Floor Trader Outlet, located at 2290 E. William Street is Carson City’s newest one stop shop for all things flooring specifically for DIYers, small contractors, property managers, and those who are seeking immediate inventory at value price points.
The business aims to provide a specialized, locally-focused alternative to big-box home improvement stores, according to President Kayla Simons. Offerings include tile, hardwood, luxury vinyl, washable rugs, installation prep tools, carpet remnants and much more.
The new store is the latest evolution for Desert Design Inc., the parent company that first opened its doors around 30 years ago in rural Northern Nevada. The first stores, which offered a full design studio for customers, were located in Winnemucca and Elko, and expanded to Carson in May 2025 with the opening of Desert Designs Carpet One.
That location similarly offers a full-service model, but Simons said they also saw a need within the community to offer an outlet model as well for those customers who handle installation and remodeling themselves.
“[Floor Trader Outlet] focuses on the people who need it now,” Simons said. “They want to see it, they want it in stock, and they want it at a great price.”
Simons noted that the store currently carries over 100 styles in stock. The business model is designed to fill a specific gap in the local market, driven by feedback that Carson City residents prefer to shop within their community rather than commuting.
“Carson City in particular, it doesn’t seem like anyone there wants to kind of travel over to Reno and do their shopping in Reno,” Simons said. “If they can stay local, they prefer that.”
In a market often dominated by large big box stores, Simons said Floor Trader Outlet differentiates itself through specialized expertise. While big-box stores sell everything from refrigerators to nails, her team focuses strictly on flooring and remodeling, and can answer questions and help customers find exactly what they’re looking for.
Simons believes this specialization is increasingly vital in an era of digital saturation, where customers are looking for physical locations staffed by knowledgeable professionals they can trust.
“I think now more than ever because of everything happening online, people don’t know what’s real or what’s a scam, what the quality is…we want to walk into our local businesses and feel confident that the people there have the knowledge and have the skill set to help you get the job done. People want places that they can trust,” Simons said. “If you’re looking for something that’s going to last or a team of people that have experience in what it is that you’re doing… then I definitely think that that’s an advantage for us.”
Although the outlet focuses on the “cash and carry” model, the business is developing local partnerships for installation referrals to support other area contractors. The store also offers delivery capabilities between its locations.
Simons described the reception from the community since the summer opening as positive, and said customer service is their number one commitment, and while they “try to get it 100% the first time,” they’ll do everything in their power in “getting to happy” if issues arise.
“I just want to say thank you for the warm welcome that we have received from Carson as a community,” Simons said when asked if she had anything she specifically wanted Carson Now readers to know about her or the business. “We’ve been supported and we really look forward to continued success in that market.”
Floor Trader Outlet is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
You can follow them on Facebook, or visit their website at https://www.floortradercarsoncity.com
