Wiltshire business provides mascots from children's TV

Sharon Sigrist first set up Smile Squad mascots from her garden shed in Chippenham around three months ago.

She came up with the idea when her four-year-old daughter asked for Bluey, from the hit animated children’s TV series, at her birthday party.

Since then, the idea has grown rapidly and the business now boasts multiple recognisable mascots from children’s TV, including Bluey, and characters from the popular Paw Patrol.

This team of mascots, which is growing and will soon include Olaf from Frozen, attend events with a party host to ensure children “get the most out of the experience.”

Ms Sigrist said: “There was nothing around here like that, so I decided to get one of the costumes and since then we’ve been out every weekend.

Smile Squad Mascots in Chippenham (Image: Smile Squad Mascots)

“We do birthday parties, community events, and carnivals, and we do a lot of free charity events as well to give back to the community.

“At all the summer fetes we’ve had there have been queues around the play area to get photos with Bluey because Bluey is so popular.”

The popularity of the business in towns around Wiltshire has shocked the Chippenham-based mum.

Now she is hoping to see Smile Squads continue to grow in her hometown.

“I started it thinking this could take off in a little while, but it’s gone really big really quickly”, she added.

“Chippenham is where I’ve always lived and it’s where we’re based but I don’t think as many people know about us here.

“As soon as people see our characters they want to book us, it’s been so positive and the feedback has been amazing.”

Smile Squad Mascots in Chippenham (Image: Smile Squad Mascots)

All of Ms Sigrist’s characters are currently stored in her garden shed but she hopes to continue expanding in the future.

She added: “I run it and have a girl working for me and we both work in a pre-school in the week and run the business on the weekend.

“So it’s a side thing but if it carries on taking off massively then it will become a full-time thing.”

Those hoping to book their own mascot for an event this summer can do so by contacting the team on the Smile Squad Mascots Facebook page or via Smilesquadmascots@gmail.com.