The Neo-Market Report

By stereolab

Once again the time has come to pay Neopia's leading financial analysts a visit. Joining our hosts today is Bentolo the Kacheek, Founder and President of Kacheek and Sons Landscaping, who will be here to discuss his company's flourishing reputation as "Landscaper to the Stars." And now, here are Neil and Maria…

KAUVUTO: Hello and welcome to this edition of The Neo-Market Report. I am your host Neil Kauvuto, and as always I am joined by my co-host Maria Blumaroono, who is at The News Desk with the latest buzz from the floor of the Exchange. Maria, how are things looking today?

BLUMAROONO: Well Neil, even though the Neodaq climbed three points in light trading this week, the market's generally been slow, with very few stocks actually showing a profit. One of the few companies posting strong returns is The Unis Beauty Salon, which shot up an incredible 174 NPs a share. Others, such as Techrobatics Fitness Videos and The Presidential Palace, posted modest gains of fourteen and thirteen points, respectively.

KAUVUTO: On the other hand, quite a few companies ended up showing a loss for the week. Leading the charge down the drain was Chia Steel, which lost fifty-six points a share once investors learned that they'd lost the NeoHome plumbing contract to Powlex. And then there's Jacko and Sons; putting up their fourth consecutive loss, these paintbrush makers continue to reel, dropping forty-five points this week. Peophin Water Parks is experiencing a slump of its own, topping last week's twenty-six point decline with another twenty-nine point tumble.

BLUMAROONO: One of the companies emerging during the recent NeoHome boom is that of our next guest. As the founder of Kacheek and Sons Landscaping, Bentolo the Kacheek's reputation as the "landscaper of the stars" has spread like wildfire throughout Neopia. With celebrity clients such as Kauvara and Ursula Usul, Bentolo and his sons Venitzio and Umbraggio are overrun with clients clamoring to have them sculpt their lawns. Bentolo, thanks for stopping by today…

BENTOLO: I'm quite glad to be here, Maria. Thanks for inviting me to be on your show.

BLUMAROONO: Now Bentolo, I guess the question that most of the people out there are asking is: Why you? Why is it that these high profile Neopians have chosen you to style their lawns?

BENTOLO: To be honest with you, I'm not really all that comfortable tooting my own horn, as you say. But…I think the key our success has been the fact that, to us, all of our clients are important, not just the ones whom you've mentioned as "celebrities." But, in the case of those who are better known, I think they value our ability to keep a secret. As I'm sure you are aware, reporters looking to get private information about our high-profile clients often approach us. However, we have great respect for our clients, and I assure you we would never give out information concerning their private lives.

KAUVUTO: Now, the other day Nigel the Chia was showing me some pictures of the work you did in his yard, and I have to say that I was stunned by the beauty and style of your work…

BENTOLO: Why, thank you very much for your kind words, Neil. To me, when I look at a yard, I see it in much the same way that a sculptor views a block of marble. Within moments, I can envision in my mind the way that that lawn will look once I have finished working on it. And then, my sons and I tackle the yards with everything that we have, and we don't stop until I am satisfied that we have realised the project exactly as I had imagined it. Now sometimes, this is easier than it sounds; Nigel's lawn, as you mentioned, took me less than a week to do, and I have to say that I consider it to be some of my best work. However, there are other times when it takes a little longer; Kauvara has a massive pastoral layout, and that project took me nearly two and a half months, but I have to say that when I was done with it I was rather pleased with how it turned out.

BLUMAROONO: Well, that's going to have to do it for us this week. For Neil Kauvuto and Bentolo the Kacheek, this is Maria Blumaroono saying thank you and so long…