloading the dishwasher during
slower moments, ensuring it didn’t disrupt service.
Maria made good on her promise to her part-time dishwasher, paying him
through the end of May to make up for the fact that he was terrific to help
things run smoothly through the transition of getting the new commercial
dishwasher going, even though he was about to hit the job market again.
While her labor costs for dishwashing didn’t decrease in May, she saw clear
savings coming in June, which would allow her to redirect those funds
toward other areas of the business.
, The slight uptick in electricity costs from the new machine was offset by the
labor savings and increased efficiency. The kitchen felt calmer during busy
hours, giving the staff more energy to focus on serving customers.
Financial Improvements
Soup sales continued to climb. Chicken Soup rose to 22.2 bowls daily, Spicy
Sausage Soup increased to 10.1 bowls, and Italian Bread returned to a
respectable 29 servings per day. While these numbers didn’t yet match the
January highs, they reflected steady growth that Maria hoped to maintain.
Soft drink sales also improved, reaching 18.1 daily units, driven by the
loyalty program.
Marco's managerial efforts allowed Maria to focus on strategic decision-
making rather than daily firefighting. With Marco’s full salary now part of
her regular costs, Maria carefully tracked her expenses, realizing that the
improvements in customer volume and efficiency were helping to balance
the books.
Update Maria’s Financials with the following:
COGS/unit: no change from first 4 months
Final Fixed Asset Costs – use this to calculate the new depreciation
expense (add this to what you have had already as depreciation expense)
Also update your Gross Fixed Assets and your Accumulated Depreciation
with this new information. Also make sure this information is being linked
and June
By May 2025, Maria's Soup Shack was finally starting to see signs of
stability. Marco's marketing ideas and operational insights had already
shown a positive impact, and Maria decided to move forward with the
purchase of a commercial dishwasher. This decision marked a pivotal
moment in Maria’s business operations.
May: Growth with Purpose
May brought a steady rise in business as Maria’s Soup Shack gained a
stronger foothold in the community. Marco’s marketing ideas, coupled with
the operational improvements, helped the restaurant gain momentum. The
"Soup of the Week" spotlight drew attention to Maria's existing menu,
encouraging customers to try items they might have overlooked. Marco
emphasized the value of quality, showcasing behind-the-scenes posts of
Maria preparing her beloved recipes and explaining what made her soups
so special—fresh ingredients, traditional techniques, and love in every bowl.
Additionally, Marco tapped into the local community by partnering with a
popular downtown walking tour. Tour guides began recommending Maria’s
Soup Shack as the perfect post-tour lunch spot, bringing in a steady stream
of hungry patrons.
Increased Efficiency in the Kitchen
The new commercial dishwasher, installed at the about the 20th of the
month, proved invaluable. It not only cut down on the time and effort
required to clean but also improved workflow in the kitchen. The cook and
server adapted quickly to loading and unloading the dishwasher during
slower moments, ensuring it didn’t disrupt service.
Maria made good on her promise to her part-time dishwasher, paying him
through the end of May to make up for the fact that he was terrific to help
things run smoothly through the transition of getting the new commercial
dishwasher going, even though he was about to hit the job market again.
While her labor costs for dishwashing didn’t decrease in May, she saw clear
savings coming in June, which would allow her to redirect those funds
toward other areas of the business.
, The slight uptick in electricity costs from the new machine was offset by the
labor savings and increased efficiency. The kitchen felt calmer during busy
hours, giving the staff more energy to focus on serving customers.
Financial Improvements
Soup sales continued to climb. Chicken Soup rose to 22.2 bowls daily, Spicy
Sausage Soup increased to 10.1 bowls, and Italian Bread returned to a
respectable 29 servings per day. While these numbers didn’t yet match the
January highs, they reflected steady growth that Maria hoped to maintain.
Soft drink sales also improved, reaching 18.1 daily units, driven by the
loyalty program.
Marco's managerial efforts allowed Maria to focus on strategic decision-
making rather than daily firefighting. With Marco’s full salary now part of
her regular costs, Maria carefully tracked her expenses, realizing that the
improvements in customer volume and efficiency were helping to balance
the books.
Update Maria’s Financials with the following:
COGS/unit: no change from first 4 months
Final Fixed Asset Costs – use this to calculate the new depreciation
expense (add this to what you have had already as depreciation expense)
Also update your Gross Fixed Assets and your Accumulated Depreciation
with this new information. Also make sure this information is being linked
