Pulaski's Purcell inducted into FMCA Hall of Fame
Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, May 3, 2004
HIGH POINT — HIGH POINT — As he was inducted into the Furniture Manufacturers Credit Assn.'s Hall of Fame here, Paul Purcell, vice president of credit for Pulaski Furniture, was surrounded by friends, family, his boss, associates and even a retailer who long ago faced financial difficulties.
Purcell is the eighth member of the Hall of Fame, the FMCA's top honor. To qualify, inductees must have served on the FMCA board for at least 10 years, been a past recipient of its R.K. Rudicil Award of Excellence and been a former president of the association.
Purcell has been a member of the credit organization for 29 years, including two years as president.
Pulaski President and CEO Larry Webb began working with Purcell in 1981 at Stanley Furniture when the credit department "was medieval," according to Webb. By the time Purcell was done there, "it was world class."
In the 23 years that Webb has known Purcell, "he has never taken one big loss … and that's unbelievable," Webb said, considering all the big retail bankruptcies over the years.
Richie Kogel, owner of Rooms Unlimited in Long Island, N.Y., was also on hand to honor Purcell. About 12 years ago, when Kogel's furniture business was struggling financially and needed to reorganize, Purcell was the first on the supply side to work with him and extend credit. Kogel has rewarded that support and now does more than $500,000 a year with Pulaski.
