If you find the right furniture, it will last even through your kids, Colleen says. Also would somebody please feed them? The Smithe boys started out in a tiny ranch house in Des Plaines, the children of Walter Jr. and Florence. It worked really well for a long time, but post-recession, we saw peoples sensibilities had changed, says Meghan. And yet, as they went off to college and moved into the next phase of life, they were never expected to someday return full time. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. All three attended St. Mary's College in Winona, Minn. Walt got an MBA at Notre Dame, Tim got one at Northwestern, and Mark got a law degree at Loyola. The Smithe brothers used good-natured humor on countless TV commercials selling furniture. If you are ready to get grown-up furniture, this place has a very nice selection, with helpful staff who can guide you toward the proper colors, scale, and what looks nice together. When the boys took over from their father, there were about a half-dozen stores. Walter E. Smithe is a family business in every sense of the word, the sisters say. Nah, I know a few of them. In a new seven-minute "Smithe Family Makeover" video, you'll only see one Smithe brother and you'll only hear the new version of the familiar jingle if you watch all the way through to the credits. They're going to be the ones buying furniture for the next 50 years, so we have to be ready to serve them the way they want to be served," said Walter Smithe, 57. Oct 2012 - Apr 20152 years 7 months. [7], Chicagoans have had mixed reactions to the Walter E. Smithe commercials. "It's a big responsibility. Subscribe for free today! But learning how to work together while also juggling their busy personal lives -- they have 18 kids among the four of them -- can be a delicate balance. Favorite design style: Clean and neutral. The 4th generation (the Smithe Sisters), all daughters of Walter III, are Maureen Smithe (buyer), Meghan Smithe (director of marketing), Caitie Smithe (designer, design coordinator and stylist) and Colleen Smithe (director of . "It's made us focus on what we do best, which is designing our clients' homes," he said. Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up in the Northwest Side's Belmont Central neighborhood. One spot was modeled after Apple's weird commercials. But even as likable as the brothers are, do they run the risk of oversaturation or going to the well too often? There's a lot of blurred lines, and we have to learn when to defer to each other.". They have a younger brother, who lives out of state, and plenty of younger cousins who have yet to join the team, though the sisters say there's still time. They brought in real clients, worked with real designers and demonstrated each sister's essential role within the business. The Smithe sisters Walter III's daughters Maureen, Meghan, Caitie, and Colleen are also now executives at Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design and appear in the ads. /r/Chicago is the place to discuss and stay updated on the daily happenings of Chicago, Illinois, USA. The commercial, Colleen's brainchild, aimed to show off the company's new "worry-free" performance fabrics that repel stains, a trend Maureen recognized at a major industry trade show and brought back to the Chicago market. walter e smithe furniture & design. Not as long as they keep the commercials clever and topical, O'Neil says. "Instead we did it on the turn of a dime. Meghan and Colleen spent several years working at advertising agencies in Chicago. She sounds annoyed that the spill isn't absorbing, like there's some insurance scheme that hinges on being able to stain this white couch. Primary Address. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design. Lewis Lazare. '", "I was at a gym on a treadmill," Mark says of the first time he caught one of the commercials. The first change I noticed was it became all about the sons. Industry: Home Furniture & Housewares Stores. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design is a family-owned furniture retailer, founded right here in Chicago, back in 1945. When Smithe makes a furniture delivery, Its not uncommon for our crews to bring a 25-year-old sofa with a Smithe sticker on it back to this warehouse, Meghan says. "By being so close and meeting so regularly, we're all in the loop with what's happening in each other's sphere. She has a few ideas for how to add a little spring to your home. The sisters get together at least twice a week, traveling from their homes in Chicago, Barrington and Riverside, leaving behind their children, husbands and home duties. This has been our priority since we first began serving the Chicago area back in 1945. The Smithe sisters, all in their thirties, worked in the family business as teens but pursued different career paths in adulthood. It takes work and sacrifice.. Bringing new and various textures into a room can take it from plain and lacking in interest to exciting and memorable. That sentiment applies to their lively commercials, too, which frequently feature the sisters chatting on a stylish couch or gathering with family members in a beautifully staged home. The Empire Carpet Guy, of course. Walter Smithe, president of the furniture company named for his grandfather, is flanked by daughters, Maureen, left, and Caitie on March 21, 2017, as theywatch his other daughters Colleen, far left, and Meghan play pingpong at the Walter E. Smithe furniture store in Oak Brook. "We were kind of like dorks, geeks, growing up," Mark says. I only hear them on the radio. Walter E. Smithe told me they work with many designers but Jeff was really able to get a lot of value into the pieces in his collection and that its why . I presented my ideas for this two weeks ago and it will be out on the floor in three weeks. 177 East Army Trail Road, Glendale Heights, IL 60139. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune). He received a Bachelor of Philosophy in Commerce from the University of Notre Dame in 1958. walter e smithe furniture - inc. walter e smithe furniture. Smithe says that doing everything in-house allows them to be quick on their feet. His four daughtersMaureen, Meghan, Caitie, and Colleenare now the new faces of this historic Chicago brand, a spot he and his brothers held for decades. One of my friends used to live near Fullerton and Western, and she would always tell people she lived near Tile Outlet. We take inspiration from the world of interior design to curate customized . He attended the University of Notre Dame and earned a bachelor 's . Walter E. Smithe Furniture, Inc. is headquartered in Itasca, IL. "We have wonderful clients who are my generation or older, but we have to figure out how we cater to this new generation that's setting up households now. Over the past 76 years, the company has grown to include 10 Chicago area showrooms. As Caitie puts it, Theres no reason you cant use an entertainment console as a buffet in the dining room.. The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. Chicago magazine newsletters have you covered. Walter E. Smithe III, is the President of family owned and operated Walter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. His line was, `If you can talk you can breathe.'". It couldn't have gone more perfectly, Maureen said. Feb 20, 2022 - The 4th generation of Walter E. Smithe family stops by to visit Bob and Marianne. Calkins says that by minimizing production costs and media costs and doing those quick turnarounds, Smithe gets a bigger bang for its advertising buck. Explore more of the publications in our portfolio here. That cartoon of Bob has BDE and you can't deny it. Around the same time, Caitie was ready to return to the workforce as a designer and stylist, a skill she had honed early in her career. We had no grand plan.. }); Chicago Parent is Chicagolands trusted parenting hub since 1984. Spoken like the daughter of a true shop owner, as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. Who are the Walter E Smithe daughters? For example - my favorite large upholstered dining chairs are under $200. Hotel Mousai Puerto Vallarta, Room Request: Four Seasons Hotel Bogota Casa Medina, New Restaurants and Bars in New York City, Clare V., Mulberry and More New Retail Openings in NYC, Tony Robbins Challenge to Provide 1 Billion Meals Nears its Goal, Get behind-the-scenes pictures on Instagram. When they get a topic, Smithe says, he tries to figure a way to blend it into an ad. between Scott Ave. and Tower Rd., Winnetka, shophwdd.com) hosts a First Friday event on the North Shore. How could the Itasca-based company break the mold and reach a new audience while still carrying its message into a fourth generation? Building upon the Smithe family legacy is a big responsibility, the sisters said, one they've embraced with fervor. The 86-year-old patriarch of the Smithe family, Walter Edward Smithe Jr., "died . His sons, Walter, Tim, and Mark, joined the company in the 1970s and 1980s. walter e smithe, furniture stores near me, ballinger vase buy, gold side end table, tall mirror, walter e smithe daughters, furniture . No outside agency required. High School," Walter says. The Smithe brothers used good-natured humor on countless TV commercials selling furniture. But they still manage to get out to their stores about once a week, touching base with their employees, surprising customers or hosting events such as book signings or wine tastings. "I think it's time for us to get out of these TV commercials," Walter said. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. That collective experience comes in handy ahead of any major decisions. A wake will be held at Ryan-Parke Funeral Home in Park Ridge on Friday, Oct. 21, and a funeral mass will follow on Saturday, Oct. 22, and St. Paul of the Cross Church in Park Ridge. Still, she never dreamed of working full time for Walter E. Smithe Furniture, even while growing up in Barrington with her three sisters, Maureen, Caitie and Colleen. "We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up on the Northwest Side in Belmont Central. We don't take that lightly.". The inky accents create a sleek statement against the white walls and lend a streamlined look to the space. "As needs within the business grew, positions opened up organically," Maureen said. They've been able to weather the unexpected storm of the coronavirus pandemic. Contents. Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. "The girls have all worked elsewhere before coming back to Smithe," says Walter of his daughters who have had careers ranging from merchandising to advertising. Draftfcb. We connect families with the best local resources, advice, stories, things to do with kids and much more. I always suggest going with whatever color or colors are most pleasing to you, but some big color trends this spring are oranges, pinks, sage green and pastel blue. Walter was the first of the third generation to join the family business in 1981 . 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Sisters Take Smithe Spotlight, More High-End Barware, and a Sofa Sale, 2020 Chicago magazine / A Chicago Tribune Media Group website, map of participating First Friday locations, Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article. Tim, 41, is the vice president of sales; he and his wife have four kids and live in Winnetka. Chicago, IL. The Smithe sisters - Walter III's daughters Maureen, Meghan, Caitie, and Colleen - are also now executives at Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design and appear in the ads. Till your hair grows back."). Or "Hardrock, Coco and Joe." - The Victory Auto Wreckers guy: Almost every night since 1981, on some channel, Bob Zajdel has barely escaped injury when the driver's door fell off his old Chevy. We feel like we can now speak to the multitude of generations who shop with us, she says. [1] The 4th generation (the Smithe Sisters), all daughters of Walter III, are Maureen Smithe (buyer), Meghan Smithe (director of marketing), Caitie Smithe (designer, design coordinator and stylist) and Colleen Smithe (director of advertising). Visit Website (opens in new window) Walter E. Smithe. Opening Day is March 30. 1251 W. Thorndale Ave. Itasca, IL 60143-1149. I'm so annoyed that I won't buy anything from there. Others have been parodies of reality television shows, such as The Apprentice and The Bachelor. Im stunned when people watch one of our makeovers and are surprised that Smithe carries so much of what they like, says Caitie. Indian Trail, High Street intersection work approved in Aurora, Suspect in high-speed chase crashes into, kills veteran Indiana State Trooper trying to stop him: officials, Educators get peek at Paramount play about artificial intelligence which is set to tour schools, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. [2] Today, the company has ten showrooms in Illinois and Indiana and is listed by Furniture Today as one of the top one hundred furniture retailers in the United States. "I was invited to speak to 300-some designers in Oak Brook," he says. Walter Smithe, president of the furniture company, climbs the stairs March 21, 2017, at the Walter E. Smithe furniture store in Oak Brook, alongside his four daughters, Colleen, from left, Caitie, Maureen and Meghan. "They've done a wonderful job building a distinctive brand," says Tim Calkins, a professor of marketing at Northwestern University. His signature line: "Linn Burton for certain!". There have been more than a thousand of them since, and thanks to the magic of cable TV he is now a national celebrity. One of the first opportunities to test their compatibility was through a partnership with interior designer and TV personality Jeff Lewis. During a stint in the Army, Smithe attained the rank of captain and became an expert in the field of computers. "The majority of what we run is informational and tells about the company, but those aren't the ones people are talking about at the water cooler. Nothing is left unchanged, Meghan notes. "[5] Of the commercials, Tim Smithe has said, "We wanted to entertain people first, so then when we wanted to inform them they'd already be paying attention". And they wanted a way to build the brand. You could say that the Smithes are a bit obsessed with quality. We understand that customers see a certain look on, say, Instagram and they want it replicated in their own home, Colleen says. "An hour and a half. The transition took place over the span of 12 years as key positions became available in the company, starting with Maureen who became a merchandise buyer. "It was kind of ingrained in us," Caitie Smithe said. The Smithes: (L-R) Colleen, Meghan, Walter III, Walter Jr., Mark, Caitie, and Maureen. Walter E. Smithe Jr. died peacefully at age 86, his family said in a prepared statement. The Bob's puppet is a far better actor than the Smithe girls though. Smithe's three sons the Smithe brothers Mark, Tim, and Walter III became executives in the business and were regularly featured in the commercials. Colleen Smithe, Director of Advertising My wife and I were just talking about this yesterday, we truly hate the Walter E Smithe commercials with the daughters. We not only respect this, we embrace it.. Its nice to see when a family is ready to replace a well-loved piece that they come back to Smithe to do it. To date, there are 10 Smithe stores scattered throughout Chicago, and one in northwest Indiana. We strive to bring our clients the best in home furnishings for every style, budget, and. Last year there aas a commercial where the puppet quickly moved to close his laptop when someone came in the office. What she does: I make spaces beautiful for clients homes, our catalogs and showrooms, and play couples therapist for clients who cant agree on a sofa.. Through March 7, EuroFurniture (2145 W. Grand Ave., eurofurniture.com) is offering 15 percent off BDI media cabinets and consoles available in-store, online, and by phone. As they grew into their teens, there were the usual summer jobs -- caddying, yard work, selling ice cream from a motorized three-wheeler. This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of Chicago Parent. Billy Corgan and Walter E. Smithe Wrestling. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. Sisters Colleen, Caitie, Maureen and Meghan Smithe, from left, are breaking the mold as fourth-generation leaders of the 75-year-old Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design. "You think a huge corporation is going to have pencil pushers and button touchers," says Lynn Hamilton, vice president of the Shirley Hamilton Agency, a Chicago talent agency. Now, the fourth-generation leaders of Walter E. Smithe are learning to balance their busy personal lives with the big responsibility of carrying out the legacy of their family-run business. I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. The business grew in popularity as they approached adulthood, at which point friends would regularly sing the jingle and colleagues would ask about the creative TV ads. Home Cities Chicago Meet the Smithe Sisters, The new generation is shaking things up at furniture icon Walter E. Smithe. Walter E. Smithe Jr's death was announced Thursday on the company's Facebook page. Be sure to visit Sawbridge Studios, which will showcase sustainably harvested, live-edge furniture by David Stine. "It's never gone completely crazy -- no one can say that one commercial will bring customers in -- but we kind of thought it re-established us in the marketplace. Weird. Personally, I dont want to stare at ugly furniture for all those years, Meghan says. Ask how we can add diversity to your supply chain. And I thought, `makeup and lighting. How, they wondered, would longtime customers respond to four new female faces on their television screens? "They're having a lot of fun. Trendwise, Caitie says the color gurus at Pantone were right on when they selected a bright shade of green as Color of the Year. Walter has been known to take furniture for test drives, says Meghan. Whether bringing in color as an accent or making a big statement with a lot of color, your home will feel instantly transformed and personalized. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design (Old Orchard) 17 miles. In fact, none of the sisters seriously considered having a career in the company, founded by their great-grandfather in 1945. Here, get to know this powerhouse quartet. The 3rd brother, Tim Smithe, retired in 2016. 1251 West Thorndale Avenue. In one of their most memorable ads, the four women get into a food fight -- spaghetti and red wine included -- and seemingly destroy a bright white couch, which is then scrubbed clean. "And they've been able to personalize a retail chain through the use of the brothers. ", Says Tim Smithe, "Pop culture is always changing and so are we.". To the Smithe sisters, the company has always been a piece of their identity, an integral thread of their childhood. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . In the late '60s, the growing family -- there are also four sisters, Cindy, Margie and twins Hope and Amy, none of whom is involved in the family business -- moved to a slightly larger home in Park Ridge. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. "They were loved," said Colleen Smithe, the youngest daughter of Walter Smithe III. I dont think anyone in the furniture industry does advertising well. Determine whether Walter E. Smithe Furniture grew or shrank during the last recession. This began a long series of lighthearted television commercials, which became increasingly elaborate over the next few years. "I said, `Let's get you guys on camera.'". "If you think of furniture commercials, it's always just panning a showroom with obnoxious graphics," says O'Neil, who has directed all the Smithe commercials. [6], One of Walter E. Smithe's most discussed commercials aired in late March 2006. Along the way, they got married, had children (17 in all!) "There are still people who ask us, 'Where are the brothers? The announcement was merely an early April Fools' Day prank, although the Smithe brothers said they had received about one hundred emails from viewers who were not sure what to think. Still, the Smithes have had to weather various challenges since joining the company, including the retirement of their uncle, Tim. You can still be a fun premium brand (Virgin, for example) but this is Family Dollar-type schtick. To their delight, the reaction to that initial campaign was primarily positive, as has been the case for every commercial they've produced since. Edit: I have been informed that they are the daughters, not the wives. The Smithe brothers commercials Chicagoans are used to were great for getting the Walter E. Smithe name out, but the new ads put the focus back on the furniture and design services, said Meghan Smithe. Whoever said brick-and-mortar is dead hasn't met the Smithe sisters. Compare how recession-proof Walter E. Smithe Furniture is relative to the industry overall. Margie, who used to be a buyer for Smithe, moved to St. Louis with her husband, who worked for Anheuser-Busch's ad agency. As mothers, theyve learned its not only possible, but preferable, to have a functional yet beautiful home. I can't breathe!' Young. I love the one where they are drinking what looks like Tang out of wine glasses. 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The Chicago native attended Fenwick High School and the University of Notre Dame. Currently, there are 3 generations involved in the business: Walter Smithe Jr is retired, but regularly visits the showrooms. And they're not showbiz types. walter e smithe. Three generations are involved in the family-run Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, including Walter Smithe Jr. (far right); his sons Walter III (far left) and Mark; and his four granddaughters, from left, Maureen, Caitie, Colleen and Meghan. and became working moms in different industries. Assuming your a dude your not supposed to understand the commercials. Maureen Smithe and Caitie Smithe had the pleasure of working with Chicago's own Mr. FixIt, Lou Manfredini.Such a nice guy and a true Chicagoan! You may also light a candle in honor of Walter E. Smithe Jr. or send a beautiful flower arrangement to the funeral . Getting the Smithes in front of the camera wasn't easy. At that age, it was very exciting to come home and brag that we sold maybe hundreds or thousands of dollars in furniture, Meghan recalls. I was probably in elementary school when I would come in to work in the warehouse, sweeping for a nickel, Colleen says of the brand, which first opened in 1945. With 16 1/2 children among them (Colleen is due with her third baby this month), the sisters also find work as a time to be togethersans children. He began working in the . This initiative calls for all hands on deck. Find locations. Get 5 free searches. Through March 16, enjoy savings of up to 20 percent on select rugs (hopscotch, anyone?) Smithe then went into the computer industry working for General Electric and IBM in 1967, according to his obit. They've relaunched catalogs showcasing their furniture in fully designed spaces. Nothing will be worse than the commercials they ran the last time the Cicadas were in season. Bob's proudly proclaims that it sells cheap garbage, Walter E looks like they're trying to sell you viagra and Penny Mustard radio commercials are justweird.. Like their brothers, the four Smithe sisters were all in the business when they were in high school. As mothers, all of us have cleaned up a childs spill, or even their vomit, from our furniture, Colleen jokes. "KFC dances to beat of familiar drummers". Revenue: $100 to $500 million (USD) Competitors: Linly Designs, Rieke Office Interiors, 57st Design. "What about you and your sisters?". So much misogyny in these comments, their commercials have always been cheesy and annoying. With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs, Walter E. Smithe is a local furniture icon. My sisters and I loved being a part of it.. Three years later, she recruited Colleen to become advertising director -- a position she accepted without hesitation. Most recently, she was at . The brothers spend most of their time in the company's Itasca headquarters, which also serves as a warehouse, customer service center and point of departure for the fleet of Smithe trucks. While a new recession may strike a particular industry, measuring the industry and . Main Telephone (630) 285-8000. I gave up sleep and TV, Maureen jokes. The campaign was inspired in part by a partnership with designer/house-flipper Jeff Lewis of the Bravo show Flipping Out. Their interactions were zany, their dialogue lighthearted, their catchy jingle -- "you dream it, we build it" -- recognizable throughout the region. Lewis teamed up with Smithes merchandising team to create in-store vignettes, and also featured the store on his show. "We're custom, so we can create everything, but we need to get the right mix out there to give people ideas," said Meghan Smithe, the company's director of marketing. After college, all three gravitated back to the family business, which was founded by their father. Jamie Sotonoff. Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. Born in the heart of Chicago, we're a family owned and operated local business since 1945, now four generations strong. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune). Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Home & Garden, Interior Design. Walter E. Smithe is a furniture company based in Itasca, Illinois. The best commercial -- at least the one viewers relished -- featured this grating kid getting hit in the face with a pie. So I'm speaking, and they're half listening, you know. ". October 12, 2022 / 3:27 PM Sometimes we present to our dad as a united front and other times we need him to be a tie breaker. "Smithes have fun at the old ballpark". 9's "Garfield Goose" and "Ray Rayner" shows. The are the Smithe sisters, Meghan, Colleen, Maureen and Caitie. Walter E. Smithe, Jr. joined the business in the 1960s with his brothers Gary and Tomm, and began phasing out appliances to focus on custom upholstery. Smithe guy Walt actually Walter Smithe III 45 is president and general manager of the. [4][5] In 2008, they filmed and edited a takeoff of the Sex and the City franchise, with the brothers sipping "Smithe-o-politans". Since 1945, we have been Chicago's local source for quality furniture and expert design. Read the rest of the issue. E. Smithe sisters Caitie, Colleen, Meghan and Maureen were introduced to the business at a young age. Subscribe to one or more of our free e-mail newsletters to get instant updates on local news, events, and opportunities in Chicago. In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe.
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