The Shelf vs ARCH

Why brands weigh up influencer agency options

When you’re serious about influencer marketing, the hardest part often isn’t choosing creators. It’s choosing the right partner to run everything with you.

That’s where the idea of comparing influencer agencies like The Shelf and ARCH usually begins.

You’re not just hunting for a vendor. You want a team that understands your brand voice, your numbers, and your growth targets.

Some marketers want big, splashy creative ideas. Others care more about clear tracking, costs, and repeatable success across channels.

This is where a focus on influencer agency services becomes useful, because it forces you to look beyond the pitch decks.

Instead of asking, “Which name is bigger?” it helps to ask, “Who can deliver the kind of campaigns my audience will actually care about?”

As you read on, think about your budget, your in‑house bandwidth, and how hands‑on you want to be in the process.

Table of contents

• What each agency is mainly known for
• How The Shelf typically works with brands
• How ARCH typically works with brands
• Key differences in style and focus
• Pricing approach and engagement style
• Strengths and limitations to keep in mind
• Who each agency is usually best for
• When a platform like Flinque may fit better
• FAQs
• Making your choice with confidence
• Disclaimer

What each agency is mainly known for

Both agencies sit in the same broad space, but they tend to be recognized for slightly different strengths and styles.

Influencer agency services can range from one‑off creator outreach to fully managed, multi‑market programs.

The Shelf in simple terms

The Shelf is generally known as a creative, strategy‑heavy influencer shop with a strong focus on storytelling and niche audiences.

They often highlight clever, themed campaigns and tend to lean into detailed, data‑backed planning.

Brands that like big concepts, tailored creator selection, and cross‑channel storytelling often gravitate toward this style.

ARCH in simple terms

ARCH is usually positioned as a modern influencer and creator marketing partner with a sharp eye on culture, aesthetics, and social trends.

Its work often appeals to brands that care a lot about visual identity and want campaigns that feel current and culturally aware.

Instead of just reach, the focus often lands on alignment with subcultures and communities.

How The Shelf typically works with brands

Every agency has its own “secret sauce,” but most service areas fall into a few recognizable buckets.

Below is a simplified look at how this shop usually positions its work with brands.

Core services you can expect

While details change by client, services often include a full funnel of planning and execution.

• Campaign strategy and creative concepts
• Influencer discovery and vetting
• Contracting and compliance support
• Content briefs and approvals
• Campaign management and reporting
• Long‑term ambassador or evergreen programs

Some briefs also include extensions into paid amplification, whitelisting, or repurposing content for other channels.

Approach to influencer campaigns

The typical style is structured and idea‑driven. The agency usually spends time up front translating your brand goals into a narrative.

The team will weave in audience data, choose platforms, and decide what mix of creators best serves awareness versus conversions.

Then they guide influencers with clear briefs while leaving enough room for authentic voice and creativity.

Relationships with creators

Most agencies in this tier maintain their own internal databases, historic performance notes, and relationships with repeat partners.

The goal is usually to match brands with creators who fit both creatively and professionally.

Because they handle contracts and logistics, the relationship between your team and creators is often filtered through the agency.

Typical client fit

This style of influencer agency services tends to resonate with brands that:

• Want strong creative ideas and polished decks
• Have clear campaign goals and budgets to test
• Value reporting and structured communication
• Need help selling ideas internally to leadership

It can also suit teams that lack in‑house staff to manage daily creator communications.

How ARCH typically works with brands

ARCH leans into a more culture‑driven, style‑conscious face of influencer marketing.

This can feel a little different from a purely performance‑oriented or “numbers first” partner.

Core services you can expect

While positioning and naming may vary, most engagements center on similar building blocks.

• Brand and cultural positioning for social
• Influencer and creator casting
• Campaign concepting and production support
• Social content direction and guidance
• Campaign coordination and tracking
• Support for ongoing creator relationships

Some work may extend into event‑driven activations, drops, or limited runs tied to creators.

Approach to influencer campaigns

ARCH is often associated with campaigns that feel deeply rooted in specific communities or style movements.

Instead of just asking, “Who has reach?” the question leans toward, “Who belongs in this space and speaks the language?”

Campaigns typically prioritize creative cohesion, aesthetic quality, and a sense of cultural fit.

Relationships with creators

You can expect a curated network of creators, often with strong identities in fashion, lifestyle, design, music, or culture.

The agency’s value comes from knowing which creators feel genuine for a brand versus those that just look big on paper.

They’ll typically handle negotiations, expectations, and creative direction to keep things on track.

Typical client fit

This flavor of agency tends to attract brands that:

• Want to be seen as culture‑driven or design‑led
• Care deeply about visual identity and mood
• Target younger, trend‑sensitive audiences
• Value long‑term cultural relevance as much as short‑term metrics

It can be especially appealing for fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and creative industries.

Key differences in style and focus

On paper, both agencies help brands run influencer campaigns. In practice, the experience can feel different.

One often leans more into structured, data‑heavy planning, while the other may emphasize cultural fluency and visual storytelling.

Strategy and creativity

If you like big, deck‑driven ideas with a clear funnel narrative, you may feel more at home with strategy‑centric teams.

If you prefer moodboards, references from art or music, and creative direction that feels like a studio, you might lean toward culture‑first partners.

Both routes can work; it depends how your team likes to think and decide.

Type of creators and communities

Some agencies excel at finding highly specific niche voices, such as micro creators in parenting, gaming, or wellness.

Others specialize in “scene” creators embedded in fashion, nightlife, or creative industries.

The better fit is usually the one that already knows the corners of the internet where your audience hangs out.

Reporting and performance focus

Data‑forward teams may place more emphasis on detailed reporting, conversion tracking, and clear breakdowns of what worked.

Culturally led teams still track numbers, but may talk more about sentiment, brand positioning, and creative impact.

Ask for sample reports so you can see which style speaks your language.

Pricing approach and engagement style

Both influencers and agencies are service‑based, so exact numbers will always depend on scope, market, and timelines.

Still, there are some common patterns in how these collaborations are structured.

How agencies usually charge

Most influencer firms avoid public rate cards because each campaign can look very different from the next.

Instead, you’ll usually see a mix of:

• Custom project quotes for single campaigns
• Monthly retainers for ongoing work
• Creator fees and production costs bundled into budgets
• Management or strategy fees layered on top

The final figure depends heavily on how many creators you want and how ambitious the idea is.

What pushes costs up or down

Some of the biggest cost drivers are simple and predictable:

• Number of creators and their audience size
• Number of platforms involved, like TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram
• Usage rights for content and duration
• Need for in‑person shoots or travel
• How fast you need everything turned around

Adding robust reporting, testing, or whitelisting can also increase management effort and fees.

How you’ll typically work together

Engagement styles tend to fall on a spectrum from “done with you” to “done for you.”

Some brands want weekly calls, deep involvement in casting, and close content review.

Others prefer to hand off a brief, then only step in at key approval points.

Ask clearly how each agency likes to communicate so expectations are aligned from day one.

Strengths and limitations to keep in mind

No agency is perfect for everyone. The key is finding which strengths map to your needs, and which trade‑offs you can live with.

Common strengths you might see

• Deep creator networks that are hard to build in‑house
• Experience across many campaigns and industries
• Ability to translate vague ideas into clear creative direction
• Hands‑on management of contracts, timelines, and approvals
• Structured reporting that makes it easier to brief stakeholders

Typical limitations to watch for

• You may feel one step removed from creators because the agency is the main point of contact.
• Complex approval flows can sometimes slow content down.
• Smaller budgets can struggle to access top‑tier creators or more complex concepts.
• Campaign learnings can be less reusable if you change agencies frequently.

A frequent concern is whether the agency truly understands your brand or is just repackaging a “house style” they use for everyone.

Who each agency is usually best for

Instead of seeing this as a winner‑take‑all decision, it can help to match your profile to the type of help you actually need.

When a strategy‑heavy creative agency fits

• You want refined creative concepts tied clearly to funnel stages.
• Your leadership expects detailed reports and measurable outcomes.
• You run multi‑wave campaigns across several platforms.
• Your team has limited time to manage day‑to‑day creator logistics.

When a culture‑first creative agency fits

• You want your brand to feel rooted in a specific scene or community.
• Visual identity and mood are just as important as reach.
• You’re launching drops, collabs, or event‑driven moments.
• Your audience cares more about cultural relevance than traditional ads.

Questions to ask yourself before choosing

• Do we care more about brand storytelling or short‑term sales?
• How comfortable are we with creative risk and experimentation?
• How much internal time do we have to manage and approve work?
• Is our budget better suited to one big moment or steady always‑on activity?

Answering these honestly will usually make the “right partner” feel obvious.

When a platform like Flinque may fit better

Sometimes, a full‑service agency just isn’t the right shape for your needs, especially if budgets are tight or your team enjoys being hands‑on.

Why some brands choose a platform

Tools like Flinque offer a software‑driven way to find influencers, manage outreach, and track campaigns without committing to a large retainer.

Instead of paying for a full external team, you essentially equip your own staff with better systems and search capabilities.

When this path makes sense

• Your budget is modest but you want to run frequent, smaller campaigns.
• You already have a social team that enjoys working directly with creators.
• You value direct relationships with influencers for the long term.
• You’re comfortable taking responsibility for briefs and creative direction.

This route can feel more flexible, but it does demand internal time and attention.

FAQs

How do I know if my budget is enough for an influencer agency?

Start by being transparent about your total budget and goals on the first call. A serious agency will quickly tell you what’s realistic, suggest right‑sized scopes, or recommend alternative paths if your numbers don’t match their usual minimums.

Should I work with micro or macro influencers?

Micro creators often drive stronger engagement and credibility in tight communities, while macro creators bring faster reach. Most brands benefit from a mix, using bigger names for awareness and smaller voices for trust and steady conversation.

How long should I test an influencer program before judging results?

Allow at least one or two full campaign cycles, often three to six months, before making big calls. This gives enough time to test creators, optimize messages, and see how content performs across seasons, offers, and creative angles.

Can I reuse influencer content in my ads and website?

Usually yes, but only if usage rights are clearly negotiated in contracts. Rights can cover specific channels, geographies, and time periods. Always ask your agency or legal team to confirm what’s allowed before republishing content.

What should I look for in campaign reports?

Look beyond vanity metrics. Ask for clear views on reach, engagement, traffic, and sales impact where possible. You should also see learnings about which creators, formats, messages, and platforms worked best, plus concrete recommendations for the next round.

Making your choice with confidence

Choosing between different influencer partners is really about choosing how you want to grow, not just who you want to email creators for you.

Start by being honest about your priorities: creativity, culture, performance, or a balance of all three.

Then look at budgets, internal bandwidth, and how closely you want your team involved in daily campaign details.

Ask for case studies that mirror your size and industry, not just the most impressive brand logos.

If agency retainers feel too heavy, consider whether a platform‑led approach might give you the control and flexibility you want.

With clear goals and the right questions, you can find a partner that doesn’t just run campaigns, but actually moves your brand where you want it to go.

Disclaimer

All information on this page is collected from publicly available sources, third party search engines, AI powered tools and general online research. We do not claim ownership of any external data and accuracy may vary. This content is for informational purposes only.