Gen Z
MARKETING
Agency

INSIGHT. STRATEGY. CREATIVE

We are a diverse and specialist Gen Z marketing agency in London, UK that uses hyper-nuanced cultural insight to position brands at the centre of youth culture through purpose-driven initiatives.

OUR CONSUMER-CENTRIC
CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE AND
RESEARCH PLATFORM

20K

GEN-Z DATA LAKE

55K

HOURS OF CONSUMER
OPINIONS

200

HYPER LOCAL
CULTURAL AUTHORITIES

POWERED BY
FRONTLINE

We specialise in engaging diverse, inner city Gen Z consumers, which as a cohort accounts for 1.1B people – 55% of the global Gen Z populace. FRONTLINE helps brands get closer to the inner city, youth trends that shape mainstream culture. Don’t ignore the largest and most influential youth audience. Book your complimentary street culture Gen Z workshop now!

Our
Work

Our
Approach

We Don't Do Guess Work.
We Do facts.

Youth
Experts

Industry-leading, GenZ
consumer and street
culture specialist
youth marketing agency

Cultural
Intelligence

A global network
Of 200 hyper-local
Cultural authorities

Propietry
Big Data

A live data lake of
20,000 Gen-Z street
culture consumers

Gen Z
Experts

The no.1 street culture
specialist Gen Z
marketing agency.

Cultural
Insights

A global network
of 200 local market
cultural insiders.

In-House
Big data

A global data pool of
20,000 inner-city
youth consumers.

gen z
marketing agency

NERDS is a culture-first Gen Z marketing agency that combines the robust application of cultural intelligence, big data and Gen Z expertise. NERDS deliver the realest consumer-centric brand projects that drive cultural equity and ROI.

As the leading Gen Z marketing agency, we’ve noticed young people are less concerned with mass culture and mainstream expressions of identity. Instead, they choose to explore more nuanced and narrow niches of cultural interest, seeking like-minded people to share their lifestyle aspirations. They are also searching for like-minded brands that mirror their cultural ideology. NERDS can help orientate your brand in a way that increases its aspirational status and primes itself for adoption within these micro-cultural communities, enabling your brand to hold identity value in multiple spheres of cultural expression.

The Gen Z ‘identity’ fragmentation has been accelerated through new digital technology, providing opportunities for more profound self-discovery than ever before. This might explain why Gen Z prioritises brands that help project their cultural identity.

We can help brands navigate how to be credibly part of the incoming Gen Z dominated world and build meaningful connections within these youth communities. We focus on helping brands stay relevant through culture. We dont believe brands can survive trading solely on price, function, attributes and emotional benefits. We help brands transcend category limitations, moving from brand icons to cultural icons. Cultural iconic brands provide an opportunity to create meaning within the experience economy. They enable Gen Z consumers to fit in with aspirational and influential cultural ideologies whilst expressing individuality. Cultural Icons speak to youth identity desires and are purpose-driven: resolving cultural tensions and becoming a short-hand signal for cultural status.

We always start with a culture-first approach, crafting unique cultural positioning that has high cultural resonance within Gen Z communities.

Why do we help brands move from a direct-to-consumer model to a direct-to-community model? Because we’re constantly seeing collectives of Gen Z cultural insiders intensely gathering on web2.5 social platforms like Twitch and Discord to build communities that are centred around a niche, cultural interest. It's these cultural communities that influence mass behaviour.

These online platforms and IRL cultural congregation points help cement specialist group members' values, principles, interests and goals, further crystallising the communities purpose and membership consensus. NERDS can help evolve your brand positioning so you’re accepted into these identity-first niche communities that influence Gen Z consumer segments by driving your cultural equity and perceived social currency.

NERDS will help your brand become a market leader through cultural-centric strategies that move beyond psychographics. We will help your brand explore community creation, leveraging the human need for community, a key driver of Gen Z psychology. What makes NERDS the number one Gen Z marketing agency is our ability to co-create purposeful brand-centric communities that deliver long-term sustainability and cultural relevance.

As the number one Gen Z marketing agency, we guarantee future-forward insights, accessed through hard-to-reach youth audiences, translated into authentic and engaging strategy and creative. Our projects are co-created with the GenZ communities driving the culture.

Each project team is carefully curated from our extensive network according to the category of your challenge.

We have helped brands like Nike, adidas, Puma, The North Face, Converse and Levi’s build compelling cultural identities that help differentiate their brand and create cultural kudos within Gen Z communities. We never pitch. Instead, we collaborate with brands that share our passion for purposefully facilitating and propelling culture whilst supporting the Gen Z communities that fuel it.

Government investment in Gen Z programs and services has been reduced by 70% since 2010. NERDS stand by the idea that brands have the resources and means to create a positive change at the frontline of inner-city youth communities. These cohorts are responsible for generating the cultural currency most brands trade off.

Our mission is to help brands cultivate a purposeful connection with youth culture focused on marginalised, unrepresented and under-resourced youth.

About
NERDS

Founded by Luke Hodson in 2013, NERDS Collective emerged as a revolutionary Gen Z Marketing Agency in London, UK, making its mark in the nexus between authentic street culture and brand innovation. Rooted in our origins from URBAN NERDS – a renowned underground music platform birthed in London's East End in 2007 – we've always been on the frontline of championing emerging communities and unearthing raw talent. Our legacy transcends mere marketing, focusing intently on amplifying and empowering inner-city individuals and grassroots movements. With sweeping budget cuts on youth-centric initiatives, NERDS believes that brands, backed by our deep Gen Z insights, can profoundly impact the new generation of young people who are shaping tomorrow's cultural spaces.

Client
Testimonials

"Nerds are youth culture experts with a unique ability to identify hard-to-reach youth audiences and surface nuanced insight that has helped transform PUMA into a culture-first brand."

Paul Spencer

UKIB CEO at Puma

"Nerd's approach to work is loaded with data and expertise in youth culture, driven by their passion for unlocking opportunities that align with brand strategies and consumer needs. Nerds' can show a brand exactly who their consumers are, identify their needs and how your brand can play a purposeful role in their world, which also drives commercial success. For example, whilst at Pentland, we partnered up with Nerds on a consumer segmentation and connections strategy that led to the creation of several new Lacoste products, built with the consumer at the heart of the design, that delivered £ m's in revenue."

Dan MoneyPenny

Global Head Of Sales at Pentland

"Nerds are youth culture experts with a unique ability to identify hard-to-reach youth audiences and surface nuanced insight that has helped transform PUMA into a culture-first brand."

Nadia Kokni

CMO at JD Sports

"NERDS have an exceptional talent for providing authentic, descriptive and data-based insight into the culture and mindsets of the younger generation. Through Nerds, we broadened our view of youth and developed impactful and culturally relevant derivations for our strategies and communication. Nerds' knowledge and expertise were a real enrichment in our work, and it was a pleasure to work with you. Thank you."

Marlen Ring

Western Europe Marketing Director at Coca-Cola

WHY
NERDS?

In an era dominated by Gen Z's unique cultural syntax, NERDS positions itself as more than just a Gen Z Marketing Agency in London – we're your cultural compass. Brands like Nike, Adidas, JBL, and Levi’s choose us because we intimately decode and engage with the multidimensional Gen Z landscape.

Our platform Frontline, isn’t just a research portal; it's a window into the zeitgeist of global street culture and Gen Z consumption patterns. Combining this with our in-depth culture-first ethos, we empower brands with unmatched insights, guiding them through the complex Gen Z marketplace.

The contemporary Gen Z is carving out eclectic cultural spaces, often at the intersection of their heritage, passion and style perfences. To remain relevant, brands must evolve, embody authenticity, and deeply engage with these novel cultural pulses. NERDS, as your dedicated Gen Z Marketing Agency, ensures your brand isn't just seen but celebrated by these vibrant communities.

As Gen Z continues to rewrite brand loyalty by prioritising companies that resonate with their socio-cultural narratives, we arm our clients with transformative audience insights. These insights not only offer a glimpse into the Gen Z mindset but also create brand stories that genuinely resonate. Dive deep into the world of Gen Z marketing, strategy, and cultural nuance with NERDS – your go-to Gen Z Marketing Agency.

Frequently Asked
Questions

Who Are Gen Z

Generation Z, often abbreviated as Gen Z, is a vibrant and diverse generational cohort that came to the fore after the Millennials and just before the nascent Generation Alpha. Typically, they are individuals born between 1990 and 2010. This tech-savvy and socially conscious generation is swiftly carving out its unique identity, making them a focal demographic for many brands.

What Does A Gen Z Marketing Agency Do?

A Gen Z Marketing Agency is uniquely tailored to understand and engage with this dynamic generation. Such agencies, like NERDS Collective, are adept at harnessing cutting-edge insights, conducting deep-dive research, formulating resonant strategies, and delivering compelling creative content that speaks the language of Gen Z. The primary objective? To craft narratives that resonate with this generation's values, aspirations, and consumption habits.

What Are Gen Z Marketing Agency Campaigns?

Campaigns orchestrated by a Gen Z Marketing Agency, especially those at NERDS Collective, are distinguished by their culture-first, innovation-led approach. These are not just campaigns; they are immersive experiences designed to foster genuine connections between brands and the multifaceted youth communities. Every element of these campaigns, from inception to execution, is geared towards reflecting the authentic cultural nuances and vibrancies of the Gen Z demographic.

What is Gen Z Marketing?

Gen Z Marketing is more than just a buzzword. It's an evolving paradigm in the marketing, PR, and advertising spheres. It encapsulates a suite of strategies and actions, specially designed to resonate with young individuals aged between 11 and 35. Given the distinct cultural and technological landscape these youths inhabit, Gen Z Marketing is all about authenticity, innovation, and relevance.

Do you only specialise in Gen Z?

While our forte at NERDS Collective is deeply entrenched in youth marketing spanning the age group of 11-35, our expertise isn't limited to just Gen Z. We possess the versatility and breadth of knowledge to cater to audiences beyond this demographic, ensuring that our strategies are comprehensive and encompassing.

Gen Z MARKETINGAgency

POWERED BY FRONTLINE

Our Work

Our Approach

gen z marketing agency

About NERDS

ClientTestimonials

WHY NERDS?

Frequently AskedQuestions