Birdhouse business takes off for Jared Corbett at Lees Market in Westport

WESTPORT — Stop by Lees Market on Main Road and you’ll find more than groceries these days. That’s because there’s a display of colorful hand-painted birdhouses lovingly made by a special and beloved entrepreneur.

People are buying those birdhouses, taking them home and watching the parade of feathered friends that stop by for a snack. Jared Corbett, a longtime and popular Lees employee, started painting the wooden houses and selling them at a craft fair last year. He’s never looked back.

Corbett, 38, developed an artistic appreciation as a student at Dartmouth High School, dabbling in various media. He became serious about painting when, last year, a friend gave him some birdhouses and acrylic paints in a bid to renew his passion for creativity.

Never one to sit idly, the artist, who was born with Down syndrome, has developed a thriving business called Bird Houses by Jared. Since January, he has sold more than 127 birdhouses at Lees with no plans of stopping.

A store employee discovered the houses last fall at a craft fair where Jared’s mother Debbie was selling her baskets. The woman later mentioned the project to Lees management and the rest is history.

“I want to take it to the top,” Corbett said, adding that he is enjoying his new role as a successful businessman.

The enthusiastic entrepreneur’s father, Bill Corbett, said his son is always thinking about his business. “He’s trying to figure out a slogan,” he said.

Once Corbett puts on his headphones and turns up his music, he concentrates on the project at hand and gets lost in the work.

“Painting is magic,” Corbett said with a smile. “Painting is a lot of fun.”

Corbett is a man of many talents. A third-degree black belt, he competed in karate tournaments in Canada, Bermuda and Guatemala. He is an avid bowler and enjoys a host of other activities.

Rebecca Robillard, a member of Corbett’s support staff and a longtime family friend, chuckles when she discusses the artist’s popularity.

“You can’t run into anyone in the community who doesn’t know Jared,” she said, adding that whether he’s at the mall or Buttonwood Park or any other spot throughout SouthCoast, he always meets a friend.

Corbett, who works five days per week at Lees, has been with the busy market for 16 years. He collects carriages and baskets, organizes shelves and helps to keep the property in spotless condition. The enthusiastic employee also helps shoppers, some of whom are elderly, to load their groceries into their cars and enjoys chatting with customers as he performs that important role.

Chris Rossi, assistant store manager, describes Corbett as “wonderful.”

“We all love Jared. We all support the project,” Rossi said, adding that proceeds from Corbett’s sales go right back to the artist, who buys the balsa wood houses (available in several styles), paint and other materials from a local craft store.

While the entrepreneur does most of the painting, his parents complete the work. Robillard and Laurie Comey, a member of Corbett’s support staff, also assist.

Back at Lees, Rossi said Corbett is popular with store employees of all ages and former Lees workers who return to shop at the store.

“He is very focused,” the store manager said, adding that Corbett is innovative and likes to introduce new colors and patterns. “In 16 years he hasn’t slowed down a bit.”

When Corbett recently recently underwent a medical procedure that required he be kept out of work for a short time, he couldn’t wait to return to his duties and many friends at the store, according to Rossi.

Jared’s brother Andrew is also an enthusiastic supporter and encourages his friends and colleagues to purchase the bird houses.

The painter is toying with idea of selling packages of birdseed to accompany the houses, and could possibly train an employee to help produce the colorful products.

“Jared is a hard worker,” Corbett’s father said. “He earns everything he gets. We are all very proud of him.”

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