True Value<\/span><\/strong><\/a> etc.) that depend on sales related to spring items for the home. Other retailers place high reliance on Christmas to bring in the money. How does seasonal sales affect the payables turnover rate?<\/span><\/p>\nIf the relationship is pure (retail and equal markup on all products) as explained earlier, the average payables turnover rate will remain constant. Look at the following schedule and note the seasonal increase in sales in the springtime. This is the monthly turnover rate:<\/span><\/p>\nMONTH <\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 SALES<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 A\/P AVERAGE<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 PAYABLES TURNOVER RATE<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\n\u00a0Jan\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 $200,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0$100,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2.0<\/span>
\n\u00a0Feb\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0200,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0100,000 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2.0<\/span>
\n\u00a0Mar\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 250,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0125,000 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2.0<\/span>
\n\u00a0April\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0350,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0175,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a02.0<\/span>
\n\u00a0May\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 300,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0150,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a02.0<\/span>
\n\u00a0June\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 200,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0100,000 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2.0<\/span>
\n\u00a0July\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0200,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0100,000 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2.0<\/span>
\n\u00a0August\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 200,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0100,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2.0<\/span>
\n\u00a0Sept\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 200,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0100,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2.0<\/span>
\n\u00a0Oct\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0200,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0100,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2.0<\/span>
\n\u00a0Nov\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 200,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0100,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2.0<\/span>
\n\u00a0Dec\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 200,000<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 100,000<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2.0<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0Totals\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 $2,700,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0$1,350,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a02.0\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\nIn this store’s case the gross margin percentage is most likely 50% (can be different, but to prove the point 50% is the assumed percentage). If seasonal items have a different markup, higher or lower than normal, it can greatly affect the ratio. Assume the same sales, but markup for the marginal seasonal items in March, April and May is double (which cuts in half the marginal increase in the accounts payable average). Look at this comparable schedule:<\/span><\/p>\nMONTH<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 SALES<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A\/P AVERAGE<\/span> \u00a0 PAYABLES TURNOVER RATE<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\n\u00a0Jan \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0$200,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0$100,000\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.0<\/span>
\n\u00a0Feb\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0200,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0100,000\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.0<\/span>
\n\u00a0March\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0250,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0112,500\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a02.22<\/span>
\n\u00a0April\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0350,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0137,500\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a02.545<\/span>
\n\u00a0May\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 300,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0125,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a02.4<\/span>
\n\u00a0June – Dec\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a01,400,000<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0700,000<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 2.0<\/span><\/span>
\nTotals \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0$2,700,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 $1,275,000\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2.118\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nSo seasonal sales can affect the turnover rate if the markup is different which is usually true. Another factor having a bearing on this turnover rate is the lag time between delivery of the retail product and the actual sale of the product.<\/span><\/p>\nThink about the candy manufacturer\/retailer for chocolates. The company buys the raw chocolate, sugar and cremes well in advance of the respective holiday sales period. The sales for the product are generally intense just prior to the holiday. However the average accounts payable increased significantly several months prior to the sales period. Therefore the average accounts payable (denominator) increases without a corresponding increase in sales. The turnover rate goes down and can be interpreted as a poor indicator of the ability to pay the bills. The exact opposite happens in the month of robust sales and the turnover rate looks great.<\/span><\/p>\nBased on the above it appears easy to manipulate and misinterpret the payables turnover rate. How does a business entrepreneur properly apply the formula?<\/span><\/p>\n