Purcell-Letchinger adds it up

By Carole Sloan -- Home Textiles Today, 9/30/2002 12:00:00 AM

HICKORY, NC —

Purcell-Letchinger has formed a new division, the Global Textile Group, which will offer decorative fabrics at price points below the levels of its high-end current member companies.

"We're creating a division that is a mirror image of Purcell-Letchinger, but one dedicated to offering the highest quality and design in the middle price points," said Andrew Purcell, president and owner of the company.

The company targets decorative jobbers, high-end home furnishings manufacturers, fabric retailers and furniture manufacturers.

The first member of the Global Textile Group is Spandauer Velours of Lichtenstein, Germany, which produces a "tremendous line of Trevira CS fabrics."

He added, "We see this as an opportunity to grow the company while maintaining the standards in quality and design that have been its mark since the company was founded."

The Global Textile Group will offer fabrics from $6 to $15 per yard, while Purcell-Letchinger's upper end partners offer fabrics starting at $15 per yard.

Purcell-Letchinger has represented companies around the world at the top end of the decorative fabric business since its founding in 1980 by Harold Purcell, Andrew's father and Mel Letchinger, both veterans of the fabric and home textiles business. In 2000 the founding duo sold the company to Andrew Purcell, who had joined the company in 1990.

The new division will have its own sales force but will operate out of the company's headquarters and sales office here. "Our Purcell-Letchinger sales force will have a full plate with six major high-end fabric mills. And this business will remain as it has been since its founding — dedicated to the high end of the business," Purcell explained.

Harold Purcell and Lee Belmore, a veteran of the upper end of furniture and decorative fabrics with experience ranging from Century Furniture and Alexvale Furniture to Doblin Fabrics, will act as consultants to the Global Textile Group. "Lee's talents and experience will be a major assist to the new group," Andrew Purcell added.

Purcell-Letchinger's partner companies are Algemene, Bruvatex, Decoviz, Penelope, Spinhutte and Zensilk.