Jim Clardy, 828 International founder
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, April 10, 2005
Easley, S.C. — Jim Clardy, founder and president of rug resource 828 International Trading, has died after a heart attack. He was 50.
Clardy founded 828 in 1994 after traveling to Moldova on a church mission trip in 1992. He discovered the remnants of a carpet industry in the impoverished Balkan country, with a labor force longing for work. Clardy, then a neophyte in the rug business, thought the Moldovan rugs could be marketed in the United States. 828's first line was called The Moldovan Masters.
The name of the company was inspired by a New Testament Bible verse, Romans 8:28 — "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God." — which was the guiding principle of Clardy's personal and professional life.
The company now imports both machine-made and hand-made rugs from all over the world, including room-size rugs, mansion-size rugs and bath and accent rugs.
In the past year, the company has made a major effort in the textiles segment of the market.
Clardy is survived by his wife, Martha, a daughter, Andrea, and a son, Caleb.
Memorials may be made to The Jade Tree Project, First Asia Development, P.O. Box 9606, Springdale, Ark. 72766.
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828 founder Clardy dies at 50
Apr 6, 2005
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