A mascot
that does something
A character that only waves and has its photo taken has run out of steam after half an hour. We work out what the character has to do on the day itself and make sure it works.
A suit is not a character
Most mascots are used without a plan. A suit is arranged, someone puts it on, and that person then spends a whole day waving. That gets you a few photos and not much else, because nobody has thought up anything for it to do.
We start with the question of what the character should achieve that day. Getting people inside is something different from opening a conversation or explaining a promotion. Once that is clear, how the character behaves, where it stands and what it carries follows naturally.
- A role with a purpose, not just a suit
- Someone who can play the character, not just wear it
- Workable blocks with breaks, even on a hot day
- Can be adapted to a mascot you already have
Four situations where it works
Opening or promotion
A new branch, a refurbishment or a promotion week. The character gives passers-by a reason to look and makes the day recognisable in photos.
On the exhibition floor
A figure that stands out among the stands and guides visitors to your corner. Works well in combination with something to do on the stand itself.
Family day or staff day
Something for the children of employees, without needing a separate children's programme alongside the adult programme.
Sponsorship and clubs
At a sports club or association, where the character returns regularly and after a few visits becomes the club's own.
What needs to be arranged on the day
There needs to be a place to change and to sit out of sight for a moment, and someone has to walk along to look after the character. That last part is not a luxury: someone in a suit can't see or hear well and can't judge for themselves whether it's getting too busy somewhere.
In warm weather or on a long day we plan more generously and swap more often. At an indoor venue the blocks can be longer. We agree beforehand how many blocks there are, so nothing has to be improvised halfway through the day.
A short deployment of a few hours starts at €195. If a new character has to be designed and made, it costs more and we say so beforehand.
If there is no figure yet
Sometimes there is no mascot yet and it has to come first. Then it starts with the question of what the character stands for and who it should appeal to. A figure for a sports club that wants to use it for years is something different from a character for a single promotion week.
Then comes the design: what it looks like, how it moves and whether it talks or not. That last one is a bigger choice than it seems, because a character that talks always has to be played by the same person to stay credible.
Making a suit takes time: allow a few weeks to a few months. Anyone who needs a character for a date that is already fixed is better off starting with an existing figure and having their own design follow later.
Frequently asked questions
We already have a mascot, can you do something with it?
That is often the best starting point. There is already a figure that belongs to the brand, it is just usually only used as a picture. We work out what the character does on the day itself and make sure someone is inside it who knows what to do with it.
How long can a mascot walk around at a stretch?
A suit is hot and the view is limited, so we work in blocks of about twenty to thirty minutes with a break in between. For a whole day that means swapping or planning more generously. Anyone who ignores that is left, after the third hour, with a mascot standing against a wall.
Isn't a mascot mainly for children?
At an opening or a shop promotion the audience is indeed often young. At a trade show or a staff day it works differently: there the character is more of an excuse to speak to someone and take a photo. Then it is less about hugging and more about recognition.
Tell us about your plan
Interested in using a mascot? Fill in the short form and we will send a price estimate within 1 working day.
What should the character achieve?
Tell us about the occasion and the audience, and we will think up the role to go with it.