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Determine whether Walter E. Smithe Furniture grew or shrank during the last recession. 22 miles. Sometimes you have to act fast. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design. For the most part, that relationship translates well in the business world, they say. The Chicago native attended Fenwick High School and the University of Notre Dame. And I thought, `makeup and lighting. And then fate gently tapped them on their shoulder. After college, all three gravitated back to the family business, which was founded by their father. 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 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. The four women have been taking on bigger roles at the company and star in its new ad. 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As Caitie puts it, Theres no reason you cant use an entertainment console as a buffet in the dining room.. Walter E. Smithe is a furniture company based in Itasca, Illinois. In 2002 they brought in director Bill O'Neil to help them. "An hour and a half. 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. Read on to find out more about pelvic floor therapy and how it's growing in popularity among postpartum women. There is no rule book that says they all need to matchmetals always compliment one another. Find out where to go, what to eat, where to live, and more. We are sad to announce that on October 9, 2022 we had to say goodbye to Walter E. Smithe Jr. of Chicago, Illinois. He began working in the . "I said, `Let's get you guys on camera.'". That's a galaxy away from the current "Star Wars" parody. But they do have a business. - 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. 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. Lewis teamed up with Smithes merchandising team to create in-store vignettes, and also featured the store on his show. [4], Many of Walter E. Smithe's commercials have been pop culture parodies. Walter e smithe daughters. We dont always agree on things, Colleen says. Its a constant toggle between work and family talk, notes Colleen, but at the end of the day theyre focused on creating a furniture company that helps clients truly curate a home. We refer to Smithe.com as our 12th store, since many of our clients are doing their research online before coming to see us in person.. walter e smithe, furniture stores near me, ballinger vase buy, gold side end table, tall mirror, walter e smithe daughters, furniture . We feel like we can now speak to the multitude of generations who shop with us, she says. Customers were more concerned with what we were selling versus the people who were selling it, she adds. (847) 933-1481. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_E._Smithe. There's a lot of blurred lines, and we have to learn when to defer to each other.". The company made its website easier to use and more modern-looking. Zajdel was a driver for Victory when he made the commercial a quarter-century ago. Contents. They're not egomaniacs. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Home Cities Chicago Meet the Smithe Sisters, The new generation is shaking things up at furniture icon Walter E. Smithe. The campaign was inspired in part by a partnership with designer/house-flipper Jeff Lewis of the Bravo show Flipping Out. Shop the label. Further confused by the commercials now. Smithe guy Walt actually Walter Smithe III 45 is president and general manager of the. 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. It also featured an appearance by Dutchie Caray, wife of the late Cubs announcer Harry Caray. One spot was modeled after Apple's weird commercials. Caitie was a manufacturers' representative before becoming a stay-at-home mom. [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. They look hungry. 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. "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. Nothing is left unchanged, Meghan notes. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. My wife and I were just talking about this yesterday, we truly hate the Walter E Smithe commercials with the daughters. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. There's a certain time and simplicity factor, so from the time of the idea to the time we shoot it can be as short as a week.". We see this country chic trend currently happening as a design emergency, says Maureen. While a new recession may strike a particular industry, measuring the industry and . Sibling revelry; Their offbeat commercials have made the Smithe brothers cult heroes. 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. Itasca, IL 60143. The answer -- and the sisters' secret to success -- can be summed up in three key words: Fresh. 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. "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years," Meghan said. Falling asleep. 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. 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. Ellen is very serious about design and had a definite voice in what this modern-rustic-meets-farmhouse collection would be. But now a new generationsisters Meghan, Colleen, Maureen, and Caitie . Those early Smithe commercials were straight-forward affairs, with each brother talking about his area of expertise -- Walt discussed the merchandise, Tim the company's designers, and Mark Smithe's delivery system and customer satisfaction -- and, of course, the furniture. (He's now semi-retired, having turned the business over to his sons about 10 years ago.). Walter E. Smithe also is changing up its ads. [6], One of Walter E. Smithe's most discussed commercials aired in late March 2006. 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. "They took different career paths," Tim says. ", Says Tim Smithe, "Pop culture is always changing and so are we.". Lewis Lazare. That was the extent of his pitchman career. The brothers are recognized on the street, in grocery stores and coffee shops ("I got a free Starbucks latte once," Tim says). Furniture Stores. One of the first opportunities to test their compatibility was through a partnership with interior designer and TV personality Jeff Lewis. Chicago, IL. The fourth generation of Smithe leadership is hoping that this young, fresh approach to advertising and marketing will resonate with a consumer base that hasnt yet shopped with Smithe before. 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. 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. And Mark, 40, is Smithe's general counsel; he and his partner live in Lincoln Park with Petey, a 4-year-old bulldog. 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. Instead of starring third-generation brothers Walter III, Tim, and Mark, the new ones put the spotlight on fourth-generation sisters Caitie, Meghan, Maureen, and Colleen. I havent seen the Tile Outlet lady in a while!! "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. The Smithe sisters are working to expose the brand to a new customer base Photo credit: Robin Subar. You could say that the Smithes are a bit obsessed with quality. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design advertising has featured everything from parodies of "The Price Is Right" to a 2013 classic in which the Smithe brothers got into a wrestling ring with Billy Corgan. "We're kind of strategically positioned in different departments," Meghan said. 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. "The brothers have no acting talent," Tim says. Young. The Smithe boys started out in a tiny ranch house in Des Plaines, the children of Walter Jr. and Florence. Walter E. Smithe Furniture, Inc. is headquartered in Itasca, IL. USA. What The Walter E. Smithe Daughters Do . 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. But even as likable as the brothers are, do they run the risk of oversaturation or going to the well too often? walter e smithe furniture & design. "That's F-A-M-E, with an E". She is a celebrity who is genuinely interested in how her furniture will do and be perceived, Maureen says. During a stint in the Army, Smithe attained the rank of captain and became an expert in the field of computers. Hauldren -- an advertising copywriter who created the character -- first appeared in the ads in 1973. 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. Oct 2012 - Apr 20152 years 7 months. 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. 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. This is useful in estimating the financial strength and credit risk of the company. Chicago's Best Furniture and Expert Design. "It was kind of ingrained in us," Caitie Smithe said. Updating your home theater? So, somewhat reluctantly, they let themselves become the public face of Walter E. Smithe Furniture. 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. Sometimes its the only quiet I get.. No surprise why the quality is so crap. "That was the best part," she said. Brothers Walt, Tim and Mark Smithe -- the faces of Walter E. Smithe Furniture -- seem to have hit on something with their ubiquitous ads. We had no grand plan.. 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. 9's "Garfield Goose" and "Ray Rayner" shows. When the boys took over from their father, there were about a half-dozen stores. No outside agency required. Then he and Thorson meet with his brothers and throw ideas around. Sip A Negroni While Exploring This Stunning New Home Boutique, Peruse Artisan-Crafted Collections At This Chicago Boutique, Fresh And Feminine Vibes Rule This Winnetka Boutique, Whats In Store At Chicagos New Must-See Surface Destination, 3 Things To Know About The Latest RH Gallery, Do Not Sell Or Share My Personal Information. I love incorporating an unexpected element into a room. Now its only the wives and zero about the furniture. His signature line: "Linn Burton for certain!". Walter has been known to take furniture for test drives, says Meghan. In fact, none of the sisters seriously considered having a career in the company, founded by their great-grandfather in 1945. Walter E. Smithe Jr. died peacefully at age 86, his family said in a prepared statement. 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. When I first came on board, our industry was very much a good old boys club, says Maureen, who regularly travels to marketplaces around the country to buy merchandise. You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe . This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of Chicago Parent. Cindy went to college in Iowa and settled there after school. But one by one, they followed Maureen's lead and rejoined the family business. Colleen, Caitie, Meghan and Maureen Smithe, all between the ages of 33 and 37, represent the fourth generation of the family business and are daughters of company President Walter Smithe, the grandson of the business's namesake. The store, which has 10 locations in the Chicago area, has been open for nearly 75 years and has faced all the challenges of . "If our specialties fit those needs, then we were invited to have a conversation and explore the opportunity, but it was never a demand placed on us.". Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Watch. The two renamed the store Smithe and Shanahan, but Bill Shanahan eventually sold his share to Smithe's brother Charlie. Subscribe for free today! Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. That cartoon of Bob has BDE and you can't deny it. Subscribe to one or more of our free e-mail newsletters to get instant updates on local news, events, and opportunities in Chicago. Walter E. Smithe Jr's death was announced Thursday on the company's Facebook page. Its unnerving. Warehouse workers go over every piece of inventory awaiting delivery with a fine-tooth comb, looking for things an untrained eye would never see. Anyone got a link to the current commercial? Its no longer that way.. 1251 W. Thorndale Ave. Itasca, IL 60143-1149. Favorite design style: Cozy and comfortableaka hygge ethos. 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. The commercials are created in-house. walter e smithe. His daughters were hesitant at first, questioning whether they were ready for such a responsibility. 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. Smithe says that doing everything in-house allows them to be quick on their feet. Instead, the Smithe sisters Colleen, director of advertising; Maureen, a buyer; Caitie, a designer; and Meghan, the marketing director help a Chicago couple with tastes that sometimes clash give their town home a new look before relatives show up for a visit. Till your hair grows back."). Even with little ones underfoot, the Smithe sisters make balancing their family furniture business and their growing broods look effortless. The first order of business: ditch the longstanding, highly recognizable ad campaign featuring their father and two uncles. 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. 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Since 1945 the company has . 177 East Army Trail Road, Glendale Heights, IL 60139. Plus, they seem like nice guys. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN SUBAR, When Maureen Smithe returned from maternity leave after giving birth to identical twin daughters last August (children number five and six for those keeping count), she was puzzled by the pained looks she received from some of her colleagues. "Staying fresh, young . We simply never had that conversation, Meghan says. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. 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. He received a Bachelor of Philosophy in Commerce from the University of Notre Dame in 1958. Tomorrow, Hubbard Woods Design District (Green Bay Rd. And now with the company's 75th anniversary approaching in August, they're ready to push forward plans to expand and evolve. The chemistry among this familial foursome is something parents can only hope for from their children. Chicago Parent, as a Zoe Communications Group company, is certified as a Womens Business Enterprise by the Womens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nations largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women. "I was at Dulles Airport in Washington, waiting for a 9:30 flight at night," Mark says. 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 being so close and meeting so regularly, we're all in the loop with what's happening in each other's sphere. We understand that customers see a certain look on, say, Instagram and they want it replicated in their own home, Colleen says. William Hageman and Tribune staff reporter. We get that question all the time, and that was to be expected," Colleen said. Walter E. Smithe Jr. also earned a master's degree in Anthropology at Loyola University Chicago in 1980. The CBS Chicago team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on CBSChicago.com. "As furniture commercials go, what the Smithes are doing is great," he says. Timothy Smithe Jr. (m. 2013-2018) Kyla Lynn McCarthy (born October 8, 1986) is the daughter of politician and former Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy. With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs Walter E. Maureen in 2002 Meghan in 2014 Caitie in 2015 and Colleen in 2016. You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe (smithe.com) siblings-on-a-couch commercials. View info about Walter E. Smithe Furniture (smithe.com). My sisters and I loved being a part of it.. They were each only a year apart, at one point covering all four grade levels at Barrington High School. 1E, kneenandco.com) continues to add to its Robbe & Berking assortment with the new Martel Bar collection, which features bar cart staples like handmade silver tumblers and cocktail coupes as well as bottle openers and nutcrackers. The Smithes stand out because they're doing silly things. "There was some physical violence between the brothers," Walt says with that satisfied look of a big brother who got to dish it out. 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. Then the commercial came on. "It almost feels like the business is, in a weird way, a member of the family. The Itasca-based company has 10 locations across Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, where the sisters ply their fourth-generation talents. 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. However, Lewis Lazare, the Chicago Sun-Times' advertising critic, has defended the commercials. "[7] Maria Coons, a marketing teacher at Harper College, has also defended the advertisements, telling a Daily Herald reporter, "Some people who aren't in that [30 to 60 year old] demographic might consider them dorky, but for their target market, they're not.