‘Catch them young’ is thought to be the secret motto of all companies and brands, but as their activity proves, they are not only establishing strong ties with younger consumers from early years of their life to make them used to buying a particular product, but also support their creativity, encourage to develop eco-friendly attitude and start making contributions to the world though participating in a range of social projects devised or supported by brands. Today, we at Popsop are delving into answering the question of what marketing efforts attract representatives of Generation Z (born 1991-2002) and to some extend Generation Y (born 1981-1990).

Converse goes on celebrating UK rock and dance music by popularizing it across the world. Recently, the brand presented two short documentaries covering the dance music tour, ‘Live from London,’ which was arranged by the shoe brand and the Fader across the US last fall. The videos showcase producer Jamie xx, the key figure of the project, as well as “one of the premier purveyors of dubstepFantastic Mr. Fox sharing their thoughts on music.

Converse, the footwear brands which supports aspiring musicians and saves rock-clubs, is also well-known for its successful collaborations with designers and artists. To broaden its portfolio of prints and styles, this time the label teamed up with one of the world’s iconic companies in the textile and clothing design business, the Helsinki-based Marimekko Corporation founded back in 1951, to develop a «women’s focused» Spring 2011 collection for Converse’s fans. The line, which launched in February 2011, features classic vibrant Marimekko’s patterns on the iconic shoes of the brand.

Converse supports indie music not only by creating more opportunities for up-and-coming musicians, but also by saving iconic rock venues from closure. In September 2010, it was announced that iconic London-based the 100 Club, which for over 70 years has been hosting performances by a plethora of musicians such as the Sex Pistols, the Rolling Stones, Oasis bands among others, was due to close because of an increase in rent prices. The club was to be shut for ever in December 2010, but then the 100 Club said that it was discussing possible business collaborations with various partners that could help it out of the trouble. Now, the results of these business talks are unveiled: Converse, one of the biggest global shoe-brands for teenagers and younger adults, comes out as the sponsor the venue.

Nike has several new editions in stock to celebrate 2011 Black History Month. Every year, the brand, which is well-known for supporting a variety of projects related to the Afro-American culture, releases new products to pay tribute to the big date. In 2011, the sport gear manufacturer has come up with a set of new stunning footwear and apparel in the black palette. The holiday pack includes four sneakers celebrating three cult basketball players Julius Irving (Dr. J), Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant, plus Nike Air Force 1 and a Destroyer jacket—all in black.

Converse paints the walls of British towns to promote its recent collaboration with popular and emerging musicians. The brand is known for its projects focused on celebrating arts and music culture, and this summer and fall it released several tracks by GB and U.S. entertainers. Recently, the footwear company has partnered with Monorex, a group of graffiti-inspired visual artists, to pay tribute to influential musicians by promoting indie music genres with street art.

In honour of the World AIDS Day, December 1, the charitable (RED) project in collaboration with global brands gave boost to its international program focused on providing help to HIV-infected people in Africa. They have introduced a new twist of the campaign, which has been running since 2006: this time, (RED) wants to bring attention to the possibility of the first AIDS Free Generation in 30 years by 2015, and is encouraging people around the globe to promote the idea by customizing their social media profiles with (RED) avatars, badges and backgrounds as well as buying the branded goods from iconic manufacturers.

Converse is going on celebrating aspiring indie bands, which want to make it really huge on the national stage. The brand, known for its dedication to youth and music, has launched its third annual “Get Out of the Garage” contest in collaboration with Journeys, a U.S. retailer for teen footwear and accessories. The submission period closes today, November 12, and Monday they the voting kicks off.

Converse has opened its first flagship venue after operating for over 102 years on the U.S. market and having 53 shops across the country. The new concept store, opened last week in Boston, offers the whole range of apparel and footwear produced by the brand, including the limited-edition items, some of which are very hard (or even impossible) to find in other cities. The launch of the new venue comes as a proof of today’s marketing success of the company, which ten years ago declared bankruptcy and was purchased by Nike.