Brand Strategy & Positioning
Find what makes the brand worth choosing and build the strategic foundation around it.
Branding Agency born and raised in Charlotte, NC
Local roots, global mindset
nez&pez grew out of a creative partnership that started in Charlotte nearly two decades ago. Co-Founders Laurie “nez” Donato and Ruben “pez” Lopez first worked together at a Charlotte agency in 2007, spending the next 13 years creating nationally and globally recognized work across industries before launching nez&pez in 2020. Today, clients get direct access to the founders and senior creative thinking, backed by the perspective and creative standards to compete anywhere.
What we help Charlotte brands do
From defining the strategy to building the identity, campaign or digital experience around it, we help companies create brands that are easier to understand, harder to ignore and built to grow.
Brand Identity Systems
Create a distinctive visual and verbal identity that makes the brand recognizable everywhere.
Big Idea Creative Campaigns
Develop ideas that break patterns, command attention, and create memorable moments.
Websites & Digital Experience
Build digital experiences that make the story clear, reinforce the brand, and drive action.
Charlotte-Area Client Work
Our Charlotte-area client work reflects that same range of experience, spanning brand strategy, identity design, creative campaigns, and advertising across different industries and business challenges. Here's a look at some of the brands and organizations we've helped stand out.
AccruePartners Rebrand
Domtar Next is now
Myers Park Baptist Church Flipping the Scripture
Hickory Tavern Making it Right
Bascom Advisors Your interest above all
What do Charlotte-area clients say?
“nez&pez brought strategic thinking, strong creative direction, and genuine partnership to every stage of the process. I would highly recommend them to any organization looking for a creative branding agency.
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“I can always count on nez&pez to deliver the highest level of creativity, messaging, and design. They’re a trusted partner and an invaluable resource.
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“nez&pez' dedication and innovative approach make them a standout choice for any high-impact marketing project.
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When nez&pez is the right fit
nez&pez is a Charlotte-based branding agency that works best with startups, B2B companies, cybersecurity brands and established brands facing an important launch, repositioning or growth moment. We connect strategy, positioning, messaging and creative around one clear brand idea. Our approach is grounded in 'Stay unexpected': resisting the pull toward sameness and finding the spark, point of view, or unexpected truth that makes a brand impossible to ignore.
Best fit scenarios:
- A new company, product, or offering needs a brand built around a clear position
- An established brand is evolving, repositioning, or entering a new stage of growth
- Positioning, messaging, identity and creative no longer feel connected
- A campaign, website or brand experience needs a stronger idea behind it
- The company operates in a crowded category where differentiation matters
- The team wants direct access to senior strategy and creative leadership
We’re not the best fit for teams looking primarily for high-volume production or execution without strategic involvement.
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Frequently asked questions
Looking for a branding agency in Charlotte, NC? Here are answers to a few common questions about nez&pez, how we work, and the kinds of branding challenges we help companies solve.
Is nez&pez a Charlotte branding agency?
Yes. nez&pez is based in Charlotte, NC. Co-Founders Laurie “nez” Donato and Ruben “pez” Lopez began working together in Charlotte in 2007 and launched nez&pez in 2020.
What branding services does nez&pez offer?
nez&pez works across brand strategy and positioning, messaging, brand identity, creative campaigns, websites and digital experiences. We can lead a full brand initiative or focus on the pieces a company needs most.
What kinds of companies does nez&pez work with?
We work with startups, B2B companies, cybersecurity brands, and established companies across industries. The common thread is usually an important moment of launch, growth, change, or repositioning.
Does nez&pez only work with companies in Charlotte?
No. Charlotte is our home base, but we work with companies across the U.S. and internationally.
What makes nez&pez different from a larger branding agency?
nez&pez is founder-led and deliberately lean. Clients work directly with senior strategy and creative leadership, with specialists brought in based on what the work actually requires.
