CIMA OCS Pre-seen: Tendra Tents (November 2026 and February 2027)

Tendra Tents at a glance

• Industry: camping tent manufacturing and retail.
• Products: three tent ranges (Essential, Explorer, Elite), each in three sizes, plus bought-in camping accessories.
• Markets: Teeland (website and retailers) and wider Europe (website only).
• Channels: about 70% of revenue from the website, 30% from Teeland retailers.
• Revenue: T$23.8m for the year ended 30 June 2026.
• Employees: 96 at 30 June 2026.
• Sites: one Production Facility, a small Distribution Centre and a Head Office, all close together.
• Ownership: owned by its three founders, who are all directors.
• Key people: Fredrick Calvern (CEO), Rhona Velic (Product Development), Talia Morel (Sales and Marketing), Peter Trafford (Finance Director).
• Founded: 2004, after the first tent won a national sustainability competition.

Your role

You are one of two Finance Officers in the Finance Department. Your main job is preparing management accounting information and helping managers make decisions. You may also help with the financial statements and answer other finance queries. The finance team is led by Finance Director Peter Trafford, with Katy Mikkleson as Head of Finance.

The industry

The pre-seen describes a growing global tent market, with Europe the largest region. Several forces shape it:

• More outdoor recreation. Camping, hiking, festivals and eco-tourism are all growing.
• Sustainability pressure. Younger buyers want recycled, repairable gear made ethically.
• Supply chain risk. Reliance on Asian suppliers pushes firms towards local sourcing, which costs more.
• Design innovation. Buyers want lighter tents, and smart and modular designs are emerging.
• A fragmented market. Niche brands can compete, so branding matters.
• Seasonality. Sales peak in spring and summer and fall in downturns.
• Cost volatility. Nylon, polyester and aluminium prices are rising.

Articles in the pre-seen add three themes: smart tents, waste from discarded festival tents, and the growth of glamping.

The numbers

Figures in T$000 for the years to 30 June, 2026 against 2025:

• Revenue: 23,756 against 21,860.
• Gross profit: 6,945 against 6,212.
• Operating profit: 1,669 against 1,222.
• Profit for the year: 1,128 against 807.
• Inventory: 3,454 against 3,086.
• Cash: 1,084 against 923.

What stands out:

• Revenue grew by about 8.7%, and operating profit by about 37%. Operating margin rose from about 5.6% to 7.0%.
• Inventory is high for a business of this size: about 75 days of cost of sales. That fits with producing evenly all year for a seasonal market.
• The 2027 budget shows clear differences in gross margin between ranges. Elite is budgeted at 37.8% and accessories at 17.9%, while the Essential Solo tent is budgeted at only 5.4%.
• Cash rose by T$161k after a T$650k dividend, T$568k of capital spending and T$150k of loan repayments.

Areas to prepare

These are areas the pre-seen gives you material on. They are not predictions of exam questions.

• Costing and product profitability. The budget gives cost per unit for each tent, split into materials, labour, variable and fixed overhead. Overheads are absorbed per labour hour by department. Practise judging which products really earn their place.
• Budgeting and standard costing. Budgets are incremental, and operational managers have little say in them. A standard cost card is given for one tent. Be ready to discuss variances and other budgeting approaches.
• Short-term decisions. New products, smart tents, partnerships with eco-tourism and a possible new region are all mentioned. Think about relevant costs, pricing and limiting factors.
• Working capital. Seasonal sales, level production, 30 to 60 day retailer terms and bulk purchase discounts all affect cash.
• Financial statements and tax. The pre-seen sets out Teeland's tax rules, including tax depreciation and sales tax.
• Risk and sustainability. Local sourcing, recycled materials and environmental regulation link to cost control and reputation.

How to use the time before February

• Read the pre-seen twice, the second time with a notepad and a calculator.
• Rework the key ratios yourself, so the numbers feel familiar on the day.
• Write a one-page summary of each range: price, cost and margin by channel.
• Sit full mock exams under timed conditions, then compare your answers with a model answer.
• Read the industry articles again and note how each one could affect costs or demand.

Prepare with VIVA

If you are sitting in February, now is the time to build exam technique around Tendra Tents. Our OCS course takes you through the pre-seen and the core activities step by step. The Marked Mock Exam Pack lets you sit full exams and get detailed feedback against our grid. Check every deadline on our CIMA case study exam dates page.