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Once more, it’s time to stop in for a chat with Neopia’s foremost economic analysts. Joining Neil and Maria this week will be Evrick Covendorr, Director of The Chia Actor’s Guild, who will be here to discuss the troupe’s recent reenactment of Sloth’s defeat at the hands of The Space Faerie. And now, here are our hosts…
KAUVUTO: Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of The Neo-Market Report. I’m your host Neil Kauvuto, Financial Editor of The Neopian Times, and as always I’m joined by my co-host, the one and only Maria Blumaroono, who comes to us today from the floor of the exchange. Maria, what’s the story on the Big Board today?
BLUMAROONO: Well Neil, it looks like happy days really are here again, as the Neodaq soared an incredible one hundred and sixty points in heavy trading. Ever since Chairman Grundospeck’s decision to lower interest rates last week, the economy has been booming, as investors rush to snap up all the bargains. Leading the way among those posting big profits was Faerie Clothing Ltd., whose shares climbed forty-nine points as CEO Donna Kougran held a press conference announcing the arrival of her new line of winter wear, which was immediately met with rave reviews. When asked about the hype surrounding her latest designs, Kougran was quoted as saying, “That’s the main reason we decided against a huge advertising campaign, because we really feel like this line sells itself. If I can say so, I truly believe it’s my best work yet.”
Another company making some serious gains this week was Lupe Consolidated, whose third quarter earnings showed a vast improvement over the company’s performance this time last year. Lupe Consolidated CEO Lupert Murdoch credited the recent resurgence of the economy with boosting his profits. “Now that the economy’s back on track,” Murdoch said, “consumers are placing less importance on value and more emphasis on convenience, which really works in our favour. At Lupe Consolidated, items might cost two or three NP’s more, but at least you can get everything in one place, instead of spending all afternoon running about searching for bargains. Now, you can be using that time to do something else.”
KAUVUTO: However, not everybody’s been able to post a profit during this latest boom. After announcing record earnings last week, Breadmaster Bakeries’ shares tumbled an unbelievable thirty-four points when Health Frog Groceries, the company that sells them the flour that they used to make the bread, decided to renegotiate their agreement. As Quinton the Quiggle said, “Well, if they’re making all this money, I think we should be entitled to a little of it.” When asked about the negotiatons, The Breadmaster said, “Yo, I shoulda kept my my mouth shut!”
BLUMAROONO: Our guest today has been receiving rave reviews for his company’s production of “Neopia, Brave and Strong,” which recreated last year’s war between Doctor Sloth and Neopia. We’re glad to welcome, for the first time, Evrick Covendorr, Director of The Chia Actor’s Guild. Evrick, so glad you could stop in…
EVRICK: It’s my pleasure, Maria.
BLUMAROONO: Now, “Neopia, Brave and Strong” has been playing to packed audiences for weeks now, and it’s also gotten a number of glowing reviews. How do you explain the show’s success?
EVRICK: I really don’t know how to explain it. I think, if anything, it’s the chemistry that we have as a troupe; the cast and crew, we’re all like a big family. I certainly think that could be the difference. Also, the fact that we’re all working towards the same cause, we all have a common goal… I think that also helps.
KAUVUTO: Which reminds me… the proceeds from your performances go to a very special cause. Could you tell us about it?
EVRICK: Certainly. We realise that, when you’re first starting out, getting a break can be tough sometimes. So we decided that once we’d become really successful, we’d do our part in helping fellow thespians that aren’t doing as well. Now that the guild is having all this success, we’ve gone ahead and put the bulk of our profits into scholarships and grants, which help out artists that we really like, but who are maybe struggling financially.
BLUMAROONO: That’s really fantastic… it’s nice that you’ve made the commitment to give something back.
EVRICK: Thanks… the way we look at it, we just wish that someone had been there to do the same for us, so now we’re taking advantage of our opportunity to do something.
BLUMAROONO: Now, with all the excitement surrounding “Neopia, Brave and Strong,” do you have plans for any other upcoming reenactments? Say, Sloth’s invasion of Sakhmet, or the recent events at The VirtuPets Space Station?
EVRICK: We’ve got a few ideas, but nothing we can announce just yet…
BLUMAROONO: Well, that’s all the time that we have this week. For Evrick Covendorr and Neil Kauvuto, this is Maria Blumaroono saying thank you, and so long….
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