Young Company History

75 Years of Building Brands, Driving Growth, and Leading with Innovation

Speer, Young & Hollander prepare for a big advertising presentation at their offices in Los Angeles in the golden age of advertising when creativity soared and big budgets ruled the day.

With a 75-year legacy of creativity, adaptability, and bold ideas, Young Company stands as one of Southern California’s most enduring and dynamic marketing agencies. For decades, Young Company has built a reputation for timeless brand-building strategies and modern, data-driven solutions that help businesses thrive. Today, the agency is led by Robyn DeTorres-Young, a third-generation marketer and President since 2022.

Robyn's leadership marks a new chapter for Young Company, blending the agency's rich history with forward-thinking ideas for the future. As a recognized expert in digital strategy, social media, and creative storytelling, she continues to elevate Young Company's role as a leader in the marketing industry. From digital-first initiatives to strategic brand-building, Robyn DeTorres-Young is committed to helping clients stand out, connect, and grow.

Anchored in its legacy but focused on the future, Young Company remains a trusted partner for brands seeking creativity, strategy, and measurable results.

The Young Company story begins in 1949, founded as a small, boutique advertising agency with one goal: to create memorable, high-impact campaigns that help brands grow. From the very beginning, Young Company was known for its creative problem-solving and bold brand storytelling. The agency quickly became known as a go-to partner for businesses looking for strategic, well-crafted advertising.

In its early years, the agency focused on print and broadcast advertising, creating TV and radio commercials that captured attention and drove sales. Backed by a deep understanding of consumer psychology, Young Company built brand loyalty through creative storytelling, catchy jingles, and compelling visual content.

As the advertising world evolved, so did Young Company. The 1970s saw a shift toward larger media buys and full-service campaigns. During this period, the agency expanded its team and offerings, supporting brands with a comprehensive suite of services that included:

• Media Buying and Planning
• Print and Magazine Ads
• Television Commercials

Young Company’s hands-on approach, creative vision, and strong client relationships helped the agency thrive during a period of significant change in the advertising industry. The foundation for future growth was firmly in place.

With the arrival of the digital age, the advertising industry faced a massive transformation. In the 1990s, Young Company embraced the shift, integrating early digital marketing techniques into its core offerings. From the rise of email marketing to the emergence of websites as essential brand touchpoints, Young Company began helping clients establish a digital presence.

The shift from traditional to digital advertising brought new opportunities and challenges. During this time, Young Company became known for its ability to blend traditional branding techniques with cutting-edge digital marketing strategies. While many agencies resisted the shift, Young Company leaned in, making early moves into website design and email marketing.

In 2003, Young Company embarked on a new chapter, forming a strategic partnership with The Phelps Group, a respected agency based in Santa Monica. This collaboration allowed Young Company to expand its capabilities, gaining valuable experience from working with larger-scale operations and national brand campaigns.

During this time, Bart Young served as Executive Vice President, continuing to oversee key Young Company clients such as Seiko Instruments while also contributing to The Phelps Group’s creative direction. The partnership provided fresh perspectives and new opportunities while maintaining the client relationships and hands-on service that had always defined Young Company.

After two and a half years partnered with The Phelps Group, Young Company re-established itself as an independent agency, continuing to serve both existing and new clients under its own brand. With a renewed focus on personalized service and creative innovation, the agency returned to its Laguna Beach roots, setting up its office in the heart of Orange County’s thriving business community.

Bart Young’s vision for the company’s next phase embraced the fast-changing marketing landscape. While many agencies were still prioritizing traditional media, Young Company saw the potential of digital and began expanding into emerging platforms. This era marked the growth of key services, including:

• Website Design & Development — By the mid 2000’s, websites became the digital storefronts for brands across the globe, and Young Company was already ahead of the curve.
• SEO (Search Engine Optimization) — As Google began to dominate the search space, Young Company invested in SEO services to help clients rise in visibility.
• Email Marketing Campaigns — Email became a crucial tool for direct marketing, and Young Company crafted targeted campaigns for clients to drive conversions.
• TV, Radio, and Print Advertising — Traditional media then became integrated into broader, cross-channel marketing strategies.

By blending digital and traditional marketing, Young Company built SEO-driven websites and performance-based campaigns, earning recognition as one of the fastest-growing agencies in Orange County.

This period was about evolving. The expertise gained through the partnership with The Phelps Group strengthened Young Company’s ability to adapt, innovate, and continue delivering exceptional results.

By 2011, the world was deep in the social media revolution, and Young Company had already joined the movement. The agency launched its first business profile on Facebook, back when business accounts were essentially personal profiles converted for companies.

This was a pivotal move, as it marked Young Company’s entry into the world of social media marketing.

This early adoption of social platforms allowed Young Company to become a leader in creating engaging content, building brand communities, and driving social campaigns for clients.

It was during this time that the agency began to support clients with social content strategy, page management, and paid social advertising—all essential components of a modern digital marketing plan.

With continued growth and a larger client roster, Young Company expanded its physical footprint in Laguna Beach. The agency acquired an additional suite upstairs, effectively doubling its workspace. This move supported the growing team and enhanced collaborative opportunities for the creative, account, and production teams.

The expansion gave the company extra office space, but it was really a commitment to growth, creativity, and community. By staying rooted in Laguna Beach, Young Company maintained its connection to the creative pulse of the area while offering clients a creative agency experience with the feel of a boutique firm.

As online advertising shifted from simple banner ads to high-impact paid search and display ads, Young Company recognized the power of Google Ads. By 2016, the agency had fully embraced the world of Google Ads management and certification, establishing itself as a go-to partner for companies looking to generate leads and drive revenue through paid search.

By becoming Google Ads Certified, Young Company’s team was able to offer enhanced capabilities, including:

• PPC (Pay-Per-Click) Campaign Management — Full-service campaign setup, optimization, and ROI tracking.
• Retargeting & Display Ads — Precision targeting to bring users back to client websites.
• Conversion Tracking — Measuring and optimizing for conversions in real time.

This expertise allowed Young Company to offer a more data-driven, performance-oriented service to clients. While other agencies were just learning about Google Ads, Young Company was already ahead of the pack.

In 2019, the next generation of leadership began to take shape. Robyn DeTorres-Young was named Vice President of Young Company, a major step in the company’s evolution. As a third-generation marketer and long-time contributor to the agency’s creative and strategic direction, Robyn's promotion signaled a new era of growth, innovation, and adaptability.

With her expertise in digital strategy, social media marketing, and creative storytelling, Robyn began positioning Young Company to meet the demands of modern brands. Her approach blended the agency’s traditional creative roots with data-driven marketing, omnichannel campaigns, and social-first strategies.

Robyn’s rise to leadership introduced a new creative direction for Young Company, one that would come into even sharper focus in the years to follow.

The world changed in 2020, and so did Young Company. As the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted industries worldwide, Young Company demonstrated resilience and adaptability. Under the leadership of Robyn DeTorres-Young, the agency made the bold decision to transition to a hybrid working model—a blend of in-office and remote work that allowed the agency to continue delivering exceptional service to its clients.

Unlike many companies that viewed hybrid work as a short-term fix, Young Company saw it as an opportunity for lasting change. This shift gave employees greater flexibility while ensuring client projects moved forward without disruption. The agency's hybrid approach combined the best of both worlds—creative collaboration in the office and focus-driven productivity from home.

This shift may have been in reaction to a global crisis, and under Robyn’s leadership it became a transformation in how Young Company approached teamwork, collaboration, and client service.

Today, the hybrid model remains a permanent part of Young Company’s work culture, reflecting its ability to adapt, evolve, and thrive in an unpredictable world.

With Robyn DeTorres-Young serving as President and Creative Director since 2022, Young Company has experienced even greater growth. The agency remains dedicated to building brands, growing businesses, and inspiring change, just as it has since its earliest days in 1949.

With a foundation of creative storytelling, data-driven insights, and a hands-on approach, Young Company continues to evolve while staying true to its core values. From its early days as a broadcast advertising powerhouse to its current role as a leader in SEO, Google Ads, and integrated digital marketing, the agency’s legacy of innovation remains intact.

Young Company is a reflection of where the industry has been, where it’s going, and the leadership it takes to stay ahead.