With showroom, 828 calls N.Y. its second home

By Cecile B. Corral -- Home Textiles Today, 3/22/2004 12:00:00 AM

GREENVILLE, S.C. —

Now that it is outfitted with a large new category of goods — free-standing accent, bath and outdoor rugs — 828 International Trading Co. said it is ready to call New York City its "828 Home" away from home.

For a newly created division titled just that — 828 Home — the area rug supplier has developed and added accent, bath and outdoor rug offerings that target a broader retail customer, which includes mass merchants and specialty chains.

828's core product lines of mid- to high-end imported area rugs — made of cotton, wool, heat-set polypropylene and wool-and-silk blends — serve department stores and independent furniture stores and rug dealers.

To better promote 828 Home's wares, the company is, for the first time, moving into a permanent showroom in New York, leasing a 2,890-square-foot space at 295 Fifth Ave., where it will showcase its new product category, which debuts with more than 1,000 skus of assorted rugs, said Jim Clardy, president.

"For the last few years, we've cultivated a nice customer base in that channel of distribution," Clardy said. "By opening a showroom in New York, it makes it more convenient for these customers to see us, as well as helps us expand our customer base in these channels."

The free-standing rugs are all imported from China and India. Fabrications include mainly natural fibers, like cotton, cotton chenille and wool.