Ale Stout is the new owner and president, and husband Stephen Stout is now vice president, of Lahaina Carpet & Interiors. The sale took effect on Oct. 1. “Lahaina Carpet & Interiors has a history in the community. We’ll maintain it and get better. That’s our aim. I’m excited for the future,” Ale said.

LAHAINA — One of the oldest businesses in Lahaina has a new owner.

Employee Ale Stout became owner and president of Lahaina Carpet & Interiors Inc. on Oct. 1. Her husband, Stephen Stout, now serves as vice president.

Ale was involved in negotiations to buy the business for the past year.

“I wanted to keep everyone because I love this company,” she explained. “Our staff is amazing. I’m so blessed to have great staff, because they have all been with us a long time.”

“My goal is to get it to 60 years; we’re 54 in January,” she added.

The business began as Lahaina Carpet Company in 1969, founded by Cliff McQueen, Doug Poseley and Dave Byars. Reagan Dahl purchased the company from Byars four years ago.

Ale started as an assistant bookkeeper at Lahaina Carpet & Interiors 24 years ago, learning all aspects of the business along the way.

Stephen has helped out behind the scenes for the past 12 years, including certifying employees to operate a forklift.

Other employees have also been there for many years, including Upholsterer Aldrin Benito, who joined the staff in 1997; Sales Consultants DJ Jordan, Sharon Foley and Kim Welch; and Driver and Warehouse Manager Brian Smith.

Keala Robinson (accounting) and Cole Sulenta (marketing) joined the staff this year.

“I just love coming to work every day — we all do,” Ale said. “We have such great clientele and customers, and they come back to us time and time again.

“I’m proud of this company. I’m proud of the service that we provide for the community, and that we have continued to provide for the community for all these years.”

Looking ahead, Sulenta will create marketing campaigns for 2023, new fabric suppliers are coming on board, and the store’s carpet and flooring vendors have new products coming out all the time.

“We’re open to suggestions,” Ale said. “We’re open to improving what we have already.”

Top-selling brands at the store include Mohawk and Hunter Douglas (Lahaina Carpet & Interiors is a Gallery Dealer).

Stephen works full-time as Senior Consultant, Safety and Risk Management, at HEMIC. He noted that the business was launched to fill a need in the community, but its success stems from relationships.

Lahaina Carpet, a locally owned company, has helped generations of people, and worked with generations of companies, throughout its growth.

“Being able to participate with that, and to experience that, was what really filled the inner core of need,” he said.

The staff is energized with the change in leadership. At a recent meeting, employees expressed that they enjoy finding out what customers need and coming up with solutions.

“What rings true for any customer, over the generations of why they come back to us… you are looking at what do they need, finding resolutions, and looking for creative ways to do that,” he explained.

Ale said after-sales support is also important.

“We pride ourselves on that. We take care of our customers afterwards, so if they have any issues, or they have some problems — that something isn’t going right — we’ll send somebody out there to fix it,” she said,

“We stand by the products that we sell, and we back it up with a promise that we’ll take care of them.”

There is currently an End-of-Year Sale underway at Lahaina Carpet & Interiors, with discounts on carpeting, luxury vinyl planks, and motorized and standard shades.

Visit the store at 1036 Limahana Place, Suite 3L; call (808) 661-4268 or visit www.lahainacarpetandinteriors.com for more information.