Kickers
**Background:** Kickers has long been linked with independent subcultures at the forefront of innovative music scenes. BUMP was engaged to devise a strategy that would restore the cultural significance of Kickers, as it was essential for the brand to reclaim its cult status as a heritage British clothing label. The challenge was clear: Kickers needed to recapture its trendy image to resonate commercially with the contemporary 16-24 age group.
**Insight and Approach:** According to the Voxburner Youth Trend Report (2021), 62% of UK individuals aged 16-24 used TikTok at least once a month, surpassing Facebook (57%) and Twitter (40%). Nearly half of all TikTok users reported purchasing from brands they encountered on the platform, and 15% of adults, along with 36% of Gen Z, made purchases influenced by TikTok (Adweek, 2021). Our strategy focused on enhancing Kickers' cool factor by promoting cutting-edge Gen Z talent on the relevant platform: TikTok. We carried out qualitative interviews to audit Kickers, and the findings led to the creation of The Kickers Presents platform. This initiative aims to highlight emerging creatives, provide industry insights, and host stages at the UK’s trendiest music festivals. As a result, Kickers’ TikTok following grew from zero to 38,000 in just six months, with Kickers Presents garnering over 3 million views. Our cultural marketing strategy included collaboration with a network of 600 artists, partnerships with four clubs and festivals, musicians, producers, influential industry figures, and festival attendees.
**Website Performance during Outlook Festival Activation:** There was a 27% week-over-week growth in the women’s category page and a 44% increase for men's, along with an impressive 816% rise in Instagram story mentions during the festival. The week following the event saw a 113% increase in new private message requests. Our gifting suite led to 27 music artists sharing their own user-generated content. Overall, our total following reached 187,000, with an average engagement rate of 10.6%. Over six days, we received 288 music mixes submitted at 30 minutes each, amounting to 8,640 hours of music.