Red Brick Clothing Celebrates 25 Years as a Family Business

From left: Jerry Mayotte, CFO; Marie Mayotte, founder; Keith Mayotte, CEO; and Danny Mayotte, COO (Courtesy photo)

Marie Mayotte started her custom apparel, screen printing and embroidery business with a single embroidery machine on the back porch of her home in Pelham. She soon needed more space and moved the dining room table into storage. That was 25 years ago. Today, she has 12 employees at Red Brick Clothing and multiple heads of embroidery, as well as automatic and manual screen-print presses at her Hudson facility.

Her son, Keith, joined her business in 2007 after graduating college and starting his own detailing business. However, Keith realized the detailing business was seasonal and could not support him full time. But he knew he wanted to follow in his parent’s footsteps (his dad, Jerry, owned a convenience store before joining Red Brick Clothing) and run a business. So, his parents invited him to join the family business. “It was a good time for the business; (it) was on the cusp of going to another level,” Keith says.

The company had just five employees at the time. Keith started in an entry-level position to learn the business from the ground up. Over the years, he gained more responsibility and eventually shared an office with his dad. His brother, Danny, joined the business four years ago, after earning a degree in engineering management. He now runs the production floor.

Marie’s customers, in the early days, were mainly businesses and sports teams. The Mayottes began branching out and courting schools and providing uniforms, which has become a reliable revenue stream for the company. “The school uniform business is recession resistant,” Keith says. “Uniforms will always be required.”

Marie is meticulous about quality. “Everyone is educated as to how things should look before they go out the door,” she says. “Everyone makes sure the product looks good.” Adds Keith, “Everyone is part of quality control.”

The company has consistently grown revenue by 10% annually. Last year saw sales increase by 25%, Keith says. Year-to-date, sales are up 30% this year, he says.

Now the business has passed to the second generation. Keith purchased it from his parents a year ago with an agreement that they would continue to work at the company for three years as they entered semi-retirement. Keith has big plans for the company. “I want to be one of the largest apparel providers in New England,” he says.

For more information visit redbrickclothing.com.