For nearly 30 years, Lavalette Carpet and Tile has stood as a dependable fixture for commercial and residential clients in the Huntington region. Originally established in 1996, the business entered a new chapter in June 2023 when it was acquired by current owners Thomas and Kelsi Smith, 

Taking the helm as owner was a natural step for Thomas after a career built on hands-on industry experience. A civil engineer by education with a background in real estate investing, property management, and business ownership, Smith had spent plenty of time in adjacent  sectors before stepping into the flooring industry directly.

“Real estate’s always been my passion,” Thomas said. “I’m a civil engineer, and while I was in engineering school, I started buying real estate. Doing flips, doing buy-and-holds, all the things. A few years into engineering, I was bored. I’m not a guy to sit at a desk all day, and that’s where I was. I wanted to find something that’s more me, more toward real estate, and I wanted to get back to an ownership position.”

While getting brakes serviced on his truck one afternoon, Smith was scrolling through commercial business listings and noticed that Lavalette Carpet and Tile was for sale. 

“I didn't know that there was a flooring store out this way. I got in my truck, and I drove by, and I missed it,” Thomas said with a laugh. “I was like, you've got to be kidding me. I've gone hundreds of times to the golf courses over here, and never once paid attention to Lavalette Carpet and Tile. Needless to say, they were a very well established business, I had just never used them.” 

Recognizing both the potential of the flooring market and the strong financial foundation of the company, Thomas connected with the original owners, developed a plan, and spent the next six months learning the flooring business.

“I thought, okay, this is something I can do. The financials are pretty strong. During those first six months, we took the time to really fiure things out. From there, it's just kind of grown and grown, and continues to have an upward trend. Things have just continuously gotten better.”

Under Smith’s leadership, Lavalette Carpet and Tile operates as a complete turn-key provider for anything that goes on the floor. Their inventory spans luxury vinyl plank, hardwood, tile, glue-down planks, indoor/outdoor carpet, commercial carpet tiles, and specialized rubber gym flooring.

In an era where many businesses attempt to be everything to everyone, Smith attributes the store’s steady upward trend to a very deliberate yet simple strategy: specialization.

Learning from his past experience owning a landscape startup where he admittedly expanded services too quickly and spread himself thin, Smith maintains a clear operational boundary for Lavalette Carpet and Tile.

“I want to just be really good at flooring because everybody needs a flooring guy,” Thomas explains. “We’re able to focus on what we know, and that is the flooring aspect of it. And that is a fast track to growth.”

That discipline means sometimes having to turn down jobs outside their core services to preserve quality and customer trust. 

“There are many jobs that have been very tough to say no to, but they’re just outside of our wheelhouse to the extent that if something goes wrong, we don’t have a system in place to fix it. That’s where you’re going to lose yourself. I know this because I’ve done it. We’re at the point now where we’re laser-focused on doing what we know, rinse and repeat, every single time.”

While flooring remains the primary focus, Thomas has figured out a way to expand services and inventory without adding too much to his plate. Lavalette Carpet and Tile is entering into the cabinet supply service, solving a common headache for area builders and property owners.

“We have some contractors that we work with, they do tile work, they do kitchens, bathrooms, all those things. “They came to us and asked if we would be interested in being the cabinet dealers.” 

After some deliberation, Thomas eventually agreed. The store is now setting up a new showroom display to act as an order-and-supply hub for quality kitchen cabinets. However, rather than taking on kitchen installations or full-scale remodeling work, the store is serving strictly as a supplier to support local contractors and property owners.

“We will carry the cabinets, and if somebody wants an installation, we will pass it directly onto these guys. We’re by no means wanting to tout ourselves as cabinet guys. We’re not going to be bathroom guys. We are very much focused on flooring, as much as we possibly can.”

By supplying cabinets without taking on installation work, the store helps local flippers and builders access competitive pricing without compromising their focus on flooring. And with plenty of work to be had, it is clear that Thomas and his team remain committed to their clients, their installation crews, and their mission. 

Along with residential flooring, a significant portion of the store’s work comes from commercial property management, servicing an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 apartment units between Huntington and Charleston. Managing the rapid turnover schedules of apartment complexes requires precision, clear communication, and a strong network of reliable installation crews.

For Thomas, solving problems and delivering lasting results takes priority over competing solely on price.

“I feel our recurring customers come to us out of trust because we have yet to miss their deadlines,” Thomas said. “We’ll never say we’re going to be the cheapest in the world or in the industry. But what we will do is we will work with you to the end, and if there’s a problem, we’ll get it figured out. We want to make sure that the customer experience is as stress-free as possible.”

This philosophy is tied directly to Smith's years in property management. After many instances of making the same repairs multiple times, Thomas now advocates for paying a premium up front for high quality products and services. 

“What I’ve done is I’ve stepped back and said, ‘Okay, let's think about this in the long run. Is this a long-run fix, or is this a short-run fix? I was sick of tinkering on short-term fixes, only to spend more money later fixing it again. You’re going to be spending the money, but you’re going to be reaping the benefits in the long run.”

Looking toward the future, Lavalette Carpet and Tile is focused on steady, sustainable growth. Along with Thomas, the team includes sales manager Chris Railey and salesman Rob Staffin, a veteran of the flooring industry who brings over 20 years of sector experience. While future plans may include expanding into neighboring markets like Putnam County, Smith stresses that any growth must preserve the company's core values: Faith First, Community Impact, Efficient, Thankful, and Teamwork.

“The focus is just to grow this store right now, and as we grow, we want to make sure that we don't forget where we started, and we want to make sure that we're available for the community. From the radius we've been working in, from here to Charleston, and over into Ohio and Kentucky, we trust that there's something ahead for us and we know that, somehow, some way, God's going to provide for whatever dreams we may have.”

To explore products, schedule a home measurement, or request an estimate, visit their showroom or view their catalog online at https://www.lavalettecarpetwv.com/ and follow them on Facebook.