Air Ronge's Greg Lobb founded Mosquito Workshop in 2016. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Thriving Business

Mosquito Workshop known for high-quality wood products

May 22, 2019 | 5:00 PM

Greg Lobb of Air Ronge didn’t expect to become the owner of a successful home-based business when he launched Mosquito Workshop in 2016.

“A lot of it has really been accidental to be honest,” he said. “When I started, I made a couple signs for myself and other people wanted them, so I started making them and it just snowballed from there. The same with a lot of the other products I make.”

For instance, one year for Christmas he made his family charcuterie boards as gifts for family and friends, adding someone later reached out to him urging him to sell them. In the last few years, he said the boards have been a hot commodity and he’s sold nearly 400 of them. Other products Lobb is known for are his Italian-style rolling pins, as well as what he calls a tray of necessity.

Mosquito Workshop is located in the garage behind Lobb’s house in Air Ronge. Since he started the business, the shop has undergone many changes including the recent addition of natural gas heating. It involved insulating the entire garage, but Lobb said it was worth it as he didn’t have to worry about keeping a woodstove burning this past winter. It’s important the shop stays at the right temperature because the glues, solvents and paints are vulnerable to the cold.

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Lobb’s signs can be found hanging proudly at several locations in the tri-communities including Keethanow Gas Bar, Spruce Manor and on the exterior of many local homes. He’s currently putting the final touches on a sign for The Churchill Guest House in Stanley Mission as well. Those interested in seeing more work from Mosquito Workshop can do online here or purchase products at the Lac La Ronge Visitor Centre in Air Ronge or on Amazon.

Mosquito Workshop products on display at the Lac La Ronge Visitor Centre. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

In honour of the success Lobb had in recent years, he was the recipient of the Home-Based Business of the Year at the La Ronge and District Chamber of Commerce’s Tri-Community Awards Gala last month.

“My career is basically in its infancy,” he said. “I hope to be doing this for a very long time, so getting that award within two or three years of starting is definitely appreciated and it’s an achievement.”

During the gala, Visitor Centre Manager Judy Hanke presented Lobb with his trophy and she later told larongeNOW she couldn’t have been happier to do so. She noted his products are popular at the centre, adding his boards and rolling pins are known for high quality.

Greg Lobb and Judy Hanke at the Tri-Community Awards Gala. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Hanke also mentioned Lobb works as a primary care paramedic in La Ronge and is raising a family with his wife, but he still finds time for Mosquito Workshop.

“He really dedicates some time to this and he’s was very deserving of the award,” Hanke said. “He’s one of my favourite people and he deserves it. He’s worked really hard.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno