When Ben and Holly Spickard decided to upgrade their Ooltewah home's porch last year, they had no idea it would spark a business.
But less than a year later, the Spickards have turned their resultant personal craft project into Tri-Star Bed Swings, offering cedar and pine handcrafted and painted lounge swings for both indoor and outdoor use.
"Last spring [Holly] had just said, 'I would love one of those. It's so cool and the kids would love it.' But then we realized they were anywhere from $1,200 to $2,000 apiece," said Ben Spickard. "I had a pretty fair amount of woodworking experience already so a few days later I got the lumber and tools and made ours."
But, he said, his wife deserves all the credit for the idea and for pushing him to start a business and offer the swings for half the cost of big retailers.
"You can't really open a home or a garden magazine without seeing one of these," he added.
Tri-Star offers bed swings in crib and twin sizes, with an option of pine or cedar wood and multiple color options. Prices range from $550-$700 and don't include a mattress, but all the hanging materials and directions are provided.
"It really is a family business," said the father of two. "I have a five-year-old boy and he has his own little bench and he comes down to Daddy's shop and puts goggles on and works while I do."
For more information or to order, visit facebook.com/tristarbedswings or call Ben Spickard at 404-660-5122.
Email Gabrielle Chevalier at gchevalier@timesfreepress.com.