Prepare To Be Floored

With a million-dollar inventory and more than 40 years in the business, Williams Carpet and Flooring has you covered.

By Joe Jancsurak  »  Photos by G. Frank Hart

After 40-plus years in the business, Patricia Williams knows a thing or two about the flooring and design needs of her customers. As co-owner of Williams Carpet and Flooring Outlet (WCFO) on Castle Hayne Road in Wilmington, a family-run business that opened more than a half-century ago, she has over the years honed her listening and intuitive skills that enable her to guide customers with their flooring choices. And with a multi-million-dollar inventory housed in the warehouse behind her store’s showroom, the choices are many.

“I was considering becoming  a flight attendant when my dad, Trevis J. Williams, equipped me to run this store 40 years ago when I was 20 years old,” recalls Patricia. Today, in addition to the Wilmington location, there are three Williams Carpet store locations:  Pawley Island, Ocean Isle and North Myrtle Beach, each co-owned and operated by Patricia’s siblings with Trevis serving as president and co-owner of the four locations.

“It was so awesome growing up in the family business and learning from our mom (Margaret, deceased) and dad as they cared for us children and their customers, while building a reputation for being honest and knowledgeable entrepreneurs with a high-quality, affordable and extensive inventory of name-brand options, including the likes of Shaw, Karastan, Mannington, Coretec and Mohawk.

Indeed. Looking to update your kitchen and bathroom? Patricia and her staff can show you luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) options known for their durability, noise reduction and water resistance.

For bedrooms and living rooms, the WCFO  staff asks you to consider the barefoot/slipper-wearing comfort of carpeting versus the easy-to-clean attributes of LVP as well as hardwood, an important consideration for coastal living and the sand and salt that comes with it. To complement LVP and hardwood floors, WCFO also offers one of the area’s largest collections of area rugs. And if it’s carpeting you desire, WCFO offers everything from neutral-colored offerings to bold colors patterns, including geometric shapes and watercolor patterns.

“We have the expertise to advise our customers and steer them toward the best flooring options for their needs and budget,” says Patricia.  “Ours is a full-service business, meaning we do a lot of design work involving cabinets, light fixtures and staircase runners. We have working relationships with 12 interior designers and 15 builders. If we’re working with a customer who is building a house, we can direct-order what they need.”

When asked what else she wants Wilmington Magazine readers to know about her business, Patricia’s simply says, “With our massive inventory and quality products for less money, we want readers to know we’re in the business of helping them with achieving the look and comfort they desire in their homes.”

One more: “For customers wondering whatever happened to the young girl who helped them choose their carpeting decades ago, I’m still here.”