Honest Comparison
Mascot Costume Companies, Compared
We are one option, not the only one. Here is a fair look at how the main choices for a school mascot costume actually differ, so you can pick the right one even if it is not us.
Talk to Us About Your MascotMost comparison pages are written to make one company look like the only sensible choice. This one isn't. If you are a school looking for a mascot costume, you have real options, and the best one depends on what you actually need: just a costume, or a mascot identity your whole school can rally around.
Below is how we stack up against two well-known general costume makers, Loonie Times and Promo Bears, plus the budget overseas imports many schools consider first. The competitor details reflect what each company publishes on its own website. If anything here is out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.
Side by Side
The Four Options at a Glance
| School Branding Agency That's us | Loonie Times | Promo Bears | Budget overseas imports | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who they serve | K-12 schools only | Sports, business, and schools | Businesses, sports, and schools | Anyone, any industry |
| What you get | Mascot logo, brand identity, and the matching costume from one team | Mascot design and costume manufacture | Mascot design and costume manufacture | A costume, often from a stock or lightly customized pattern |
| Brand and logo strategy | Yes, a full school identity system, not just a character | Costume-first, not a school brand program | Costume-first, not a school brand program | Little to none |
| Concept art before you commit | Yes, you approve the mascot design first | Yes, free design and quote | Yes, free concept art (front, side, back) | Limited, often stock imagery |
| Published pricing | Yes, from $5,500 plus shipping; logo and brand quoted by scope | Not listed publicly, quoted on request | Advertises a $3,400 to $5,500 range | Usually the cheapest, but varies widely |
| Payment terms | Full payment before production; purchase orders supported | Quoted on request | Pay on approval; deposit or purchase order to begin | Typically full payment upfront |
| Purchase orders for schools | Yes | Contact them | Yes | Rarely |
| Best fit | Schools that want a distinctive mascot logo and a matching costume from one accountable team | Buyers who want an established general costume maker (in business since 1996) | Buyers who want a published price range and pay-on-approval, without school branding | Tight budgets that can accept a generic or near-stock costume and limited support |
Competitor pricing and terms are as published on each company's website (checked July 2026). Loonie Times has been building custom mascots since 1996. Promo Bears advertises a $3,400 to $5,500 range and a pay-on-approval process.
The Honest Version
Where Each Option Actually Wins
School Branding Agency (us)
Best when the mascot itself needs designing, not just sewing. We work only with schools, so we design the logo, colors, and identity first, then build the costume to match. One team owns the flat artwork and the physical character.
Pick us if you want a mascot that's genuinely yours and consistent across logo, uniforms, signage, and costume.
Loonie Times
A long-established general costume maker, building custom mascots since 1996 across sports, business, and schools. They offer free design and a private quote. Strong choice if you want an experienced fabricator and don't need a school-specific brand program.
Pick them if you value a long track record and already have your branding sorted.
Promo Bears
Publishes a clear price range ($3,400 to $5,500) and a pay-on-approval model: free concept art up front, and you don't pay until you approve. Good fit if low upfront risk and a published price matter most, and you don't need school branding.
Pick them if a published price and pay-on-approval are your priorities.
Budget overseas imports
The cheapest route. Usually stock or lightly customized costumes with minimal design input, longer shipping, and variable quality. Fine for a one-season need on a tight budget, as long as you accept a generic look and limited support.
Pick them if price is the only factor and a generic costume is acceptable.
Straight Talk
When You Should Not Hire Us
You already have a finished, professional logo you love. If you only need that exact logo built into a costume, a general costume maker can do it for less than a full design engagement.
Your budget is fixed and rock-bottom. If you can't move on price and a generic costume is acceptable for the season, an import will get you there cheaper.
You need it in a matter of days. Original design takes time. If the game is next week, a stock costume is the realistic option.
We'd rather point you to the right fit than sell you the wrong thing. When the mascot needs to be designed, though, that's exactly where we do our best work.
Common Questions
Questions Schools Ask
Is School Branding Agency the cheapest option?
No, and we do not try to be. Budget overseas importers are usually cheaper because they sell stock or lightly customized costumes with little design work. We design an original mascot logo and brand identity for your school first, then build the costume to match. If price is the only factor, a general costume maker or an import will cost less. If you want a mascot that is truly yours and works across your logo, uniforms, signage, and costume, that is what we do.
What makes a school-focused agency different from a general costume company?
General costume makers such as Loonie Times and Promo Bears build costumes for every industry, from sports teams to corporate promotions. They are good at fabrication. A school-focused agency starts earlier in the process, with the mascot logo, colors, and identity system that a school uses on everything, then carries that design into the physical costume. You get one team accountable for both the flat artwork and the three-dimensional character.
Do any of these companies let you pay only after you approve the design?
Promo Bears advertises a pay-on-approval model, where you see free concept art before you commit and pay a deposit or purchase order once you approve. We ask for full payment before production but support purchase orders, which most schools use to handle the timing. Loonie Times quotes privately, so ask them directly about terms.
When should a school choose a general costume maker or an import instead?
If you already have a finished, professional logo you love and only need a physical costume built from it, a general costume maker can be a strong, lower-cost choice. If your budget is very tight and you are comfortable with a generic or near-stock design, an import can work for a season. We are the better fit when the logo itself needs to be designed, or when the mascot has to look consistent across your whole brand.
Not Sure Which Fits Your School?
Tell us what you're working with, your logo, your budget, your timeline, and we'll give you an honest recommendation, even if it points somewhere else.