Nothing says the Chesapeake Bay like a blue crab does
When US Marine Corp disabled veteran Phillip Smith repurposed his front porch steps into a gigantic wooden crab as a gift for his wife, he had no idea it would lead to a booming business that captures the signs and symbols recognized and loved by Marylanders and others around the Chesapeake Bay.
What prompted you to start making wooden crabs?
I’ve always had a knack for woodworking. In 2019, I changed out our front porch steps and repurposed the wood into the first wooden crab as a gift for my wife, Angela. We posted a picture of it on the Ocean City Cool Facebook page, got 1100 hits, and instantly others wanted me to make more to sell. At first it was a hobby but quickly turned into a successful family business. We have grown outside of our family to include an incredible team of talented wood workers and painters to meet the demand for our products.
What goes into making a crab?
All of our crabs are handmade using only premium pressure-treated deck boards and lifetime powder-coated screws. They also come with a unique heavy duty steel mounting to make sure they remain securely in place. The crabs are finished with premium outdoor rated stains, primers, and paints adding to their coastal outdoor rating.
How does the Chesapeake inspire your work?
We consider the Chesapeake our backyard, so we draw inspiration from it all the time! It’s a Maryland thing to eat crabs, and now that we make wooden crabs, we give back to those in the area by supporting the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse restoration effort. Last month we sponsored the 75th National Hard Crab Derby held in Crisfield, MD.
Are there favorites?
The most popular is our original (57” x 31” x 2”) natural design weighing in at 18 pounds. It can be stained to look realistic, but I also love the unfinished one. Other popular styles are the Bushel Basket, Maryland Flag, and Old Bay Seasoning crabs. Any photograph or image can be painted on one of our crabs. Customers hang them on their patios, sheds, garages, over their fireplaces, or on the side of a house. They’re quickly becoming a recognized brand around the state.
Where do you get your design ideas?
From about any place and anyone around the Bay. For example, in 2022, McCormick Spice Company gave us permission to paint Old Bay Seasoning designs on their crabs. Texas Roadhouse asked us to design one for their Baltimore location. We personalize a substantial number for special events or causes. We also developed modern designs of the Chesapeake Bay map and a Mash-Up Crab with the Maryland flag on the shell and realistic stained legs.
Have you branched out beyond making crabs?
Yes, just last month we released a new product called the Wine Table for Two that holds a bottle of wine and two wine glasses. It was very well received, and our fans love it. Because all of our products are personalized and hand crafted, they make great gifts for any occasion.
How would you describe your work?
Work? We don’t feel like this is work at all. It is a fun pastime for us. We absolutely love the excitement these crabs generate for our customers, retailers, and Facebook fans. We’ve got a growing distribution throughout Maryland with unlimited ideas for new designs.
To learn more: go to the Smitty Creations Facebook page, email [email protected], or call (240) 750-0555.
Interview by Gwen Mayes
About the interviewer: Gwen Mayes is a writer, life coach, workshop host, and docent for the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park. Find her at anchortoself.com.
