Hogtown Mascots

What Hogtown Mascots does

Hogtown Mascots Inc. is a Toronto-based custom mascot costume manufacturer founded in 2006 by John Kernaghan and George Civello, serving schools, sports teams, corporations, entertainment properties, and non-profits across North America and select international markets. The company's core product is a fully custom mascot costume built through a consultative process from concept sketches to finished construction, with clients approving design stages via an online portal that provides photo and video updates during the build. Production relies on 3D modeling and printing for head components, breathable foam structures sandwiched between sports mesh, foam carving and forming, and professional fabric finishing with faux fur and specialty fleeces, with safety features such as custom-fitted padded helmets and battery-powered ventilation fans included as standard. Every custom mascot ships with a 1-year warranty, and the company supports a full lifecycle of after-sale services including rentals, professional cleaning, repairs, climate-controlled storage, performer training, the Remascot recycling program, and licensing packages.

Hogtown Mascots monetizes primarily through one-time custom mascot sales on a quote-based pricing model with deposit/balance payment terms and a typical 8–12 week turnaround. Secondary revenue streams include rental transactions (daily and weekend rates with longer-term discounts), accessories and replacement parts (cooling vests, fans, gloves, feet, cleaning kits), props and sets, custom plush toys, professional cleaning and repair services, climate-controlled storage, performer training, and both non-exclusive licensing and exclusive IP-rights purchases. The company sells directly to end customers through its website, phone, and quote-based consultative sales motion, with global shipping and an active content marketing presence including a long-running blog, video content, and earned media coverage in major Canadian outlets. Notable past clients include Netflix, Microsoft, Sesame Street, Hasbro, 20th Century Fox, the Memphis Grizzlies, Tostitos/Green Bay Packers, Geico, and celebrity mascots created for Ellen DeGeneres and Stephen Colbert.

Name

Hogtown Mascots

Legal name

Hogtown Mascots Inc.

Website

https://hogtownmascots.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hogtown Mascots Inc. is a Toronto-based custom mascot costume manufacturer serving schools, sports teams, corporations, and entertainment clients across North America, with related services including rentals, cleaning, repairs, storage, training, and licensing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Mascot Costume Manufacturing

NAICS

Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (339930)

SIC

Dolls & Stuffed Toys (3942)

akta.pro primary industry

Costume, Dancewear & Performance Wardrobe Care (HSAJAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dolls, Plush & Action Figures Retail (CRALAFAD), Team & League Branded Merchandise Retail (Non-Apparel) (CRAMAOAF)

Keywords

• Custom mascot costumes
• Mascot manufacturing
• Costume design services
• Mascot rentals
• Character costumes

Headquarters

HQ city

York

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Custom Mascot Costume Sales: Design and manufacture of custom mascot costumes for schools, sports teams, corporations, and organizations. The process involves concept consultation, character sketching, quote approval, construction with client updates, and final delivery with deposit and balance payment structure. Turnaround is typically 8-12 weeks.
2. Mascot Costume Rentals: Daily rental of existing mascot costumes for events or to try out the concept before purchasing. Includes daily rates, weekend rates with discounts, and longer-term discounts. Pickup at location or delivery/return arrangements available for additional fees.
3. Mascot Accessories: Sale of mascot accessories including cooling vests, cooling fans, carrying cases, tote bags, cooling refills, props, replacement parts (gloves, feet), cleaning kits, and quick-repair kits.
4. Professional Cleaning Services: Professional deep cleaning services for mascot costumes including controlled-moisture extraction, sanitization, and deodorizing. Minor repairs included at discretion.
5. Mascot Repairs: Minor repairs (seam mending, tears, loose parts, fasteners, scratches) and major repairs with written estimates. Includes cleaning and freshening services.
6. Climate-Controlled Storage: Secure, dry, climate-controlled storage for mascot costumes with CCTV monitoring. Addresses office space limitations for clients.
7. Performer Training: Training services for mascot performers covering movement techniques, safety tips, audience engagement, costume handling, and character etiquette.
8. Remascot Recycling Program: Trade-in and recycling program for old mascot costumes. Clients receive rebates on new mascots while materials are reused in new constructions, reducing landfill waste.
9. Custom Plush Toys: Turn mascot characters into cuddly plush toys for promotional giveaways, fundraising, client gifts, and community outreach.
10. Props and Sets: Custom costume props (carrots, wands, swords, etc.) and portable backdrops for stage shows and events.
11. Licensing Packages: Non-exclusive licensing (character may not be unique, company retains IP) and exclusive rights purchase (complete ownership transfer of intellectual property). Covers advertising, digital, promotional, film/video, books, editorial, and resale items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hogtown Mascots designs, manufactures, and services custom mascot costumes for schools, sports teams, corporations, and entertainment clients. The company offers end-to-end services including character design, costume construction, rentals, repairs, cleaning, storage, performer training, and licensing packages. Production uses 3D modeling/printing, foam carving, and specialty fabrics with an 8-12 week turnaround.

Product overview

Hogtown Mascots operates as a custom mascot costume manufacturer offering a comprehensive, turn-key product portfolio. The core offering is Custom Mascot Costume Design and Build, complemented by specialized category products (Corporate Mascots, School Mascots, Sports Team Mascots, Character Mascots) and supporting add-ons (Accessories, Plush Toys, Props/Sets). The company wraps this with full lifecycle services including Character Design, Licensing, Cleaning, Repairs, Storage, Performing/Training, Rentals, and the Remascot Recycling program. The architecture is a single unified custom manufacturing platform with layered service modules covering the full mascot lifecycle from initial concept through end-of-life recycling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Mascot Costumes Full-service custom mascot costume creation covering character, corporate, school, sports team, and entertainment variants. Includes concept sketches, sculpting, patterning, sewing, finishing, and online progress updates during the 8-12 week build process. Customers include schools, sports teams, corporations, entertainment studios, and non-profits.
• Mascot Costume Accessories Supporting hardware products including cooling vests, cooling fans, carrying cases, tote bags, cooling refills, props, replacement gloves, replacement feet, cleaning kits, and quick-repair kits sold to mascot owners.
• Custom Plush Mascot Toys Custom plush toy versions of mascot characters produced for promotional giveaways, fundraising, community outreach, and client gifts.
• Mascot Props and Sets Custom costume props including foam accessories, wands, swords, carrots, and portable backdrops designed to enhance mascot performances and seasonal appearances.
• Mascot Costume Rentals Daily and weekend rental of existing mascot costumes for short-term events or to trial a mascot concept before purchasing. Includes pickup at Toronto location or delivery for additional fees.
• Mascot Cleaning Services Professional deep cleaning for mascot costumes including controlled-moisture extraction, spot treatment, sanitization, deodorizing, and fabric texture restoration. Minor repairs included at discretion.
• Mascot Costume Repairs Minor repairs (seam mending, tear repair, loose parts, fastener fixes, scratches) and major repair assessments with written estimates. Includes cleaning and freshening services.
• Mascot Storage Secure, dry, climate-controlled storage facilities with CCTV monitoring for client mascot costumes requiring proper environmental conditions.
• Mascot Performing and Training Performer training services covering costume movement techniques, safety protocols, crowd engagement, gesture/body language communication, and mascot-specific etiquette.
• Remascot Recycling and Refurbishing Trade-in and recycling program for old mascot costumes, enabling material reuse in new mascot construction and offering rebates toward new purchases.
• Mascot Licensing Licensing packages including non-exclusive licenses and exclusive rights purchases, covering usage rights for advertising, digital media, printed materials, film/video, merchandise, and editorial applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Custom mascots typically last years, if not decades, with proper care
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Aurora World: Global plush toy manufacturer offering licensed and custom character plush at industrial scale; comparable to Hogtown's plush production but at much larger volume and broader retail distribution.
• Funko: Pop culture collectibles and plush manufacturer with deep character licensing expertise; comparable in character/IP-driven merchandise but at much larger mass-production scale.
• Build-A-Bear Workshop: Major plush toy retailer creating custom stuffed animals through a global retail store footprint; adjacent to Hogtown's plush offering but at much larger scale and through retail rather than custom manufacturing.
• Gund: Major plush toy manufacturer (owned by Spin Master) producing licensed character plush at mass-market retail scale; comparable to Hogtown's plush mascot offerings but at industrial production scale.
• Spirit Halloween: Largest seasonal Halloween costume retailer with in-house character costume manufacturing; overlaps with Hogtown's character costume work but operates at retail scale through seasonal pop-ups.
• Rubie's Costumes: Largest costume manufacturer globally producing licensed and custom costumes including mascot-grade character costumes for entertainment, theme parks, and events - a broad incumbent overlapping the costume portion of Hogtown's portfolio.

Direct peers

• BAM Mascots: US-based custom mascot costume manufacturer serving schools, sports teams, and corporate clients with design, build, and accessories - the closest direct competitor to Hogtown in the North American custom mascot niche.
• Promo Bears: Custom mascot and plush toy manufacturer offering design, fabrication, and fulfillment for corporate, sports, and promotional clients; directly comparable to Hogtown's combined mascot and plush offering.
• Identity Promotions: Custom mascot costume and branded merchandise provider for corporate, collegiate, and sports clients - directly overlapping with Hogtown's corporate and sports vertical coverage.

Others

• Etsy custom mascot shops: Long tail of small independent custom mascot makers on Etsy competing on price for budget-conscious schools, small sports teams, and organizations - a fragmented competitive threat at the entry-level price point.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hogtownmascots
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hogtown-mascots

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hogtown Mascots