ESTEVAN - Levi Garagan is just 11 years old, but he already has a thriving year-round business with his fishing company Just Jigs.
Speaking during the Estevan Downtown Business Association’s weekly market last Thursday, Levi, the son of Matt and Lisa Garagan, said he had the idea to start a business after his father Matt was looking on Instagram and found that people were making their own jigs.
“We ordered paint and we started making our own,” said Levi.
It was about a year ago that Levi launched his business and he has developed some loyal clients. It’s not just friends and family members who have gobbled them up; Levi noted he has been shipping the jigs to other communities on the Prairies and he even has customers in Texas.
“People have heard about it,” said Matt Garagan. “A buddy of mine [in Texas] who does a lot of fishing did a post about him [Levi] and then it had a lot of people down in Texas intrigued. He got people to order from there.”
Levi said he believes people have been eager to support Just Jigs because they want to support a small business and they like fishing.
The jigs come in different colours and sizes. All of them have sold well, but pink has been the most popular. Levi thinks it might be because it’s someone’s favourite colour, or they think the colour might be more appealing to the fish.
His customers are happy with the products and they tell Levi it’s pretty cool that he has started his own business at such a young age.
Crafting the jigs can take a lot of time, he said, but his family has offered a lot of help by coming up with new colour ideas or helping him paint.
He also sells jigs that can be used for ice fishing in the winter. And he sells small, glow-in-the-dark hooks for ice fishing season.
Levi enjoys fishing, because he likes to be out on the water and spend time outdoors with his family.
People can get three jigs for $5 and then Levi takes the money and puts it back into the business.
