THE CHARLES GROUP
The Charles Group is a full-service creative and digital marketing agency headquartered in Lower Manhattan, founded in 2011, serving Fortune 500 brands and luxury houses across luxury, beauty, hospitality, technology, financial services, and real estate verticals through project, retainer, and AOR engagement models.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What THE CHARLES GROUP does
The Charles Group is a full-service creative and digital marketing agency founded in 2011 and headquartered at 200 Broadway in Lower Manhattan, New York City, with additional offices in Chicago and London. The firm is co-led by founder-CEO Aaron Edwards and founder-CCO Samantha Edwards, and in December 2025 appointed John Dunleavy as Global Managing Director. It operates across five integrated practice areas: Strategy and Consulting, Campaigns and Content, Branding and Visual Design, Technology, and Media, all delivered in-house from its NYC headquarters. Technology capabilities span brand strategy, media buying, performance creative, UX design, web development, content production, CRM, and programmatic advertising.
The agency serves Fortune 500 enterprises and luxury houses across vertical specializations including Luxury Goods & Premium Brands, Beauty and Skincare, Hospitality and Travel, Technology and B2B, Real Estate, Fashion and Athletic Brands, Spirits and Beverages, Financial Services, and Education/Nonprofits. Named clients include Cartier, Aveda, HP, Birkenstock, Corcoran, Marriott Bonvoy, BNY Mellon, Diageo, BCG, Roc Nation, Russell Athletic, Chico's, Saucony, Mackage, Origins, Omega, IWC, ZO Skin Health, Erno Laszlo, St. Regis, IBM, and Seagate. The firm is a member of SoDA and has received D&AD Pencils, a Webby Award, Creative Review Annual recognition, and Cannes Lions recognition.
The Charles Group generates revenue through a three-tier Flex Model: project-based engagements for defined initiatives, retainer agreements for ongoing support, and full Agency of Record (AOR) partnerships for long-term integrated brand management. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The GTM motion is direct enterprise field sales targeting global brands across North America, EMEA, and APAC. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors or parent company, and ownership appears concentrated with the founding principals.
THE CHARLES GROUP firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- THE CHARLES GROUP
- Legal name
- The Charles Group
- Website
- https://thecharlesnyc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Charles Group is a full-service creative and digital marketing agency headquartered in Lower Manhattan, founded in 2011, serving Fortune 500 brands and luxury houses across luxury, beauty, hospitality, technology, financial services, and real estate verticals through project, retainer, and AOR engagement models.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
THE CHARLES GROUP industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Creative Marketing Services
- NAICS
- Media Buying Agencies (541830), Media Buying Agencies (54183), Media Representatives (54184)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Branded Documentary / Nonfiction (Corporate & NGO) (MPADADAK)
Keywords
Where THE CHARLES GROUP is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
THE CHARLES GROUP business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Agency Services Revenue: The Charles Group generates revenue through project-based engagements, retainer agreements, and Agency of Record (AOR) partnerships. The Flex Model supports scaling with client marketing objectives and budget, including long-term integrated brand management contracts.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
THE CHARLES GROUP product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Charles Group is a full-service creative and digital marketing agency delivering brand strategy, campaigns and content, branding and visual design, technology (web development, CRM, programmatic), and media buying for Fortune 500 brands and luxury houses. The agency offers a Flex Model of project-based, retainer, and Agency of Record (AOR) engagements, executed in-house from its NYC headquarters with additional offices in Chicago and London.
Product overview
The Charles Group is a full-service creative and digital marketing agency (not a software product company) offering five integrated practice areas: Strategy and Consulting, Campaigns and Content, Branding and Visual Design, Technology, and Media. These service lines operate collaboratively, with the agency delivering strategy-led creative work across luxury goods, beauty and skincare, hospitality, technology and B2B, fashion, spirits, and real estate sectors. The agency serves Fortune 500 brands and luxury houses through project-based, retainer, and Agency of Record (AOR) engagement models.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Strategy and Consulting Research, data, and audience insights that precede every creative decision, connecting brand storytelling directly to commercial outcomes for enterprise clients.
- Branding and Visual Design Brand identity development, visual design, UX design, and creative services for enterprise clients across luxury, beauty, hospitality, technology, and other verticals.
- Media Media buying and performance creative services for targeted audience reach and campaign optimization for enterprise brands.
Companies that use THE CHARLES GROUP
Customer profileNamed customers22 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles8 records
THE CHARLES GROUP technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
THE CHARLES GROUP partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- The Residences at The St. Regis NashvillecoreNew partnership launching a new legacy of luxury with The Residences at The St. Regis Nashville. The Charles Group is developing luxury real estate marketing campaigns for the property, creating aspirational lifestyle content positioning the residences as a premium living destination.
- Uncommon SchoolscoreNew partnership building a modern growth engine with Uncommon Schools. The agency is supporting the educational nonprofit organization with strategic marketing capabilities to enhance their growth and outreach initiatives.
- HPflagshipOngoing partnership connecting brand storytelling to revenue across HP hardware, software and services. The partnership includes the high-profile HP x Ferrari campaign launching the collaboration of two visionary companies. Also includes work for Z by HP brand.
- FerrariflagshipHP x Ferrari partnership, launching the collaboration of two visionary companies. The Charles Group created campaign content featuring Ferrari F1 racing suits with HP branding, including imagery of driver Leclerc.
- TurnberrycoreOne Park Tower luxury waterfront condominium marketing campaign in North Miami. The agency is engaging luxury buyers seeking a lifestyle and community through sophisticated visual storytelling.
- SeagatecoreDigital reintroduction of The Seagate Delray landmark property following a $55M physical transformation. Full digital marketing campaign supporting the property's relaunch.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
THE CHARLES GROUP competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- R/GA: Larger global creative and technology agency serving Fortune 500 clients across brand, product, and content. Comparable in serving enterprise tech (IBM, HP-tier) clients but at substantially greater scale.
- Droga5: Acclaimed NYC creative agency (now part of Accenture Song) serving global enterprise brands with award-winning campaigns. Comparable creative pedigree and luxury/premium clientele at significantly larger scale.
- Wieden+Kennedy: Iconic independent creative agency with global offices and deep luxury/premium brand experience. Comparable independent ownership structure and creative-first positioning, but at materially greater scale.
Direct peers
- Anomaly: Independent NYC-based creative agency serving premium consumer brands across strategy, advertising, and content. Closely comparable in size, founder-led structure, and luxury/CPG client mix to The Charles Group.
- Mother: Independent creative agency with NYC and London offices, similarly sized, serving premium and challenger brands with integrated strategy, content, and media. Highly comparable boutique full-service model with luxury crossover.
- 72andSunny: Independent creative agency with global offices serving Fortune 500 and premium brands through brand strategy, campaigns, and content. Directly comparable full-service creative model and client tier.
- GUT: Independently held, founder-led creative and media agency with offices in the US, Europe, and LatAm serving Fortune 500 brands. Closely comparable independent full-service positioning and enterprise client focus.
- Johannes Leonardo: NYC-based independent creative agency serving premium consumer and lifestyle brands with integrated brand, content, and media capabilities. Comparable boutique scale and luxury-leaning client book.
- Mekanism: NYC-based independent creative agency combining brand storytelling with performance media, serving mid-to-large consumer brands. Comparable in-house integrated model and premium brand focus.
- Arts&Science: Independent NYC creative agency known for premium and luxury brand work with integrated strategy, design, and content capabilities. Closely comparable boutique full-service positioning.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
THE CHARLES GROUP social profiles
Digital presenceTHE CHARLES GROUP financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
THE CHARLES GROUP leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
THE CHARLES GROUP funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
THE CHARLES GROUP M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about THE CHARLES GROUP
What does THE CHARLES GROUP do?
The Charles Group is a full-service creative and digital marketing agency delivering brand strategy, campaigns and content, branding and visual design, technology (web development, CRM, programmatic), and media buying for Fortune 500 brands and luxury houses. The agency offers a Flex Model of project-based, retainer, and Agency of Record (AOR) engagements, executed in-house from its NYC headquarters with additional offices in Chicago and London.
Is THE CHARLES GROUP a public or private company?
THE CHARLES GROUP is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was THE CHARLES GROUP founded?
THE CHARLES GROUP was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is THE CHARLES GROUP based?
THE CHARLES GROUP is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does THE CHARLES GROUP make money?
One revenue line is on record: agency Services Revenue.
Who are THE CHARLES GROUP's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are R/GA, Droga5 and Wieden+Kennedy. Direct peers are Anomaly, Mother, 72andSunny, GUT, Johannes Leonardo, Mekanism and Arts&Science.
Does THE CHARLES GROUP have an API?
No public API is recorded for THE CHARLES GROUP.
What industry is THE CHARLES GROUP in?
THE CHARLES GROUP's product category is Creative Marketing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAIAJ, Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams), with a secondary code of MPADADAK, Branded Documentary / Nonfiction (Corporate & NGO). Its NAICS code is 541830 and its SIC code is 7311.