What should schools consider before buying a mascot costume?

Most mascot purchasing problems are not supplier problems - they are unresolved internal questions: colors never confirmed, performers never measured, no one assigned to care. Walk through the five decisions below in order and the order itself becomes straightforward.

The pre-purchase checklist

1. Identity: gather official color codes and decide whether a ready-made design is close enough or the mascot must be custom.
2. Performers: list who will wear the costume and measure their heights (plus weight, chest, waist for non-average builds).
3. Usage: draft the appearance calendar - sports seasons, rallies, community events - since it drives quantity and durability needs.
4. Budget: build the three-layer number (acquisition, accessories and care, maintenance reserve) and match it to your funding route.
5. Care: name the person responsible for cleaning, storage, and the appearance log.
6. Timeline: fix the event you need the costume for and work backward.

With those settled, the buying conversation with any supplier becomes specific: a defined design (or quote request with references), known sizes, a stated event date, and questions about what the price includes. Specific conversations produce accurate quotes, and accurate quotes survive budget review.