BUSINESS
Brick
by
brick
MASONRY BIZ
A FAMILY AFFAIR
BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL
STAFF WRITER
CHARLTON — During the
winter months, Jay Camosse
typically has less work to do.
But now, with friendlier
weather and the summer
months approaching, he is
much busier.
Camosse
is the general
manager
of Camosse
M a s o n r y
Supply,
located on
T r o l l e y
C ro s s i n g
road. The
b u s i n e s s
sells lands
c a p i n g ,
masonry supplies and stone
to contractors and homeowners.
His father, Henry, and
three uncles own the business,
which also has a store in
Worcester.
“It is real satisfying,” the 26-
year-old Charlton native and
Shepherd Hill Regional High
School graduate said during
an interview at the business
last week.
Above, Jay Camosse displays his love for his work. 
Contractors Michael Young, left, and Thomas Joseph, right, build the stone display at
Camosse Masonry Supply.
Charlton native helps family run business
For Camosse, running the business is
a labor of love that he
approaches with passion for helping
customers realize their home
improvement dreams. To accomplish
that, he has turned to the information
superhighway. Camosse operates
a blog for the business that has
attracted customers from outside the
Central Massachusetts area. One
customer from New York City bought
a stone fireplace set from Camosse,
who he was scheduled to deliver it
last week. The Web site also features
products available for customers. He
also shipped supplies to as far away
as Nantucket island.
“The blog is great,” he said. “It’s
connected me to the highest market
out there.”
Camosse also operates a blog for
his own business, Stone Of New
England. He collects stone and sells it
through Camosse Masonry. That Web
site features various types of stone
from different communities.
For Camosse, the drive for his profession
is all in the family.
With no intention of attending college
after high school, Camosse was
looking to work in the stone business.
But unlike some families, he
didn’t feel pressured to inherit the
business.
“I was never asked to be in it for
the long haul,” he said.
After six years of operating the
Charlton store with his two brothers,
Camosse has realized his dreams and
thoroughly enjoys his customers. He
often gives customers tours of the
store to help them decide what supplies
they may need.
“Landscaping and stone seems to
put people’s guard down,” he said.
“In the end, the customer is ecstatic.”
Thankfully, the business has fared
well during the economic recession,
according to Camosse. While
acknowledging the masonry industry
in general has taken a beating,
Camosse said his store is in good
shape, although customers are carefully
considering the value of the
money they spend. They often have
limited budgets to buy materials,
Camosse said, which he has to work
within to satisfy their needs. Doing
that, he acknowledged, is difficult.
“Sometimes that means a little
sweat equity,” he said.
“We’re having a fairly good year.
We have been lucky that most do-ityourselfers
are putting more money
into their property.”
With desires to expand, an outdoor
stonework showcase display is being
built. When complete, the various
sections will be labeled with the
names of contractors that constructed
that portion. The display is meant
to attract customers to the store and
give business to the contractors
Camosse refers customers to.
With the new display, Camosse sees
a bright future for the business.
To Camosse, his work is so much
more than just a full-time job.
It is pretty easy to show up,” he
said.
approaches with passion for helping
customers realize their home
improvement dreams. To accomplish
that, he has turned to the information
superhighway. Camosse operates
a blog for the business that has
attracted customers from outside the
Central Massachusetts area. One
customer from New York City bought
a stone fireplace set from Camosse,
who he was scheduled to deliver it
last week. The Web site also features
products available for customers. He
also shipped supplies to as far away
as Nantucket island.
“The blog is great,” he said. “It’s
connected me to the highest market
out there.”
Camosse also operates a blog for
his own business, Stone Of New
England. He collects stone and sells it
through Camosse Masonry. That Web
site features various types of stone
from different communities.
For Camosse, the drive for his profession
is all in the family.
With no intention of attending college
after high school, Camosse was
looking to work in the stone business.
But unlike some families, he
didn’t feel pressured to inherit the
business.
“I was never asked to be in it for
the long haul,” he said.
After six years of operating the
Charlton store with his two brothers,
Camosse has realized his dreams and
thoroughly enjoys his customers. He
often gives customers tours of the
store to help them decide what supplies
they may need.
“Landscaping and stone seems to
put people’s guard down,” he said.
“In the end, the customer is ecstatic.”
Thankfully, the business has fared
well during the economic recession,
according to Camosse. While
acknowledging the masonry industry
in general has taken a beating,
Camosse said his store is in good
shape, although customers are carefully
considering the value of the
money they spend. They often have
limited budgets to buy materials,
Camosse said, which he has to work
within to satisfy their needs. Doing
that, he acknowledged, is difficult.
“Sometimes that means a little
sweat equity,” he said.
“We’re having a fairly good year.
We have been lucky that most do-ityourselfers
are putting more money
into their property.”
With desires to expand, an outdoor
stonework showcase display is being
built. When complete, the various
sections will be labeled with the
names of contractors that constructed
that portion. The display is meant
to attract customers to the store and
give business to the contractors
Camosse refers customers to.
With the new display, Camosse sees
a bright future for the business.
To Camosse, his work is so much
more than just a full-time job.
It is pretty easy to show up,” he
said.
