Shade & Wise

What Shade & Wise does

Shade & Wise Brick Company is a wholesale masonry products distributor headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Founded circa 1963, the company operates two physical showroom and distribution locations in Richmond (34,000 sqft) and Powhatan (25,000 sqft), with combined inventory of approximately 6-9 million bricks at any given time. The company distributes a broad portfolio of brick (facebrick, extruded, molded, thin brick, pavers), Arriscraft calcium silicate masonry units, real and manufactured stone, hardscape products (clay and concrete pavers, retaining wall block), and professional-grade masonry tools sourced from more than 50 manufacturer brands.

The company serves three primary customer segments across Central Virginia: residential homeowners and builders seeking products for new home construction; architectural and commercial professionals requiring specialty masonry products for commercial and landmark projects; and hardscape/landscape buyers purchasing pavers, retaining walls, and cultured stone. Every member of the sales team holds the Certified Brick Specialist (CBS) designation from the Brick Industry Association, providing technical expertise that includes matching mortar formulations used or produced within the last 200 years. Distribution is supported by a company-owned fleet of trucks equipped with forklifts for on-site material placement.

The business model is distribution-based with quote-based pricing (no public price listings), standard Net 25th payment terms, and 2% credit card processing fees. Go-to-market combines direct showroom sales, an online Request-a-Quote form, and professional referrals from architects and design professionals. Shade & Wise is privately held with no disclosed investors or parent company; leadership includes James Tavenner (President), Tyler Currie (Chief Operating Officer), and John Frayser (Vice President). The company maintains active industry partnerships including AIA Virginia Allied Membership, CSI Richmond, Virginia Masonry Association, and AGC Virginia.

Name

Shade & Wise

Legal name

Shade & Wise Brick Company

Website

https://shadeandwise.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shade & Wise Brick Company is a privately held wholesale masonry products distributor serving Central Virginia from two showroom and distribution facilities in Richmond and Powhatan, supplying brick, stone, hardscape materials, and masonry tools from 50+ manufacturer brands to residential homeowners, professional builders, and architectural specifiers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Masonry Supply Distribution

NAICS

Brick, Stone, and Related Construction Material Merchant Wholesalers (42332)

SIC

Retail-Lumber & Other Building Materials Dealers (5211), Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200)

akta.pro primary industry

Masonry & Hardscapes Retail (Brick, Block, Pavers, Stone) (CRAIAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Concrete Pavers, Hardscape & Retaining Wall Systems (IMADAAAE), Calcium Silicate Bricks & Blocks (IMADABAD), Concrete, Cement & Aggregates Retail (Bagged Mix, Sand, Gravel) (CRAIAEAG)

Keywords

• Brick distribution
• Masonry supplies
• Building materials distribution
• Hardscape products
• Stone distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Brick and Masonry Product Sales: Revenue generated from the sale and distribution of brick, hardscape, stone, and masonry supplies to residential, commercial, and architectural customers. The company stocks millions of bricks and operates two distribution centers with in-house delivery fleet.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Shade & Wise distributes brick, stone, hardscape, and masonry supplies from 50+ manufacturer brands through two physical showroom/distribution centers in Richmond and Powhatan, Virginia. The company serves residential homeowners, professional builders and masons, and architectural/design professionals with brick, calcium silicate masonry units (Arriscraft), natural and manufactured stone, clay and concrete pavers, retaining wall block, and professional masonry tools. Complementary services include material estimating, legacy mortar matching, and delivery via a forklift-equipped fleet.

Product overview

Shade & Wise is a brick and masonry distributor offering a comprehensive product portfolio centered on clay brick, calcium silicate masonry units, stone (real and manufactured), and hardscape materials. The company operates as a distribution platform with two physical locations (Richmond and Powhatan, Virginia) and provides complementary services including material delivery with on-site placement, estimating and quoting assistance, and mortar matching. The core product line includes brick in multiple formats (facebrick, pavers, thin brick), Arriscraft calcium silicate masonry units, natural and cultured stone, clay and concrete pavers, and professional-grade masonry tools. The company's value proposition combines product distribution with technical expertise from Certified Brick Specialists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brick Distribution of clay brick products including facebrick, extruded brick, molded brick, thin brick, and brick pavers in a range of colors (red, brown, grey, buff, black, and specialty blends) and styles for residential, commercial, and architectural applications.
• Arriscraft Calcium Silicate Masonry Units Distribution of Arriscraft calcium silicate masonry products including architectural linear series brick, citadel, renaissance masonry units, ledgestone, coastal series, and thin masonry options for commercial and architectural projects.
• Stone Products Distribution of both real natural stone and manufactured cultured stone products including dimension stone, ledgestone, thin stone veneer, and architectural stone panels from manufacturers such as Eldorado Stone, Stonecraft, Dutch Quality Stone, MSI Stone, Delgado Stone, Halquist Stone, and Indiana Limestone.
• Hardscape Products Distribution of hardscape materials including clay pavers, concrete pavers, retaining wall block, and cultured stone for outdoor living spaces such as pool decks, driveways, patios, and walkways from manufacturers including Pavestone, Keystone Retaining Walls, Cambridge Pavers, and Eagle Bay Pavers.
• Professional Masonry Tools and Supplies Distribution of professional-grade masonry tools and accessories including Marshalltown, MK Diamond, Kraft Tools, Stortz, Crick Levels, Quikrete concrete products, and Workrite colored masonry cement for tradesmen.
• Dispatch and Delivery Service Material delivery service using a fleet of modern trucks equipped with forklifts for on-site pallet placement, coordinated through the dispatcher office, for residential, commercial, and architectural customers in Central Virginia.
• Quotes and Estimating Service Sales assistance providing material estimates, quantity calculations, and product-matching services — including matching mortar used or produced within the last 200 years — for new construction, renovation, and restoration projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% less energy to make brick today than in 1970 (industry-wide)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered standard and core.

• Cherokee BrickstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrick manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise. Represents one of many brick supplier relationships.
• Lee BrickstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrick manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• Watsontown BrickstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrick manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• General Shale BrickstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor brick manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• Glen-GerystandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrick manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise, including thin brick and international product lines.
• Endicott ClaystandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrick manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise, including pavers.
• Yankee Hill BrickstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrick manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• Palmetto BrickstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrick manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• Elgin ButlerstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrick manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• Acme BrickstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor brick manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• SummitvillestandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrick manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• ArriscraftstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCalcium silicate masonry unit and architectural stone manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise, including the ARRIS-CAST, ARRIS-clip, and ARRIS-tile product lines.
• Eldorado StonestandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufactured stone manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• StonecraftstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufactured stone manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• Dutch Quality StonestandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufactured stone manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• MSI StonestandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStone products distributor whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• Delgado StonestandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStone manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• Halquist StonestandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStone manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• QuikretestandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConcrete and construction materials manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• Workrite Colored Masonry CementstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMortar and masonry cement manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• Indiana LimestonestandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNatural limestone manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• PavestonestandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHardscape/paver manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• Keystone Retaining WallsstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetaining wall block manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• Cambridge PaversstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHardscape/paver manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• Eagle Bay PaversstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHardscape/paver manufacturer whose products are distributed through Shade & Wise.
• MarshalltownstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProfessional masonry tool manufacturer whose products are sold through Shade & Wise.
• MK DiamondstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDiamond tool manufacturer whose products are sold through Shade & Wise.
• Brick Industry Association (BIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association that provides certification for the sales team (Certified Brick Specialist program), technical resources, sustainability data, technical notes on brick construction, and CE credit content. The company is a member in good standing and all sales staff hold BIA certifications.
• AIA VirginiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Institute of Architects Virginia chapter. Shade & Wise is an Allied Member and was awarded 2021 AIA Virginia Honors. This partnership is strategically important for architect and design community engagement and referrals.
• CSI Richmond (Construction Specifications Institute)standardStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction Specifications Institute Richmond chapter partnership for technical specifications and industry standards alignment.
• VMA (Virginia Masonry Association)standardStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirginia Masonry Association partnership for industry advocacy and standards.
• AGC Virginia (Associated General Contractors)standardStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated General Contractors of Virginia partnership for contractor community engagement.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/shadeandwisebrickrva
• Xx.com/sandwbrick

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shade & Wise