Business Case Studies & Business Publications

Glizzy Boutique

Lipson, Marc L., H...

Case

Glizzy Boutique

Lipson, Marc L.; Hopkins, Justin J.

F-2156 | Published April 22, 2026 | 2 Pages Case

Collection: Darden School of Business

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Learning Objectives

Samantha Peek has started a hot dog stand, Glizzy Boutique, as a fun side venture. The case presents the initial steps Peek took to set up the venture and the realized activity for the first month of operation. The case is intended as an introduction to financial statements, financial accounting, and profitability metrics. With both expected and realized results, students better understand the insights offered by financial statements. In a typical use case, students would be asked to generate pro forma and realized income statements before class (this would require minimal background), and the instructor would work through the balance sheet with the students in class. With the right preparation and/or technical notes, students should be able to generate the balance sheet in advance, which would allow more time to explore operating decisions. This case has been used at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in the executive nondegree programs and as part of a prematriculation program for MBA students. It would be appropriate for undergraduate classes as an introduction to financial statements. The case is particularly appropriate for audiences new to financial concepts.

This case can be used to pursue the following objectives: (1) Introduce the income statement as a description of operating activities, both as a planning tool and as a basis for reviewing results. The contrast between expected results and realized results demonstrates how learning occurs and how operations are inherently uncertain. (2) Introduce the balance sheet with an emphasis on how activities map into balance sheet line items. In particular, the case introduces the accounting of (impact of) fixed assets (including depreciation), current assets (inventory), current liabilities (taxes payable), and equity. (3) Build comfort with basic profitability ratios, such as gross margin, operating margin, net margin, and return on assets. The case can also be used to explore break-even and operating leverage issues.