Retail isn't dying, but it needs to build community to thrive
THREE KEY FACTS
Retail in New Zealand has faced some strong headwinds in recent years. First came Covid, then a recession, and all while online shopping has continued to surge in popularity.
It hasn't been easy for retailers and, unfortunately, boarded-up shopfronts are a common sight around the country. The
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Crimson Education Graduates Into The Workforce With New Visa Spin-Out, Concord Visa
Press Release – Crimson Education After guiding more than 3,000 student visa applications through Crimson Education, Concord Visa has been created to support another under-served, high performing group; the ambitious people and high growth startups trying to access new markets. Concord Visa, an immigration consultancy spin-out from Crimson Education, has emerged from stealth to streamline how startups and talent access new markets, with a particular early focus on the United States. After guiding more than 3,000 student visa applications through Crimson Education, Concord Visa has been created to support another under-served, high performing group; the ambitious people and high growth startups trying to access new markets. 'With Crimson Education our mission was to unlock the best academic and career possibilities for students anywhere in the world. Concord is the natural extension of this philosophy, allowing extraordinary people and businesses to work where their ambitions take them,' said Crimson Education CEO, Jamie Beaton. 'We started Concord because we saw the same pattern again and again. Our Crimson alumni were doing incredible things; founding companies, joining high-growth and impact teams, conducting high-impact research, performing, competing, creating, but constantly trying to navigate visa hurdles. The process was confusing, slow, and often disconnected from the actual value they were bringing,' said Beaton. Concord Visa is built on the premise that neither career nor company growth should be stifled by bureaucratic hurdles. Its core offering expedites and optimises visa applications, particularly for highly sought-after categories like the O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary abilities and achievements or the L-1, E-2, E-3, EB-1A, NIW, and skills shortage visas. The O-1 visa for 'extraordinary' individuals has gained in popularity in recent years, particularly amongst the growing class of startup founders and talents looking to expand their companies and careers in the United States. There is no annual cap on O-1's issued annually, meaning there is potential for more well prepared candidates to reach the US using them. 'My own journey to getting an O-1 visa was totally random. I bumped into a fellow Kiwi entrepreneur who mentioned she's secured a green card through this mystical process. After going through the application, I managed to land my visa, enabling me to build Crimson at full speed,' said Beaton. Australia and New Zealand non immigrant visas have been on the rise since COVID. Up 25% in Australia between 2022 and 2024, and 28% for New Zealanders over the same period.* 'Our approach is fundamentally different,' explains Kevin Park, CEO and co-founder of Concord Visa. 'We don't just process paperwork; we partner with our clients to understand their unique trajectory and build a compelling narrative that maximizes their chances of visa success.' As well as providing individual support for all immigration applications, the new business is also developing automation tools, and a modern, digital experience. This is contrasted with the industry writ-large, which has been bogged down by inefficiencies, high cost, and a lack of innovation. For startups, time and money are critical, and traditional immigration services often drain both. Concord offers flat-fee packages, ensuring transparency and predictability, while significantly reducing the time commitment required from founders and employees. Lifting up the next generation of ANZ unicorns Traditional visa services often operate with outdated methodologies, leading to significant delays, exorbitant costs, and a lack of tailored advice for the dynamic startup world. Before publicly launching its new immigration consultancy, Concord Visa has already guided more than 100 individuals and companies through their U.S. visa process, including brand tracking startup Tracksuit. Mikayla Hopkins, Head of Marketing at Tracksuit, used Concord to navigate visa applications during a critical period as they closed in on a mammoth $25m USD Series B raise. 'Navigating the complexities of international visas was essential to Tracksuit's growth and helped avoid setbacks during a crucial phase. Ensuring our talent moves freely keeps the business scaling globally. Their expertise was instrumental in enabling our expansion into the U.S. market,' said Hopkins. Likewise, Wayne Zhou, GM at Paraform Recruiters, relied on Concord to pave his path from Australia to the world stage as the company closed a $20 million USD Series A. Solving startups problems before they happen Concord Visa offers strategic guidance that goes beyond compliance, consulting with startups on their broader business objectives, identifying potential pitfalls related to visa compliance that traditional firms often overlook. For example, many international startups heading to the States receive advice to pursue treaty visas (E2 visas), which are initially straightforward but can become invalid when a company raises funding from diverse international investors. This can lead to a scramble to secure alternative visas under tight deadlines, or needing to leave the country within 60 days. 'We act as strategic advisors, looking far down the road to anticipate challenges,' adds Park. 'A common issue we see is companies outgrowing their initial visa strategy after successful funding rounds. Our expertise helps them plan for these eventualities, ensuring their talent remains compliant and their growth trajectory isn't disrupted by unforeseen immigration complexities.' Concord Visa is also building innovative technological solutions to further streamline the immigration process. Currently in development, these tools will proactively monitor changes in employment status, promotions, or residential addresses, automatically flagging potential visa compliance issues before they escalate. Concord Visa is 100% owned by Crimson Education, and currently helps with immigration into Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and the United States.
Scoop
15 hours ago
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Crimson Education Graduates Into The Workforce With New Visa Spin-Out, Concord Visa
Concord Visa, an immigration consultancy spin-out from Crimson Education, has emerged from stealth to streamline how startups and talent access new markets, with a particular early focus on the United States. After guiding more than 3,000 student visa applications through Crimson Education, Concord Visa has been created to support another under-served, high performing group; the ambitious people and high growth startups trying to access new markets. 'With Crimson Education our mission was to unlock the best academic and career possibilities for students anywhere in the world. Concord is the natural extension of this philosophy, allowing extraordinary people and businesses to work where their ambitions take them,' said Crimson Education CEO, Jamie Beaton. 'We started Concord because we saw the same pattern again and again. Our Crimson alumni were doing incredible things; founding companies, joining high-growth and impact teams, conducting high-impact research, performing, competing, creating, but constantly trying to navigate visa hurdles. The process was confusing, slow, and often disconnected from the actual value they were bringing,' said Beaton. Concord Visa is built on the premise that neither career nor company growth should be stifled by bureaucratic hurdles. Its core offering expedites and optimises visa applications, particularly for highly sought-after categories like the O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary abilities and achievements or the L-1, E-2, E-3, EB-1A, NIW, and skills shortage visas. The O-1 visa for 'extraordinary' individuals has gained in popularity in recent years, particularly amongst the growing class of startup founders and talents looking to expand their companies and careers in the United States. There is no annual cap on O-1's issued annually, meaning there is potential for more well prepared candidates to reach the US using them. 'My own journey to getting an O-1 visa was totally random. I bumped into a fellow Kiwi entrepreneur who mentioned she's secured a green card through this mystical process. After going through the application, I managed to land my visa, enabling me to build Crimson at full speed,' said Beaton. Australia and New Zealand non immigrant visas have been on the rise since COVID. Up 25% in Australia between 2022 and 2024, and 28% for New Zealanders over the same period.* "Our approach is fundamentally different," explains Kevin Park, CEO and co-founder of Concord Visa. "We don't just process paperwork; we partner with our clients to understand their unique trajectory and build a compelling narrative that maximizes their chances of visa success.' As well as providing individual support for all immigration applications, the new business is also developing automation tools, and a modern, digital experience. This is contrasted with the industry writ-large, which has been bogged down by inefficiencies, high cost, and a lack of innovation. For startups, time and money are critical, and traditional immigration services often drain both. Concord offers flat-fee packages, ensuring transparency and predictability, while significantly reducing the time commitment required from founders and employees. Lifting up the next generation of ANZ unicorns Traditional visa services often operate with outdated methodologies, leading to significant delays, exorbitant costs, and a lack of tailored advice for the dynamic startup world. Before publicly launching its new immigration consultancy, Concord Visa has already guided more than 100 individuals and companies through their U.S. visa process, including brand tracking startup Tracksuit. Mikayla Hopkins, Head of Marketing at Tracksuit, used Concord to navigate visa applications during a critical period as they closed in on a mammoth $25m USD Series B raise. "Navigating the complexities of international visas was essential to Tracksuit's growth and helped avoid setbacks during a crucial phase. Ensuring our talent moves freely keeps the business scaling globally. Their expertise was instrumental in enabling our expansion into the U.S. market," said Hopkins. Likewise, Wayne Zhou, GM at Paraform Recruiters, relied on Concord to pave his path from Australia to the world stage as the company closed a $20 million USD Series A. Solving startups problems before they happen Concord Visa offers strategic guidance that goes beyond compliance, consulting with startups on their broader business objectives, identifying potential pitfalls related to visa compliance that traditional firms often overlook. For example, many international startups heading to the States receive advice to pursue treaty visas (E2 visas), which are initially straightforward but can become invalid when a company raises funding from diverse international investors. This can lead to a scramble to secure alternative visas under tight deadlines, or needing to leave the country within 60 days. "We act as strategic advisors, looking far down the road to anticipate challenges," adds Park. "A common issue we see is companies outgrowing their initial visa strategy after successful funding rounds. Our expertise helps them plan for these eventualities, ensuring their talent remains compliant and their growth trajectory isn't disrupted by unforeseen immigration complexities." Concord Visa is also building innovative technological solutions to further streamline the immigration process. Currently in development, these tools will proactively monitor changes in employment status, promotions, or residential addresses, automatically flagging potential visa compliance issues before they escalate. Concord Visa is 100% owned by Crimson Education, and currently helps with immigration into Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and the United States.
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Press Pause On Your Game And Go On Your Dream Job
Press Release – New Zealand Esports Federation August 2025, New Zealand – 79% of all New Zealanders play video games, and the global video game industry is worth more than the film and music industries combined*. For those looking to transition a passion into a career,Trade Me's latest job listing is one to apply for immediately. The latest and final role in Trade Me's epic three-part dream job initiative is here – and in partnership with New Zealand Esports, it's searching for the ultimate player to take on the role of 'Chief Gaming Officer'. This next-level position puts you at the heart of New Zealand's esports scene, helping shape the future of the E Blacks, the country's official national team. Esports has taken off in New Zealand, with it being officially recognised as a sport in 2020. Over 88% of adults aged 18-44 play video games, and more than 160 secondary school teams compete for their school every week**. Globally, the biggest game in the world now has more monthly players than Russia has people, and if it were a country, it would be the 8th largest in the world. The role is a chance to turn passion into profession, from playtesting competitive titles to pushing games to their limits and deciding which ones the E Blacks take to the global stage. 'The Chief Gaming Officer is a chance to help shape the path of competitive gaming in Aotearoa,' says Jonathan Jansen, CEO of the NZ Esports Federation. 'We're looking for someone with the skills and smarts to test the best, push boundaries, and help us decide which games our E Blacks will take to the world.' Nicole Williams, Head of Trade Me Jobs, shared her enthusiasm for the upcoming role, saying, 'We created these dream jobs to show that meaningful work can come in all shapes and sizes. For so many Kiwi, gaming is more than a pastime – it's a skillset, a passion, and in this case, a genuine career opportunity. We're excited to help turn that into something real.' This is the third and final dream role released by Trade Me Jobs, following two other highly sought-after roles with AJ Hackett and Highlands Motorsport Park. It's all part of an initiative showing that a career can be thrilling, meaningful, and anything but ordinary. Head to Trade Me Jobs to find out more. The full job description listed on Trade Me Jobs is below: NZ Esports Federation 'Chief Gaming Officer' Location: Auckland, New Zealand Do you live and breathe gaming? We're on the hunt for the most cracked, sharp-eyed, and quick-fingered gamers to help shape the future of the E Blacks – New Zealand's official esports team. As a Chief Gaming Officer, you'll be in charge of playtesting the competitive titles being considered for the team's next season. Your task is to play hard, push limits, and provide honest, insightful feedback that helps us fine-tune the competition. You'll be helping decide which titles the squad takes to the world stage, and making sure they're as thrilling to play as they are to watch. Time to lock in, GL HF. Note: * IGEA, 2023 ** NZ Esports Gamer Survey, 2024; IGEA, 2023
