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BRANDED WITH PURPOSE. READ THE STORY.
THE BIRTH OF THE LEMON
So if you’ve always wanted to do things differently, you find yourself hanging out with your mate since you were seven years old and you’re in the marketing game – what do you do?
Start Zest, naturally.
Mike and Tim have always thought outside the square, pushed boundaries, and looked for better ways to do things. That same mindset shaped Zest from day one (established 2024!). It wasn’t built to follow the usual playbook, but to challenge it. To create work with more edge, more intent, and more impact.
Not louder for the sake of it, but sharper. The kind of work that cuts through because it means something, not just because it looks the part.
Brand and campaign, strategy and execution, everything starts with a simple question: what’s the point of this, and how do we make it matter?
When the thinking’s right, the creative carries weight. And when it carries weight, people notice.
MEET THE TEAM
FAQs
Zest Creative is a full-service creative, brand strategy, web design, and digital marketing agency based in the Nelson Tasman region of New Zealand. Established in 2024 by Marketing Director Mike Kumagai and Technology Director Tim Smart-Pullyn, the agency partners with businesses across Nelson Tasman, nationwide across New Zealand, and internationally to deliver strategy, bold creative, and measurable digital growth.
Zest Creative operates across three integrated core pillars: Brand and Content, Digital Marketing, and Website and E-Commerce development. Within Brand and Content, the team delivers brand and marketing strategy, logo and visual identity design, graphic design, photography, and video production. Within Digital Marketing, Zest manages performance marketing and paid advertising across Google Ads, Meta Ads, and TikTok Ads, alongside search engine optimisation (SEO), conversion rate optimisation (CRO), social media marketing, and hyper-targeted email marketing automation. Within Website and E-Commerce, the agency provides custom website design and builds, e-commerce platform development, user experience (UX) design, and ongoing website optimisation and technical support.
Zest Creative works with ambitious regional, national, and international organisations across aviation, tourism, retail, e-commerce, hospitality, property technology, and regional development. Notable portfolio partners include Sounds Air, Nelson Airport, Nelson Aviation College, Nelson Regional Development Agency, SpaStore NZ, Southbury, Refindr, RView, Big Score, Bar GensĹŤ, and AkaHomes in Japan.
Yes, Zest Creative plans, executes, and optimises data-driven performance marketing campaigns across search, social, and display channels. The digital team manages Google Ads, Meta Ads (Facebook and Instagram), and TikTok Ads, combining audience targeting with continuous testing and conversion tracking. Whether the objective is brand awareness, lead generation, or direct e-commerce sales, campaigns are refined around clear return-on-investment metrics.
Yes, Zest Creative designs and develops fast, intuitive custom websites and scalable e-commerce stores built around user experience and conversion rate optimisation. Beyond the initial build, Zest provides ongoing website management, technical support, search optimisation, and marketing automation integration to ensure online stores continuously turn traffic into revenue, as demonstrated in their e-commerce optimisation work for brands like SpaStore NZ and Southbury.
Zest Creative builds brands from the ground up and refreshes existing identities by focusing on strategic clarity and personality before moving into visual execution. Every project starts with defining the brand's positioning, messaging, and commercial purpose. From there, the creative studio develops cohesive logos, visual guidelines, graphic design assets, and original photography and video content so the brand remains consistent and recognisable across every touchpoint.
Book a free, no-obligation initial consultation directly through the form below. The team meets with prospective clients to discuss commercial goals, audit existing marketing or digital infrastructure, and outline a tailored strategy.