Lutra, a South Korea-based brand-tech company, has launched makeyourmascot.com an AI-powered mascot generator tailored specifically for small businesses. With nothing more than a Google Maps link or a business name, shop owners can instantly receive a custom-designed, emotionally engaging mascot that reflects their brand identity in under one minute.

To promote this innovative launch, Lutra is running an out-of-home campaign featuring real mascot creations on LinkNYC kiosks across New York City.

“Mascots have more power than we think,” said Jongyeop Seon, CEO of Lutra. “They draw attention, create emotional bonds, and make your brand truly unforgettable.”

Why Mascots Matter for Small Business Branding

Emotional Engagement

• Mascots foster personal connection with customers.

• They humanize brands and create memorable visual hooks.

• A well-designed mascot can increase customer loyalty and retention.

Competitive Differentiation

• In crowded markets, mascots help businesses stand out visually.

• Mascots convey personality instantly — no need for lengthy introductions.

Versatile Branding Tools

• Mascots can be used across menus, packaging, signage, websites, and social media, ensuring brand consistency and identity.

makeyourmascot.com: Key Features at a Glance

1. One-Click Creation

• Just input your Google Maps link or business name.

• The platform pulls public business data (type, name, location) to generate a tailored mascot.

• Powered by AI models from Google and OpenAI.

2. Emotionally Engaging Characters

• Designed to smile, look approachable, and form emotional connections.

• Every mascot includes character elements that enhance customer affinity.

3. Adaptive Art Styles

• Visuals change based on business category:

  • Pastel and cozy for bakeries or florists

  • Bold and expressive for food trucks

  • Clean and modern for beauty salons or tech hubs

4. Flexible Branding Applications

• Mascots can be downloaded for:

  • Menus

  • Packaging

  • Signage

  • Website headers

  • Social media avatars and stickers

• Lutra also provides creative suggestions for maximizing mascot visibility.

5. Speed & Accessibility

• No design skills required.

• Process takes ~60 seconds.

• Ideal for time-constrained business owners who still want professional branding.

Strategic Support & Global Reach

The project is supported by Google and OpenAI, making it free for a limited time to small businesses in the United States.

Although created by a Korean company, makeyourmascot.com has a global focus. Lutra draws from Korea’s globally admired character design industry (think Kakao Friends and LINE characters) to make mascots that are:

• Emotionally intelligent

• Highly adaptable

• Visually distinctive across cultures

Real-World Applications & Use Cases

Examples of mascot impact:

• Bakery in Brooklyn: Uses a cozy cat mascot on coffee cups and delivery boxes

• Barbershop in Chicago: Sports a retro-cool dog character for signage and Instagram stickers

• Food truck in Austin: Has a taco superhero mascot printed on loyalty cards

• Online boutique in Seattle: Features a fox mascot on email campaigns and product tags

These cases demonstrate that even microbusinesses can harness mascot branding to create stronger customer touchpoints.

Lutra’s Brand-Tech Mission

Lutra positions itself at the intersection of technology and emotional design. Having served over 50 client companies, Lutra aims to empower small businesses with tools traditionally accessible only to large enterprises.

Their unique approach combines:

• Interactive branding

• Character-based marketing

• Cultural storytelling, inspired by Korea’s character branding successes

With makeyourmascot.com, Lutra has created more than just a novelty — it's a practical, AI-powered branding solution that gives small businesses an emotional edge in a competitive market. In just one minute, business owners can unlock a new layer of identity and customer engagement.

As customer attention becomes harder to capture, mascots offer a timeless and powerful tool — now reimagined with the speed and intelligence of AI.

Contact Us & Future-Proof Your Marketing with MarTechEdge !