Pincushion Performance · sample review pack
Fictional data · prepared 2 October 2026 · ZAR excluding VAT unless stated · illustration, not a live venue report.
1. Management report · August 2026
Accounting cut-off: 2026-08-31. Forecast assumptions: 2026-09-21. Source: pincushion-demo-estate-2026-09-21-v3. Later activity is not represented as fresh Actual data.
| Metric | Actual | Budget | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | R 1 284 000 | R 1 260 000 | R 24 000 |
| Gross profit | R 793 512 | R 771 120 | R 22 392 |
| Operating expenses | R 650 912 | R 648 000 | R 2 912 |
| Operating profit | R 142 600 | R 123 120 | R 19 480 |
Gross margin: 61.8% versus 61.2% Budget. Operating margin: 11.1% versus 9.8% Budget. Gross profit is revenue less direct costs; operating profit also deducts operating expenses.
What this means
Operating profit is R 19 480 above Budget. This is a reported variance, not proof that PP caused the improvement. The full-year outlook is R 1 390 420 operating profit, a -R 6 500 difference from Budget.
What needs review
The separately sourced 13-week cash forecast falls to R 79 500, below the R 100 000 buffer. Review customer receipts and supplier timing. An illustrative R49,000 receipt acceleration changes timing only; it does not increase profit or total receipts. Confirm stale supplier evidence before relying on the affected package decision.
The cash schedule includes applicable tax and is separate from accounting revenue. Missing or stale evidence must remain visible.
2. Conference decision brief · DEMO-CONF-201
Fixed worked example, independent of changes in the interactive rehearsal. Normal-demand date. Main venue eight hours, Pine two hours; reduce Oak from four hours to two, subject to customer agreement.
- Price
- R80,000, unchanged
- Direct delivery costs
- R56,000 expected; R58,000 delivered
- Booking contribution margin
- 30.00%, before displacement and overheads
- Displaced contribution
- R27,000 original; R 9 000 revised
- Contribution after displacement
- R 15 000 expected; R10,000 required
- Payment terms
- 60% deposit; R12,000 before final receipt; R10,000 buffer
- Operating profit
- R 16 000 expected; R 14 000 delivered
- Attributable benefit
- R 8 000 at 50%, before pilot costs
Recommendation and conditions
Offer reduced Oak use and a 60% deposit at the original price. Obtain customer agreement and independent review. Releasing Oak only recovers the illustrated R18,000 contribution if compatible alternative demand is supported. Do not promise that booking or count it twice.
Benefit calculation
Original operating profit R16,000 less R27,000 displacement = −R11,000. Delivered operating profit R14,000 less R9,000 displacement = R5,000. Improvement R16,000 × 50% reviewed PP share = R8,000. This is an economic comparison including modelled opportunity cost; it is not R8,000 of extra accounting revenue. Future repeat business is excluded.
Fictional Finance review only. Original quote, alternative demand and event Actual would need retained evidence in the live pilot. Pilot costs, tax effects and other venue activities are outside this worked decision.