The best commercial -- at least the one viewers relished -- featured this grating kid getting hit in the face with a pie. Walter E. Smithe Jr. died peacefully at age 86, his family said in a prepared statement. The two renamed the store Smithe and Shanahan, but Bill Shanahan eventually sold his share to Smithe's brother Charlie. Revenue: $100 to $500 million (USD) Competitors: Linly Designs, Rieke Office Interiors, 57st Design. It's fun to be part of Chicago in that way.". "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. The first change I noticed was it became all about the sons. We are a 4th generation family-owned business, and our employees are an integral part of . The Walter E. Smithe + Jeff Lewis showcase certainly fits the bill. Were now getting calls from all over the world., Under Colleen and Meghans direction, Smithe now has a beautiful new lookbook in its marketing toolbox and a stable full of breathtaking photography, as they become the exclusive distributor for Ellen DeGeneres new furniture collection from Thomasville. Through March 16, enjoy savings of up to 20 percent on select rugs (hopscotch, anyone?) McCarthy was married to grandson of Walter E. Smithe, Timothy Smithe Jr. in Paris, France in June of 2013. . "We were kind of like dorks, geeks, growing up," Mark says. It took the mother of six children a few years to figure out how to juggle her demanding career and busy home life. 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's not included in a shorter version now airing on TV. 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. That's why when she and her three sisters -- Maureen, Meghan and Caitie -- were asked a few years ago to transition into the role their father and uncles held for so long, they weren't immediately receptive. and runners at CB2 (800 W. North Ave., cb2.com). - Linn Burton: He started selling appliances in Polk Bros. ads in 1953, but the majority of his 35-year TV career was spent hawking cars -- Kaisers, Frazers, Joe Rizza's Pontiacs and, most famously, Bert Weinman's Fords. 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. Favorite design style: Cozy and comfortableaka hygge ethos. And youll see each of my sisters doing what they do best.. Rocketreach finds email, phone & social media for 450M+ professionals. Growing up, she and her sisters held various roles at the furniture and design firm, earning their first paychecks and gaining job experience and exploring interests that would later launch their careers. As Caitie puts it, Theres no reason you cant use an entertainment console as a buffet in the dining room.. Smithe then went into the computer industry working for General Electric and IBM in 1967, according to his obit. "They were loved," said Colleen Smithe, the youngest daughter of Walter Smithe III. Kneen & Co. (399 W. Fullerton Pkwy., Ste. The seven pieces featured in the Quincy Master Bedroom vignette below (chair, trunk . Subscribe to one or more of our free e-mail newsletters to get instant updates on local news, events, and opportunities in Chicago. They decided on an ad campaign that would, simply, pitch their product. 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. In fact, none of the sisters seriously considered having a career in the company, founded by their great-grandfather in 1945. They hammer out a script, call in O'Neil and start filming. Cindy went to college in Iowa and settled there after school. We had no grand plan.. Oct 2012 - Apr 20152 years 7 months. While they took breaks from the biz to make their own way after college, each came back when the right positions opened up. Their advertising is creative, it's timely and it's interesting, so people remember it and they like it.". walter e smithe furniture & design. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, - Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, Paddock Publications, Inc. is an Employee-Owned Company. What she does: I use both sides of my brain: left for all the analytical spreadsheet stuff and right for the creative vision. Our lives can be overrun with technology, commitments and schedules. They brought in real clients, worked with real designers and demonstrated each sister's essential role within the business. But always start from a place where we love each other and enjoy working together., Between the ages of 10 and 18, former Barrington High School soccer, For Olympian Patrick Gasienica, ski jumping has been a part of his, Dr. Rekha S. Rajan has devoted her personal and professional life to, One of the most prestigious dance companies in the world, The Joffrey, Saint Anne Catholic Community Churchs Project Hope ministry, A night of sequin-studded disco fever, the 5th Annual Hoosier Ball was. And they wanted a way to build the brand. I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. One by one, each sister began working in the family business. Get Eric Clark's email address (e*****@smithe.com) and phone number at RocketReach. She has a few ideas for how to add a little spring to your home. 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. CHICAGO The founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design has died. Favorite design style: Modern mixed with traditional. My wife and I were just talking about this yesterday, we truly hate the Walter E Smithe commercials with the daughters. How could the Itasca-based company break the mold and reach a new audience while still carrying its message into a fourth generation? The Smithe sisters are working to expose the brand to a new customer base Photo credit: Robin Subar. As the fourth generation to run their family-owned Chicago furniture store, Walter. The journey from Point A to Point B started with an all-blooper and outtakes reel that O'Neil and Tim Smithe put together as a birthday gift for mom Florence. Spoken like the daughter of a true shop owner, as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. "So that drove us, I think, to be successes.". 1 Early life; 2 Television; 3 Personal Life; 4 References; . Reaching a younger demographic and expanding their clientele has required some creativity, the sisters said. He NEVER blinks. At-a-glance. When they get a topic, Smithe says, he tries to figure a way to blend it into an ad. "And I'd be yelling, `I can't breathe! Walter Smithe III and his brothers Mark and Tim helped make the furniture store a household name with clever commercials -- a tradition that's continued with Smithe III's four daughters, Colleen . Billy Corgan and Walter E. Smithe Wrestling. (He's now semi-retired, having turned the business over to his sons about 10 years ago.). The Smithe sisters have always been close -- and growing up, it wasn't always by choice. Check out the new collection. '", "The business steadily increased since we started the commercials," Walt says. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Were not trying to portray an image that working mothers can pull off everything without something falling through, Maureen says candidly. Start shopping. 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. Smithe says that doing everything in-house allows them to be quick on their feet. "Smithes have fun at the old ballpark". Am I the only one who just thinks he looks like Louis CK? Im stunned when people watch one of our makeovers and are surprised that Smithe carries so much of what they like, says Caitie. 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.. We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". Regarded as top performer within the account and the Agency, as a result of consistent over-delivery, passion to grow the business . But he soon returned to the family furniture business that his father first started in 1945, and pioneered the concept of custom-order furniture in the Chicago area. Walter E. Smithe Furniture, Inc. Marketing Contacts Contacts (5/9) Name Title State; Walter S. President & Chief Executive Officer . Bloomingdale Plaza. I also think, coming from a family business myself, to see how they interact with each other just gives you the feeling that they're good people, that you'd want to do business with those people.". 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. walter e smithe furniture - inc. walter e smithe furniture. "But we've also gotten some really nice feedback from people who are happy to see four working women on their TV.". Were really excited about this program, explains Meghan. Dont burden yourself with the boredom of a matching wood set. But now a new generationsisters Meghan, Colleen, Maureen, and Caitie Smitheis shaking things up in a big way. The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. We not only respect this, we embrace it.. And then fate gently tapped them on their shoulder. Brothers Walt, Tim and Mark Smithe -- the faces of Walter E. Smithe Furniture -- seem to have hit on something with their ubiquitous ads. Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up on the Northwest Side in Belmont Central. You have this sense of passion and responsibility for it. Read the rest of the issue. We feel like we can now speak to the multitude of generations who shop with us, she says. The Smithe brothers used good-natured humor on countless TV commercials selling furniture. What The Walter E. Smithe Daughters Do . 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. And they represented Walter E. Smithe with a sense of drive and zeal that can only exude from the third-generation stakeholders of what has become a household name. Mix together different, but complimentary, elements such as woods, metals and stonesand feel free to mix various metals together. Calkins says that by minimizing production costs and media costs and doing those quick turnarounds, Smithe gets a bigger bang for its advertising buck. Then they tie in pop culture it shows that they're sort of a with-it furniture company. My sisters and I loved being a part of it.. Walter E. Smithe Jr's death was announced Thursday on the company's Facebook page. He cites the U2 music video takeoff. Edited to add: Looked them up and gee, it's one of the daughters managing the marketing. "There was some physical violence between the brothers," Walt says with that satisfied look of a big brother who got to dish it out. As the oldest sibling, Maureen was the first to officially join Walter E. Smithe in a professional capacity in 2004. Mark admonished Walt to keep his feet off the furniture. What she does: Come up with ideas that get people off their couch and into our storesand put my sisters in awkward positions (see our commercials)., What she does: Whether were working or just hanging out, my Type A personality keeps us organized and on track.. By last year, though, each had returned to the company their great-grandfather founded. The company's commercials were originally straightforward descriptions of their products and services, but in 2003, the brothers decided to include outtakes from past filmings, which showed the brothers stumbling over words and laughing at each other. I love the one where they are drinking what looks like Tang out of wine glasses. The Empire Carpet Guy, of course. He attended the University of Notre Dame and earned a bachelor 's . 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. 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. "Some dabbled and moved on and others just weren't interested.". The CBS Chicago team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on CBSChicago.com. They were each only a year apart, at one point covering all four grade levels at Barrington High School. But the sisters also know they can always turn to the leaders who came before them. Walter E. Smithe is a family business in every sense of the word, the sisters say. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Today, they help oversee 10 showrooms, the warehouse and headquarters, working together (generally) perfectly. Over the past 76 years, the company has grown to include 10 Chicago area showrooms. Now, a lot more people know about us than knew a few years ago.". The company made its website easier to use and more modern-looking. And in between the entertainment were his folksy commercials for Courtesy Motors -- his cars were "honeys" and "sweeties" -- which at one point was the world's largest Ford dealer. "We're not your parents' furniture company," Caitie said. 9615 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077. They seem very pretentious I think. Their interactions were zany, their dialogue lighthearted, their catchy jingle -- "you dream it, we build it" -- recognizable throughout the region. "And there's 10 televisions, all tuned to the same station. Bargain-hunters, take note: Artistica (990 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, artistica.com) has gotten a jumpstart on spring cleaning and updated its clearance selection to include more than 600 items (including custom-painted majolica backsplash panels) discounted by 50 percent. [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. "We're dreamers and we have big ideas," Meghan said. An added factor in the commercials' success are the brothers, who come across as regular guys. This began a long series of lighthearted television commercials, which became increasingly elaborate over the next few years. Then when I plugged it in, the place went up for grabs. For instance, finding that perfect piece of decorative furniture that creatively doubles as a toy box for kids games, toys and video devices. Hell stand on things, jump on them, do his best to break dining chairs. Nearby is a mangled lamp that will never find its way to a Smithe showroom floor. Walter E. SMITHE corporate office is located in 1775 W Rand Rd, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004, United States and has 382 employees. When the boys took over from their father, there were about a half-dozen stores. ("You should keep that hat on for about three weeks. Jeff Lewis's collection of vignettes is available at Walter E. Smithe's 11 showrooms in Chicago, and online. "We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". It turned out so well that Tim carried along a copy to a speaking engagement. Sometimes you have to act fast. . How, they wondered, would longtime customers respond to four new female faces on their television screens? Let's go Cubbies! They can really do great things. In some of the footage, youll see my dad installing a dimmer or my uncle driving a truck. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, specializing in custom upholstery, and operates ten showrooms throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Till your hair grows back."). But they do have a business. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. Sibling revelry; Their offbeat commercials have made the Smithe brothers cult heroes. "People really did love seeing them on their TVs.". Darvin is always yelling about discounts. getting a penny or nickel for every clearance tag we pulled," says Meghanthe four daughters of Walter Smithe III have . His sons, Walter, Tim, and Mark, joined the company in the 1970s and 1980s. The sisters are making their official debut in a new campaign theyve recently launched called the Smithe Family Makeovers. Fielding countless applications, the Smithes choose a home where they redesign a space and showcase the full range of interior design services and furnishings Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design offers. "We're kind of strategically positioned in different departments," Meghan said. The Smithes had been encouraged to air their outtakes on television after Tim Smithe screened them at an interior design seminar and received a positive reaction from the crowd. The four women have been taking on bigger roles at the company and star in its new ad. The Chicago native attended Fenwick High School and the University of Notre Dame. Find out where to go, what to eat, where to live, and more. Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design (Old Orchard) 17 miles. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, . The are the Smithe sisters, Meghan, Colleen, Maureen and Caitie. "And of course this summer's blockbuster is supposed to be `Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' About. Walter e smithe is a high end furniture store, no surprise their ads are geared towards middle aged women from high income households aka suburban moms. Smithe brothers aim for 'Sex' appeal in latest quirky commercial, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Walter_E._Smithe&oldid=1127865487, This page was last edited on 17 December 2022, at 02:33. That can help Walter E. Smithe differentiate itself from the growing number of lower-priced furniture retailers that have moved into the Chicago area in the past couple of years, Walter Smithe said. Tim recalls Walt trying to smother him -- repeatedly, apparently -- with a bean bag chair. It's pretty surprising they are still playing on these tired sexist tropes in this day and age. Itasca, IL 60143. 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. Like their brothers, the four Smithe sisters were all in the business when they were in high school. Now, the Itasca-based furniture and interior design company wants you to get to know the Smithe sisters. It's all a part of an effort to hang on to the company's loyal customers while persuading younger shoppers that Walter E. Smithe isn't just their parent's go-to store. }); Chicago Parent is Chicagolands trusted parenting hub since 1984. The first order of business: ditch the longstanding, highly recognizable ad campaign featuring their father and two uncles. "And they've been able to personalize a retail chain through the use of the brothers. A matte black bathtub, vanity mirrors and hardware pop against the airy walls in this modern primary bathroom. Walter E. Smithe wants to create a series of similar videos to give customers a behind-the-scenes look at their services and the company. As mothers, all of us have cleaned up a childs spill, or even their vomit, from our furniture, Colleen jokes. The sisters can measure the span of their careers by their childrens ages and development, so they clearly understand what its like to worry about furniture at the mercy of young, messy children. His line was, `If you can talk you can breathe.'". "That was the best part," she said. My hope is to inspire people to slow down enough to talk with a designer and hopefully buy something.. Its no longer that way.. You want it to succeed and do well.". In the late '60s, the growing family -- there are also four sisters, Cindy, Margie and . In family businesses, thats the only way to ensure a companys continued success. Today, Maureen is a buyer, Meghan is the director of marketing, Caitie is a designer and assists the merchandising team, and Colleen is the director of advertising. Three years later, she recruited Colleen to become advertising director -- a position she accepted without hesitation. Smithe's wife of 64 years was by his side when he passed, and he . Over the last 13 years, one by one, Walters daughters have been hired on at Smithe as the jobs became available. 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. Tim, 41, is the vice president of sales; he and his wife have four kids and live in Winnetka. There's a lot of blurred lines, and we have to learn when to defer to each other.". It's partnered with celebrity designers and broadened the mix of products carried in stores, online and in its resurrected catalog to include more current trends and a wider range of price points. / CBS Chicago. Our learning curve has been steep and long, with a lot of challenges, says Colleen, flanked by her sisters at the familys Lincoln Park location, a 10,000-square-foot boutique store. What are they up to?' "In what seems to be their unending and over-the-top zeal to self-promote, they just may be helping drive traffic," he wrote, adding, "If nothing else, the advertising suggests the chain has some suits with personality attached. For decades, the public faces of the privately owned company have been the sisters father, Walter E. Smithe IIIthe 59-year-old grandson of the businesss namesakeand the sisters uncles, Mark and Tim. Last edited on 17 December 2022, at 02:33, https://incfact.com/company/walteresmithefurniture-itasca-il/, Walter E. Smithe gives royal treatment to Royal Manner. The Bob's puppet is a far better actor than the Smithe girls though. As teens, the four sisters worked only part time in their fathers showroom or outlet store, selling furniture and earning their first paychecks along with other eager, cash-strapped teens. And Mark, 40, is Smithe's general counsel; he and his partner live in Lincoln Park with Petey, a 4-year-old bulldog. Nah, I know a few of them. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune). 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 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! We all trickled back in, and it happened really organically, says Meghan of the industrious quartet, who collectively has 17 children. The Itasca-based company has 10 locations across Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, where the sisters ply their fourth-generation talents. "In a family business, everyone has to wear all hats at all times," Maureen said. He also hosted telethons. Or "Hardrock, Coco and Joe." When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. View a map of participating First Friday locations. Walt and Tim mocked Mark's new haircut. The new campaign, dubbed Smithe Family Makeovers, showcases Smithe furniture in the homes of actual clients, revealing the handiwork of the companys designers in HGTV-esque episodes. Or using a new high-tech application to keep couch fabric truly worry free from childrens spills, everything from spaghetti sauce to Kool-Aid. "Pam, Bill and I are always on the watch for pop culture. Lewis Lazare. In 2002 they brought in director Bill O'Neil to help them. Colleen Smithe, Director of Advertising Some have criticized the spots for underemphasizing Walter E. Smithe's actual furniture products. (Last year, Walter E. Smithe resurrected the 1950s-era cartoon that was a holiday staple on WGN-Ch. walter e smithe, furniture stores near me, ballinger vase buy, gold side end table, tall mirror, walter e smithe daughters, furniture . 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. The Smithe brothers are following in the footsteps of other memorable Chicago commercial icons: - Jim Moran: Starting in the late '40s, "The Courtesy Man" sponsored wrestling programs, late-night movies, a country-and-western music show and his own variety show. Its unnerving. Give yourself time to just be in a comfortable and beautiful outdoor space. Even if you weren't sure that Walt, Tim and Mark Smithe were brothers -- yep, those Smithe brothers, of "Walter E. Smithe, you dream it, we build it" fame -- their banter at a recent commercial shoot was a dead giveaway. 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. Opening Day is March 30. If you grew up in Chicago, you can probably hum it. To make up for it, she woke up early to make heart-shaped pancakes. The Walter E. Smithe furniture jingle "you dream it, we build it" has been a longtime fixture in the firm's television ads, just as the Smithe brothers themselves have been. Primary Address. What she does: "I make spaces beautiful for clients' homes, our catalogs and showrooms, and play couples' therapist for clients who can't agree on a sofa." Favorite design style: Modern mixed with traditional. Since 1945, we have been Chicago's local source for quality furniture and expert design. "They're having a lot of fun. 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. We strive to bring our clients the best in home furnishings for every style, budget, and. The process starts with Tim Smithe, Pam Thorson (the company's director of advertising) and director/editor Bill O'Neil of O'Neil Productions of Wilmette. "Instead we did it on the turn of a dime. Is she OK? Trendwise, Caitie says the color gurus at Pantone were right on when they selected a bright shade of green as Color of the Year. With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs, Walter E. Smithe is a local furniture icon. We can be real nimble when we're this tight and this spread across the business.". There have been more than a thousand of them since, and thanks to the magic of cable TV he is now a national celebrity. There are so many cool and unique materials being used to manufacture furniture these dayssuch as capiz shells, bone inlay, faux shagreen, concrete, rope and slate. The girls have all worked elsewhere before they came to work here, says Walter of his daughters who have had careers ranging from merchandising to advertising. Unlike their brothers, they chose other careers. Sometimes its the only quiet I get.. I'm a brand manager and their commercials make the brand seem like a discount bin. Walter E. Smithe Jr. Obituary. The brothers are recognized on the street, in grocery stores and coffee shops ("I got a free Starbucks latte once," Tim says). Its unjust to think that women can somehow balance it all, Colleen adds. As mothers, theyve learned its not only possible, but preferable, to have a functional yet beautiful home. Tomorrow, Hubbard Woods Design District (Green Bay Rd. There is nothing like a day spent soaking up the sun and a good book or an evening with friends and good food and drinks under the stars. Then the commercial came on. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design has an overall rating of 4.0 out of 5, based on over 92 reviews left anonymously by employees. Introduced to the family business at an early ageI can recall pigtails in my hair, getting a penny or nickel for every clearance tag we pulled, says Meghanthe four daughters of Walter Smithe III have embraced their own roles for the Itasca, Illinois-based company; Meghan is director of marketing, Colleen is director of advertising, Maureen is a buyer, and Caitie is a designer. Their camaraderie is genuine, and they can easily share ideas and bounce between conversations. This is not how you attract a premium buyer or build a premium brand. Updating your home theater? "KFC dances to beat of familiar drummers".