Best Practices: Wade’s Interiors – Sept 2026

By Jessica Chevalier

Wade’s Interiors is a 46-year-old flooring business embarking on a new journey following its acquisition by Vilas Partners, a Tampa, Florida-based holding company focused on acquiring family-owned flooring businesses. Wade’s Interiors will remain under the leadership of prior owner Derick Johnson, as Vilas is focused on maintaining the legacy of its acquisitions while giving the companies the opportunity for greater growth through a commitment to long-term ownership and investment.

THE VALUE OF VALUES

Johnson became acquainted with Vilas Partners’ CEO Eloi Lima about a year ago. At the time, “I was looking to take the business to the next level, to expand capabilities and maintain a high level of service,” Johnson recalls.

Most important to Johnson was finding a partner with whom his business values aligned. The company’s core values are a commitment to excellence, honesty, integrity, teamwork and servanthood. Johnson sensed a similar dedication to doing the right thing with Vilas Partners. Johnson says, “They are men of integrity. They align with our core values and understand how important the team we have built is.” Johnson adds that the preservation and support of his team was one of his main focuses in choosing a path forward.

Johnson characterizes “servanthood” as his favorite core value. “What sets us apart is the way we serve,” he says. “We service the consumer’s needs better than anyone.” 

BUSINESS STATS
Location: Bradenton, Florida
Years in Business: 46
Number of Stores: 1
Number of Employees: 8
Promotional Mix: Internet, direct mail, some print, word of mouth, referrals
Affiliation: SFN

Johnson defines serving as “taking care of and being available to help each other and our customers professionally and personally.” 

He elaborates, “From the moment a customer walks in the showroom, our focus is serving them, not selling to them. Our purpose is to provide a great experience from start to finish.”

Johnson believes that his team’s buy-in to the company’s core values has created a culture that stands out and, further, keeps both staff and subcontractor installers committed and engaged, leading to long-term employment and partnerships. “Everyone is compensated fairly, but what sets us apart is the culture,” says Johnson. “You can sense it when you walk in the door.”

It also leads to long-term satisfied customers. “We want our customers to be customers for life. We want to install carpet in their home four or five times—or provide flooring for six or seven of their homes,” Johnson notes. “And that happens!” Wade’s Interiors’ slogan is “Building customers for life.”

Wade’s Interiors is 80% residential with the other 20% mainstreet commercial. The company has a strong relationship with Shaw as a Shaw Flooring Network dealer and sells Philadelphia mainstreet products, as well. “Shaw has been a tremendous advocate for Wade’s for many decades, and we will continue that as part of the transition,” notes Johnson. “We are thankful for their partnership.”

Johnson notes that, from his perspective, expansion for Wade’s Interiors under Vilas could include both additional locations and a greater focus on commercial business.

THE JOURNEY TO OWNERSHIP

Johnson started working in the flooring industry in 2003, supervising tile installations in new construction. When the Great Recession hit, he began working for a flooring supplier. One of his customers was Wade’s Carpet & Interiors, owned, at the time, by Larry and Lynn Wade. The pair had started Wade’s as a carpet-only retailer in October 1979.

“Larry approached me and asked if I was interested in working in his business,” recalls Johnson. In 2010, he joined Wade’s Carpet & Interiors as general manager. And in 2017, he bought the business from Larry and Lynn, rebranding it as Wade’s Interiors a few years later.  

For 45 of its almost-47 years, Wade’s Interiors has occupied a standalone building along one of the main roads through Manatee County. The showroom is just under 5,000 square feet with a warehouse in another building behind the showroom.

DIFFERENT BY DESIGN

Wade’s Interiors is a unique operation in several respects. While not large in employee count, the business has an interior designer on staff, which elevates the retail experience and project outcomes. In addition to flooring, the business offers window treatments, wallpaper and fabric. Wade’s Interiors has an inhouse fabrication department for fabric work, including custom bedding, pillows and cushions, cornices, and upholstery. 

Through these offerings Wade’s Interiors’ customers can achieve a full vision for their space, rather than a flooring-only focus. 

The company’s window offering comes from Hunter Douglas and includes blinds, shades, shutters and drapery. 

Wade’s Interiors offers products in all the flooring categories, and Johnson reports that the business can meet virtually any customer needs with its economy to high-quality span of products. 

VILAS’ PERSPECTIVE

Prior to acquiring Wade’s Interiors, Vilas Partners had already purchased two retail flooring firms on Florida’s Gulf Coast: 27-year-old Creative Tile & Hardwood in Naples, which it purchased in 2025, and 36-year-old Floorcrafters in Fort Myers, which it purchased in 2024. 

“Our objective,” explains Limas, “is integrating North American companies and making them better together—exchanging best practices among them. We leave the teams to do their own magic.” Vilas plans to hold onto the companies for the long run, expanding them in Florida while maintaining “their brand reputation in their market and expand organically and inorganically.”

Vilas is continuing to seek acquisition opportunities in Florida. Says Lima, “The objective is to acquire small, family-owned businesses through a buy-hold strategy.” After acquisitions, Vilas will integrate the companies through the exchange of best practices as well as harmonizing back-office systems and support operations.