HOULTON, Maine — At the Houlton Community Market on Saturday, Garth Bean set the mood for shoppers by playing Frank Sinatra tunes out of one of the smartphone symphony stands that he designed.
It is one of the many products that the Houlton native is selling through his new business, Coolbeans Woodcraft, the wares of which are available both at the market and online.
“I am just loving this,” he said Saturday between customers. “I love being my own boss and designing the products that I want to sell.”
Among the woodworking items made by Garth Bean of Coolbeans Woodcraft of Houlton is this symphony stand for a smartphone. (Jen Lynds)
Bean said he was in the furniture and flooring business when he began dreaming of other ways that he could work with wood. He said that he had always had a passion for woodworking, a hobby that he started exploring when his father got him interested in it at the age of 6.
“My father and I used to build things when I was younger,” he said. “So that sparked my interest. And then when I was working in the furniture and flooring business I told a buddy of mine that I was interested in woodworking. He encouraged me to do it.”
Bean makes his products out of purple heart, or amaranth, hardwood. The wood is rich, dense and purplish in color, according to Bean. He said he never stains the wood and he gets it from nearby Mexico, Maine.
Bean makes products such as bowls, tissue boxes, banana trees, candy dishes, symphony stands and more.
A sampling of products made by Garth Bean of Coolbeans Woodcraft of Houlton. Bean makes products such as bowls, tissue boxes, banana trees, candy dishes, and symphony stands. (Jen Lynds)
“This is really my passion,” he said. “I love it. Business is going great so far and my shop is in my father’s basement, which means I get to spend time with him each day. At the same time, my son is very artistic and he designed the logo for my business and does my YouTube videos. That is really great.”
Bean said what is unique about the symphony stand is that it enhances the audio of a smartphone and acts as a speaker booster without the bluetooth battery drain.
“The design and density of the wood does the work,” he said, suggesting that it’s great for camping.
He said L.L. Bean has expressed interest in the symphony stand, and he also is entertaining offers from other stores who would like to sell some of his merchandise.
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- Garth Bean stands with his products at the Houlton Community Market on Saturday, July 22. Bean is the owner of Coolbeans Woodcraft in Houlton. (Jen Lynds)
