SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Deacon Maddix might be only 11 years old but he has already made some memories that will last a lifetime.
One of those moments came while the young Summerside entrepreneur was at a trade show, Choose Summerside, last year, when one of the other vendors purchased five bears from him.
The purchaser gave the bears to the local fire department so that when they went to an emergency and there were kids involved, they put candies in them and give them to the children, Deacon explained.
Not yet a teenager, Deacon decided early that he wanted to start his own business. When he got the chance to do so, he jumped at the opportunity. He is one of the many young businessmen and women aided by the Young Millionaires program.
Today Deacon is the owner of the Stash-Away Bears company. Stash-away bears are soft toys that have a little space inside them to hide gifts and other items.
The Young Millionaires representatives came to Deacon’s school one day and gave a presentation and ask if anyone wanted to sign up; Deacon was quick to jump on board.
“I asked my mom and she signed me up.”
He joined the program two summers ago, said his mother, Tara.
“It was something he had decided to do on his own.”
“I might have some new ideas in the future but for now it’s just the bears.”
-Deacon Maddix
The program taught the kids basic business and marketing skills, dealing with customers and financing.
He had to write a business plan in the month of June and then he received a seed grant from the Young Millionaires.
“The Young Millionaires program gives him a few free opportunities to sell his products to people and it was really well received,” Tara said.
He also had another product in the Young Millionaire’s program that was a rock key holder.
“You could hide your house key in it and bury it out front in the garden or somewhere,” Tara explained.
Deacon likes to hide his stuff from his siblings.
“I have three siblings and they always go after my stuff,” Deacon said.
That’s where the idea of Stash-Away Bears came from.
“You can take off the teddy bear’s head and put your stuff in and put the head back on.”
It’s been two years since Deacon started his business.
Tara said the bears have been sent as far away as Ontario.
“Quite a few bears have been mailed out so they’re all across Canada at this point.”
Deacon also has a one of a kind racoon for himself.
“I just keep it in my room in case I need it sometime.”
Deacon is planning to expand his business in the future.
“I might have some new ideas in the future but for now it’s just the bears.”
