A jewelry firm buys semiprecious stones to make bracelets and rings. The supplier quotes a price of $8.90 per stone for quantities of 600 stones or more, $9.30 per stone for orders of 400 to 599 stones, and $9.80 per stone for lesser quantities. The jewelry firm operates 108 days per year. Usage rate is 26 stones per day, and ordering costs are $46. a. If carrying costs are $2 per year for each stone, find the order quantity that will minimize total annual cost.

b. If annual carrying costs are 20 percent of unit cost, what is the optimal order size?

c. If lead time is 5 working days, at what point should the company reorder?

Peppy knows a lot about marketing, but not much about the legal or financial aspects of starting a new business. he wants to consult with a lawyer and accountant, but his budget is tight with all of the expenses involved in getting peppy's pizzazzeria up and running. peppy should: trust his basic instincts and try to put it together without the advice of lawyers and accountants. delay talking with a lawyer and accountant until the business has established a positive cash flow for at least one year. immediately hire full-time lawyers and accountants for his staff. consult with a lawyer and accountant even though the budget is tight.