Raise a Ruckus, Attract Attention, and Build Your Business With a Mascot or Character Appearance

Slower economic times can make businesses, large and small, scramble for new ways to increase their customer base, reap higher profits, and keep business flourishing above and not floundering below the bottom line. Advertising has been and remains one of the most effective ways to get new customers in the door, but over the years, advertising tactics have evolved away from the tried and true mediums of radio and television, gravitating instead to the far-reaching web the Internet provides. Yet effective advertising need not always be high-tech. Many small businesses looking to increase foot traffic especially are turning to advertising ideas that have been around for centuries, namely sandwich boards, character appearances, and mascots.

A mascot or character appearance works similarly to the carnival barker of yesteryear. By using a highly visible, often flamboyant character as real-time advertising, businesses in the public sector are able to attract automobile and foot traffic effectively by simply being an out-of-the-ordinary occurrence, affording an otherwise invisible storefront the ability to be eye-catching and attractive. Mascot and character ideas can truly run the gamut, from a large furry animal like a moose or Sasquatch, to a celebrity lookalike such as Marilyn Monroe or Al Capone. A mascot or character appearance can be especially effective for grand opening celebrations or special holiday occasions by directing attention to a sales event or new offering to customers. Imagine a sales promotion at a car dealership where management has gone “ape” or “bananas” by slashing prices to their lowest. Well of course this calls for a gorilla with a large prop banana in hand! For a furniture store advertising prices that have been non-existent since the 1920s, it is essential to have a gangster and an unflappable flapper onboard to help drum up business and get customers to reach for their pocketbooks or wallets. Character and mascot uses are endless and can be extremely effective, while also being a lot of fun!

As a business owner, it is imperative to get customers inside your location’s doors in order to show them all the wonderful wares or services you have to offer. If there are no customers to sell to, no sales are made, and profits will definitely suffer. By thinking outside the box of conventional advertising, you will undoubtedly be able to draw in a new customer base, while perhaps causing a scene and providing free smiles and laughter to all who are lucky enough to simply pass by.

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including mascots, balloons, and more.