How to Choose the Right Mascot

Choosing a mascot is one of the most important decisions your company will make because it will become the face of your company. A good one can draw a lot of attention and make your company stand out in people’s minds. A bad one, on the other hand, can leave people confused or make life miserable for the performer inside it. So, here is what to think about when choosing a mascot for your company.

Keep It Practical

Any manufacturer will tell you they use all the best materials and techniques. This is all well and good, but think about how the suit is constructed. The makers should use hand stitching to bind fabrics in place rather than hot glue. Stitching is much stronger, and hot glue will eventually lose its stickiness over time as the effects of weather and heat wear it down.

The suit should be designed for easy cleaning as well. If the mascot becomes dirty and smells like a gym sock, no one is going to like being your performer. At Hogtown Mascots, we put removable padding inserts into the head. The padding absorbs sweat, and you can simply take it out, wash it, and put it back so it doesn’t stink. Sending it away to be cleaned is expensive since you have to ship the suit, and pay for the cleaning as well.

They are meant to be fun and interactive, so when choosing a mascot keep in mind that it should be designed for maneuverability. It won’t be fun if it can’t move around and interact with people. The arms and legs should move freely and allow the performer to walk around and interact easily.

Choose Something People Recognize

You’ve probably noticed that a lot of mascot costumes are animals. That’s because people quickly identify what they are, and it’s easy to make these look cute.

As a starting point, you might want to choose something that is locally recognizable. For example, here in Toronto racoons are everywhere. The little nocturnal critters rummage through garbage bins across the city and can be spotted in just about every neighbourhood. If the City of Toronto were choosing a mascot for itself, a racoon could be a good choice because it would be easy to make a mascot character that people would relate to. After all, they are pretty cute to begin with.

Of course you don’t have to limit yourself to animals. Anything that people will be able to recognize and that suits your company image could potentially make a good choice.

Some Things to Avoid

You will need to employ some creativity in choosing a mascot, and we encourage you to let your imagination run wild. But try to stay away from personal things that the average person might not understand. For example, maybe your company president has a pet Chihuahua and wants it to be the company mascot. This could be confusing for people on the outside who can’t draw a connection between the dog and the company.

Stay away from logos too. While a company logo is essential for your brand image, it is not always suitable for a mascot because it will not be engaging or relatable. Dig down and think of something that you want to be the face of your company, and keep the logos on your business cards and websites.

Mascots bring personality and inject a sense of fun into your company’s image. The perfect one will stand out in people’s minds and make them remember your brand. Choosing a mascot is a significant cash investment, so consider these tips and whatever you choose will be a smash hit.