“The MillerCoors Can costumes look fantastic! They will work perfectly for our promotions. Thank you so much to you and your team. The end result is amazing!!!”
Nothing but love coming your direction from Cleveland.
“Jennifer is superb to work with and turns out a quality product at a fair price and in a timely manner! Plus, she’s lots of fun!”
“I have never had more fun and been more pleased with a vendor than with Jennifer. When we are ready for our next step, we will definately be using Jennifer and her staff, no question about it.”
“Jennifer is a great partner. She has built a terrific mascot for us. She was willing to amend any requests for change with no issues. Every phone call was fun and wacky yet productive…just how I like to do business.”
Jennifer and the rest of her “groovy” staff at AvantGarb have been a pleasure to work with over the years. The quality, and service that goes with it can’t be matched in the industry. Much love from Grand Rapids!
“Ten years ago we searched for someone who could produce a high-quality, fun mascot. The first TiVoGuy was born and 4 generations later, he (and his newer relatives) are still bringing joy to TV fans everywhere. Nobody does smiles better than AvantGarb!”
If you want your mascot to come to life – only go with the best mascot creators in the business – Avant Garb!
We love the tattoos, and the fans do too!
With a Custom Mascot Costume, you create a Brand Awareness Monster!
Does your strategic marketing campaign need some LIFE? Are your potential customers overlooking print and other media? Revitalize your efforts – mix in a Mascot Costume!
We deliver more than a costume in a box – we make your brand come alive!
Today’s sports marketers realize that a strategically designed and integrated mascot (a true character brand) is more than a diversion during lulls in a game, an attraction in itself. Most colleges and professional teams have adopted costumed mascots to patrol the stands and make community appearances.
We’re a pretty adorable crew. We’ve made mascots for ever. The gaggle of mascot makers at AvantGarb are loaded with talent. That’s Annie at the top of the page. She’s sitting on her favorite high-heeled shoe chair to attach a … Continue reading
Way, way before I knew I was in the mascot-making business, I got a call from Hewlett Packard. They needed a mascot to introduce one of their newest product. That was back in 1986. We Got the Mascot Call In … Continue reading
Mascots like to go-out-and-stir-up-some-fun inside and outside of the arena. Mascots are part of their community! ….so, the whole team can’t make it to community stuff, they need to practice and play hard and win games. The mascot is another … Continue reading
In the world of branded mascots, when the mascots stand together, they should appear as an enduring, united force. Kellogg’s does it well with Tony the Tiger, Toucan Sam & Snap Crackle & Pop mascots, They even got together to speak … Continue reading
The Rescue Hero – Billy Blazes Fisher-Price had some action heroes, The Rescue Heroes. They wanted a mascot of Billy Blazes – the fireman character for the rescue heroes. There was a big event planned for the Rescue Heroes at FAO Schwartz … Continue reading
Are we the best mascot company? We’re awfully good at what we do. We have to be. We’re not a mascot factory. We are a mascot studio. What we do is custom, custom, custom, custom. We make sure all of the … Continue reading
The Beginning Our relationship with the Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey began with the feet. Griff’s mascot feet were old and tired, and the performer wasn’t happy. He got in touch with AvantGarb. We made the Griff new feet and the … Continue reading
Yes, the mascot studio is like a haute-couture atelier. Rather than fine silks & wool, our materials are fuzz, fur, foam & fleece. Patterns are drafted, fur fabric is cut, foam is sculpted, ears are placed and eyelids are sewn … Continue reading
AvantGarb designs & creates custom mascots. They are mascots that represent a team, school, event, product —even an idea. Each character is an original. We’re a dynamic company of artists, designers and craft people. Our raison d’etre, our training … Continue reading
A moose wandered onto Amherst’s grounds a few years ago and started a mascot movement. One might call it a revolution. Here’s the story. Schools are in intense conversation about what their school mascot says about diversity on campus. While reading Sunday’s New York … Continue reading
Jennifer Smith interview – for Indiana’s Got Talent blog Jennifer Q Smith is the Queen of Fuzz at Avant Garb, a company that designs and builds mascots for teams, universities and corporations throughout the country. She has been making, wearing and … Continue reading
…okay, we love the Griff—the mascot for the Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey. Isn’t he the handsomest Griffin on skates? Here’s a very cool video of the Griff waiting for the season to begin ©Jennifer Smith 2009
The Mascot Studio – Location, location, location! AvantGarb is in the coolest building in the United States Our building, The Stutz Business & Arts Center is an old, car factory. Stutz Bearcats used to be made here—in our studio, you can … Continue reading
When a mascot goes everywhere, the company has much more than a mascot. They have a mascot program. Then they have a mascot strategic marketing campaign. They have a mascot that makes a difference. When you have a mascot you love, … Continue reading
Happy Valentines Day xo the Queen of Fuzz, the Mascot Mavens & the Valentine Duck! ValentineDuck ( click here – there might be a hokey video) ©Jennifer Smith 2018