The Cat's Out Of The Bag: Elm Marketing Acquires Talk Visual
The acquisition strengthens Elm's offering and adds experienced creative talent to its growing team, with Talk Visual's long-time staff members Cat and Kam joining Elm Marketing as part of the transition.
'This move feels incredibly natural,' says Emma Lindsay, founder of Elm Marketing. 'We've admired Haylee's work for years, and when she approached us ahead of her move overseas, it quickly became clear that the values and vision of our two businesses were strongly aligned.'
Haylee, the founder of Talk Visual, had always planned to reach the 10-year milestone before embarking on her next adventure. With her business in a strong position, she wanted to ensure her team and clients were left in capable hands.
'It's important to us that the transition is seamless,' adds Lindsay. 'Haylee has worked closely with us over the past few months to ensure no projects are disrupted and that clients continue to feel well supported.'
This acquisition is part of Elm Marketing's continued growth journey. Over the past five years, the agency has grown from a small consultancy into a full-service creative studio, supporting clients across branding, marketing strategy, digital design, and content.
'This is a really exciting step forward for us,' says Justine Horgan, Director at Elm Marketing. 'We're growing fast, and this acquisition adds more creative firepower to our team — but just as importantly, it brings on board great people who care deeply about their clients. That alignment matters.'
For existing Talk Visual clients, little will change — the faces they know remain involved, and their creative work will now be supported by Elm Marketing's wider team and resources.
'We're really proud to carry forward what Haylee built,' says Lindsay. 'And we're excited about what this next chapter makes possible.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
6 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Late selling drives NZ sharemarket down
'It's been a good week and the markets seem to be taking the US tariffs in their stride as we head into the reporting season next week,' he said. 'We are confident that we'll see an Official Cash Rate cut from the Reserve Bank [on August 20], which I think will be good for the market and the economy overall. 'We've managed to get through this week without any profit warnings, so that's good,' Lister said. Spark firmed 4c or 1.6% to $2.59 after a difficult period. Lister said the telco appeared to be enjoying the beginnings of a recovery after two years in the investment wilderness. 'It's still got a long way to go, but I think there is a general feeling among the analyst community that there might be a little bit of value there because it's fallen as much as it has,' he said. Also firming were KMD Brands, up 1c at 25c, and Sky TV, up 6c at $3.02. Infratil dropped by 18c or 1.59% to $11.84. The infrastructure investor earlier announced that it and the NZ Superannuation Fund had entered a binding agreement to sell their 100% interest in RetireAustralia to Invesco Real Estate, for A$845m ($925m). As of March 31, the carrying value of Infratil's investment in RetireAustralia was $404m, with the transaction expected to result in an accounting loss on sale of about $80m, the company said. Market heavyweight Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, which has a 16% weighting on the S&P/NZX50 index, fell 31c to $36.69. Retirement village operator Summerset dropped by 25c (2.25%) to $11.08. Transport software specialist Eroad took back some of Thursday's gains, which were on the back of New Zealand's plan to introduce universal road user charges, the stock dropping 6c to $1.95. In the second-tier stocks, major apple exporter T&G Global rallied by 15c (6.7%) to $2.40 after posting a turnaround in its first half to a $1.7m profit from a loss of $18.76m in the previous comparable period. 'As we head into the second half of the year, T&G is in a strong position to build on this momentum,' the company said. 'We're confident in our ability to continue delivering improved financial performance.' T&G's majority owner, Germany's BayWa, has put its stake up for review. BayWa, which has interests ranging from food to construction and energy, first made its play in 2011 for what was then Turners and Growers, with the intention of a complete takeover. T&G's shares have gained 53% in the last 12 months. With a 15% tariff on New Zealand exports to the US now in place, ASB Bank expects beef, dairy and wine exports to be the most heavily affected. 'We think beef is currently under the most risk, but there are opportunities to mitigate the hit,' the bank said. Jamie Gray is an Auckland-based journalist, covering the financial markets and the primary sector. He joined the Herald in 2011.
NZ Herald
17 hours ago
- NZ Herald
US ties with India trampled as Trump hunts goal of ending Russia's war in Ukraine
This week, Trump seemed ready to ditch that relationship. He doubled already hefty tariffs on Indian exports to the US for its steadfast refusal to stop buying oil from Russia, in an effort to pressure Russia to end the war. Trump has accused India of helping Russia finance its war on Ukraine through oil purchases; India has said it needs cheap oil to meet the energy needs of its fast-growing economy. India called the additional tariffs 'unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable', pointing out that it was being punished for doing something — buying Russian oil at a discounted price — that other nations have done, although it didn't mention names. China is the largest buyer of Russian oil, and Turkey has also deepened its energy links with Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine, without incurring similar penalties. Analysts said Trump's pressure tactics could damage the long-standing ties between India and the US. 'We are better off together than apart,' said Atul Keshap, a retired US diplomat and president of the US-India Business Council. 'The partnership forged by our elected leaders over the past 25 years is worth preserving and has achieved considerable mutual prosperity and advanced our shared strategic interests.' It's difficult to quantify what exactly America would lose if its relationship with India cools. India is a valuable strategic partner for the US, acting as a counterweight to China. It is also important to many American companies, including Apple, which has shifted some manufacturing of its products to India from China. Ajay Srivastava, a former trade official at the Global Trade Research Initiative, a New Delhi-based think-tank, said the US action 'will push India to reconsider its strategic alignment, deepening ties with Russia, China, and many other countries'. India and the US, with Japan and Australia, are part of a diplomatic partnership called the Quad, set up largely to counter China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. India is planning to host the Quad Leaders' Summit later this year. Trump was expected to attend, although it's now unclear if he will. For India, the costs of a damaged relationship may prove to be higher. Trump's move puts Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a bind. Russia is the source of 45% of its oil imports. If India stops buying Russian oil, accepting higher prices for consumers and domestic manufacturing, it would be politically damaging for Modi's Government. If it ignores Trump's threat and continues buying Russian oil, the hit to India's economy will be far costlier. The higher tariffs could cut India's more than US$86 billion in exports to the US by half, according to the Global Trade Research Initiative, an Indian research group. The US is India's biggest trading partner, and exports account for nearly 20% of India's economy. India ranks only 10th among American trade partners in goods. India has also come to value American backing for its bid to be recognised as a global superpower. Modi has touted his relationship with Trump, courting the US President during his first term in office and calling him a 'true friend'. But that friendship, as many American allies have learned, may mean little when Trump's own priorities are at stake. US President Donald Trump is open to meeting Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the White House said yesterday. Photo / Olga Maltseva, Brendan Smialowski, Frederick Florin / AFP In recent weeks, Trump announced that he had struck deals with Japan, South Korea and the European Union, but even after months of negotiation, India had not reached an agreement. India was reluctant to make concessions on politically sensitive sectors like dairy and agriculture. India also publicly denied Trump's repeated claims that he helped broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after a brief, four-day conflict between the two neighbours in May. India has maintained that the ceasefire was negotiated bilaterally with Pakistan, and Indian leaders bristled at Trump's willingness to insert himself into that bitter rivalry. It is not yet clear whether the punitive tariffs Trump has threatened will ever take effect. In the executive order he issued, Trump said the tariffs would be implemented within a month, but he could modify the order if circumstances changed. The order included a provision that the US would look at other countries' purchases of Russian oil as well. So far, there is no indication that Trump intends to take a similar approach to China. Chinese and US officials are in the middle of sensitive negotiations about potential trade agreements after an initial round of retaliatory tariffs threatened to destabilise the global economy. With his tariff moves against India, Trump is keeping his eye on big strategic goals — a deal with China and keeping the pressure on Moscow before a potential meeting with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, which he disclosed yesterday. Far from being 'a dead economy', as Trump called it, India is the fastest-growing large economy in the world. But its place on the President's list of priorities may be much less certain. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Written by: Anupreeta Das Photograph by: Saumya Khandelwal ©2025 THE NEW YORK TIMES
1News
18 hours ago
- 1News
'Soul destroying': Fake e-store hijacks Matakana business' brand
A fake online store using the name of a genuine Matakana business has shaken the town's business community, misled customers, and prompted a compliance probe from the Commerce Commission. The scam website, registered in April, has been using the name Matakana Boutique — identical to the legitimate accommodation and catering business run by Amy and Simon Hope in the north Auckland town since 2016. It has aggressively marketed itself on Facebook and Instagram, claiming to be a New Zealand-based clothing retailer. The Commerce Commission said it has received 150 inquiries this year about fake retail websites that appear to be locally run. General manager of competition, fair trading, and credit Vanessa Horne said misleading marketing was a serious concern. "All businesses selling to New Zealand consumers must comply with the Fair Trading Act, regardless of where they are based," Horne said. ADVERTISEMENT "Any claims made, or impressions given, about the origin of a product or a business must not be misleading or deceptive. This includes the use of symbols, such as kiwis, flags or other national emblems." Amy Hope of Matakana Boutique. (Source: Supplied) Amy Hope told 1News it was "soul destroying" to see their brand identity taken from them. What began as one or two calls a week quickly escalated to multiple a day – women chasing up late packages, asking for refunds, and complaining about poor-quality clothing they had received. "We deliberately, strategically, chose Matakana Boutique, knowing that that word offers sort of uniqueness and quality and attention to detail, which is what we're about, so it see someone taking it from us and putting it with products we'd never align with, it's strange," said Hope. "They know what they're doing. They're even using our same font. Seeing and being associated with a website like that — it's awful." She said the fake store was cashing in on both the reputation of Matakana as a destination for high-quality product and the goodwill of New Zealanders wanting to support local businesses. ADVERTISEMENT "These women are parting with their money and having a feel-good moment of supporting New Zealand and small business and buying local, and then realising they're not. For some of these women, it was a big choice for them to buy a top for themselves. They feel misled, exploited, and cheated when the product they received, or haven't received, is really poor quality." TWO Boutique owner-operator Alana Silk. (Source: Supplied) TWO Boutique owner-operator Alana Silk had to explain to 12 people who visited her store last week — who were asking for a specific jumper from the fake e-store — that they had fallen for a scam. "They were all very shocked. Most of them travelled to Matakana especially to try it on. There is no physical address for the 'shop', but the Google algorithm is sending them to me." Matakana Village said in a post to Facebook that a wave of people had recently arrived in the village, looking for items they had seen on the website. "Several shoppers who ordered from the site told us their parcels arrived from China, nothing like the photos, and some said they felt scammed. "This confusion has led to real, locally-owned boutiques like us, White Cottage, and Two Boutique, as well as the genuine having to explain the difference — often to very disappointed visitors." ADVERTISEMENT How to spot a fake e-store The Commerce Commission urged consumers to take extra care when shopping online, especially when dealing with unfamiliar websites. Before making a purchase, the Commission recommended researching the business by checking independent reviews and feedback on external platforms. "Don't rely solely on testimonials displayed on the company's own website," a spokesperson said. "These can be selectively curated or even fabricated." Consumers were also encouraged to look for clear and accessible contact details, such as a local address and phone number. "Legitimate online businesses typically provide transparent information about delivery, returns, and payment security," the Commission said. Red flags included vague or missing contact information, overly positive reviews with no detail, and websites that mimicked the branding of known businesses. "Taking a few minutes to verify a site before you buy can save you from being misled or losing money," the Commission added.
