Young tiler laying foundation for long career

Despite being only 25 years old, tradesman Alex Campbell already boasts a decade of experience in tiling.

His journey and love affair with the trade was sparked in his teenage years, while he accompanied his father, who is also a tiler, on various job sites. After recognising his interest, Campbell's father taught him the basics of the trade. At that time, Campbell, who lived in Christiana, Manchester, with his mother, used to travel to Kingston to learn from and work with his dad. So by age 15, Campbell had mastered the basics of the trade, and after graduating from the Albert Town High School in Trelawny, he decided he would branch out on his own.

But Campbell's ambitious decision was met with much disapproval from his mother, who believed that being a tiler was not the best career path for her son. Rather than becoming discouraged, Campbell became even more driven to pursue his passion for tiling.

"Her reaction really motivated me to prove to her wrong, and over time, I did because I had an understanding of the field and I knew my capabilities," said Campbell, adding that prior to getting his first job on a construction site, he had challenges getting customers because of his age.

"At the time mi never have no reputation, no one knew who I was. So I had to build my client base from the ground up, Campbell said. "Because of my age, some people didn't believe I was capable of doing the job. Even to this day there are people that look at me think that because I'm so young I'm inexperienced."

Although he has never been formally trained, Campbell told THE STAR that he has taught himself not only how to master more advanced techniques of the trade, but he has created new techniques to add his own flair and uniqueness to his designs.

"I picked up the basics from my father but the rest I learnt from going at it. So mi basically teach miself all the tricks because experience teaches wisdom, and if you do something every day, you a guh find a easier or smarter way to do it," said Campbell, who now has a business called Jamaican Tiler's, with a team of 15 tilers, five of whom he trained.

"I love what I do...and to actually see my workers enjoying themselves, it's a vibe, a whole vibe at work. So I always enjoy being there and I also really enjoy seeing my client's face when the work is done," Campbell said.

He also told THE STAR that for him, tiling has been very profitable, allowing him to purchase his first car at age 18, and his first apartment a year later. He added that over the years, he has managed to purchase other assets and is eyeing a second property.

"It wasn't just because of my father why I learnt the trade, but because I always wanted to go into real estate and I wanted the first-hand experience to actually be on site to see how everything works," Campbell said, adding that those who have a passion for a trade, should pursue one.

"Tiling is very lucrative so I would advise anybody to get a trade. I have at times considered starting a school to teach other young persons interested in learning a skill," Campbell said. He said that he will be leaving for the US soon to do a year at a technical school - Ceramic Tile Education Foundation - to further his qualifications.