As Caitie puts it, Theres no reason you cant use an entertainment console as a buffet in the dining room.. "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. 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. Meghan can recall her pigtails bouncing as she ran through the Walter E. Smithe warehouse as a young girl, pulling sales tags in exchange for a nickel or dime from her grandfather, Walter Smithe Jr. We can be real nimble when we're this tight and this spread across the business.". Its unnerving. Over the last 13 years, one by one, Walters daughters have been hired on at Smithe as the jobs became available. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. Walter E. Smithe III, is the President of family owned and operated Walter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. 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. "There was some physical violence between the brothers," Walt says with that satisfied look of a big brother who got to dish it out. 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 Smithe sisters now serve as the face of the firm, offering a female perspective that better reflects the company, the industry and the country today. Nothing will be worse than the commercials they ran the last time the Cicadas were in season. 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. We've got the radar out for that," Tim Smithe says. That's a galaxy away from the current "Star Wars" parody. High School," Walter says. Home Cities Chicago Meet the Smithe Sisters, The new generation is shaking things up at furniture icon Walter E. Smithe. And youll see each of my sisters doing what they do best.. Smithe then went into the computer industry working for General Electric and IBM in 1967, according to his obit. 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. Assuming your a dude your not supposed to understand the commercials. "We're dreamers and we have big ideas," Meghan said. A 2005 advertisement showed Mark and Tim Smithe dueling with CGI-enhanced lamps in an homage to the lightsaber duels of the Star Wars films. Calkins says that by minimizing production costs and media costs and doing those quick turnarounds, Smithe gets a bigger bang for its advertising buck. But the truth is, I love coming to the office. She had been a buyer for Abercrombie and Fitch for a few years after college when a job opened up in the Smithe merchandising office. Ask how we can add diversity to your supply chain. "That is the top priority for the four of us," Meghan Smithe said. The Smithe sisters are working to expose the brand to a new customer base Photo credit: Robin Subar. We all trickled back in, and it happened really organically, says Meghan of the industrious quartet, who collectively has 17 children. - Timmy: Dressed as an old-time newspaper boy, 10-year-old Timmy appeared in dozens of commercials in the '70s for his uncle's Long Chevrolet dealership in Elmhurst. formId: "acc781a7-d0b4-433d-bc7f-c5bac12f3766" I dont think anyone in the furniture industry does advertising well. "Staying fresh, young . Please enter valid email address to continue. Shop now. And then fate gently tapped them on their shoulder. This began a long series of lighthearted television commercials, which became increasingly elaborate over the next few years. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, - Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, Paddock Publications, Inc. is an Employee-Owned Company. "As furniture commercials go, what the Smithes are doing is great," he says. Walter has been known to take furniture for test drives, says Meghan. Oct 2012 - Apr 20152 years 7 months. This style is out there and we need to respond and get it on our floor. Thats fast, but it shows what we can do. The first change I noticed was it became all about the sons. This led to the development of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design. "And I'd be yelling, `I can't breathe! Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design is a family-owned furniture retailer, founded right here in Chicago, back in 1945. Smithe's three sons the Smithe brothers Mark, Tim, and Walter III became executives in the business and were regularly featured in the commercials. "They took different career paths," Tim says. How could they ensure the 75-year-old brand would be sustainable for decades to come? ", Says Tim Smithe, "Pop culture is always changing and so are we.". With 10 years of advertising industry experience, Smithe Parker, daughter of President Walter E. Smithe III, has worked with high-profile advertising agencies in Chicago. For example, Meghan had to miss her sons Valentines Day party at school this year, due to work responsibilities. - 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. 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. The boys' first ventures into the working world included Walt's daily paper route -- 70 Tribunes, three or four Sun-Times and a couple of Wall Street Journals -- that Tim helped him with ("I got 1 cent per paper, and I'd give Tim 10 cents for helping me"), and collecting beer cans that they resold at a Park Ridge flea market. The original simple jingle and slogan was perfect. 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. "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design. 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. 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. When they get a topic, Smithe says, he tries to figure a way to blend it into an ad. But when they finally decided to accept, they knew they needed to come up with a unique and effective way to introduce themselves to the Chicago market as the new faces of Walter E. Smithe. Nah, I know a few of them. They've relaunched catalogs showcasing their furniture in fully designed spaces. It worked really well for a long time, but post-recession, we saw peoples sensibilities had changed, says Meghan. It couldn't have gone more perfectly, Maureen said. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. The Feldco guy creeps me out more. Pinterest. And I thought, `makeup and lighting. "And of course this summer's blockbuster is supposed to be `Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' Even their more than 250 employees are treated like family. I gave up sleep and TV, Maureen jokes. While they took breaks from the biz to make their own way after college, each came back when the right positions opened up. This has been our priority since we first began serving the Chicago area back in 1945. Am I the only one who just thinks he looks like Louis CK? The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. "It was kind of a neat way to kick off our involvement in the business as a group.". A new collection at Holly Hunt, discounts at EuroFurniture, a First Friday event at Hubbard Woods Design District, and more. Shop the clearance. (He's now semi-retired, having turned the business over to his sons about 10 years ago.). "We're kind of strategically positioned in different departments," Meghan said. As they grew into their teens, there were the usual summer jobs -- caddying, yard work, selling ice cream from a motorized three-wheeler. The first order of business: ditch the longstanding, highly recognizable ad campaign featuring their father and two uncles. Lewis Lazare. 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. Plus, they seem like nice guys. "It almost feels like the business is, in a weird way, a member of the family. - Lynn Hauldren: Who? Smithe's wife of 64 years was by his side when he passed, and he . 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. Smithe guy Walt actually Walter Smithe III 45 is president and general manager of the. I love the one where they are drinking what looks like Tang out of wine glasses. 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. Walter E. Smithe Jr. Obituary. And Amy is a singer and songwriter. 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. We simply never had that conversation, Meghan says. The implication was that he was doing/looking at something inappropriate. Walter E. Smithe Jr's death was announced Thursday on the company's Facebook page. I can't breathe!' 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 . Walter E. SMITHE corporate office is located in 1775 W Rand Rd, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004, United States and has 382 employees. An added factor in the commercials' success are the brothers, who come across as regular guys. Let's go Cubbies! 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. 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. Lewis teamed up with Smithes merchandising team to create in-store vignettes, and also featured the store on his show. My hope is to inspire people to slow down enough to talk with a designer and hopefully buy something.. While it may not be usable 365 days a year, the days that your outdoor space are in fact usable should be embraced. Find locations. They've transitioned into the spotlight. Find employees, official website, emails, phone numbers, revenue, employee headcount, social accounts, and anything related to Walter E. Smithe Furniture. As the fourth generation to run their family-owned Chicago furniture store, Walter. 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 about you and your sisters?". His signature line: "Linn Burton for certain!". The spot showed the brothers at a news conference announcing that they had purchased Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, with plans to rename it Walter E. Smithe Field. walter e smithe, furniture stores near me, ballinger vase buy, gold side end table, tall mirror, walter e smithe daughters, furniture . The best commercial -- at least the one viewers relished -- featured this grating kid getting hit in the face with a pie. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. Walter E. Smithe Jr. died peacefully at age 86, his family said in a prepared statement. 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. "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. Margie, who used to be a buyer for Smithe, moved to St. Louis with her husband, who worked for Anheuser-Busch's ad agency. 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. William Hageman and Tribune staff reporter. Im stunned when people watch one of our makeovers and are surprised that Smithe carries so much of what they like, says Caitie. Walter Smithe III and Mark Smithe (the Smithe Brothers) are the sons of Walter Jr, and serve as President and VP/Legal Counsel, respectively. 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.. Visit Website (opens in new window) Walter E. Smithe. Favorite design style: Cozy and comfortableaka hygge ethos. "And a woman was there with her daughter, and she nudged her and I heard her say, 'That's the Walter E. Smithe guy.' And they're not showbiz types. [6], One of Walter E. Smithe's most discussed commercials aired in late March 2006. Dont burden yourself with the boredom of a matching wood set. 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. "It's a big responsibility. Building upon the Smithe family legacy is a big responsibility, the sisters said, one they've embraced with fervor. 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. - Nick Celozzi and Maury Ettleson: Starting in the early '70s, they waved fistfuls of cash at TV viewers and reminded everyone that Celozzi-Ettleson Chevrolet in Elmhurst was "Where you always save more money!". Newlyweds can now register for exclusive honeymoon stays and experiences at 23 of Auberge Resorts Collections luxury hotels and resorts worldwide More, With two movies out this winter, the actress and producer Salma Hayek Pinault is at the top of her game More, The star of A Beautiful Noise, which just opened at the Broadhurst Theatre, is a big Neil Diamond fan More, The writer and actor makes his Broadway debut in his just-opened play Aint No Mo More, After flying high in the hit sequel Top Gun: Maverick, Glen Powell stars in the new film Devotion, out now More, It's not enough to just be smart. Read the rest of the issue. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, specializing in custom upholstery, and operates ten showrooms throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. "It's been about reworking how we approach visually what we want to convey about the product that we're selling," Meghan said. 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. But the sisters also know they can always turn to the leaders who came before them. "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. It's not included in a shorter version now airing on TV. Chicago, IL. The Smithe family announced that their patriarch died this past Sunday with his wife of 64 years, Florence Flynn Smithe, by his side. walter e smithe furniture - inc. walter e smithe furniture. His four daughtersMaureen Megan Clarke Caitie Jisa and Colleen Parkerare now the new faces of this historic Chicago brand a spot he and his brothers held for decades. Unlike their brothers, they chose other careers. 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. 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. Updating your home theater? This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of Chicago Parent. "But these are guys who you'd go to dinner with, you know? The brothers are recognized on the street, in grocery stores and coffee shops ("I got a free Starbucks latte once," Tim says). You could say that the Smithes are a bit obsessed with quality. He cites the U2 music video takeoff. There's a lot of blurred lines, and we have to learn when to defer to each other.". There is no true balance for moms in our situation., We cant be everything all at once, Meghan says. Walter E. Smithe is a family business in every sense of the word, the sisters say. One by one, each sister began working in the family business. Meghan was hired in 2013 and now serves as director of sales strategy. "It was kind of ingrained in us," Caitie Smithe said. Or "Hardrock, Coco and Joe." USA. 1251 West Thorndale Avenue. The Bob's puppet is a far better actor than the Smithe girls though. 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. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, . Reviews on Outlet Walter E Smithe in Glendale Heights, IL 60139 - Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, Toms Price Home, The Dump Furniture Outlet, Ashley HomeStore, The RoomPlace, Roy's Furniture, Domicile "Smithes have fun at the old ballpark". Rocketreach finds email, phone & social media for 450M+ professionals. Business Profile for Walter E. Smithe Furn-Itasca. How, they wondered, would longtime customers respond to four new female faces on their television screens? So I'm speaking, and they're half listening, you know. 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. Compare how recession-proof Walter E. Smithe Furniture is relative to the industry overall. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. [3], The company has become well known in the Chicago area for its television commercials, which for decades starred the three Smithe brothers, and now star the four Smithe sisters. We connect families with the best local resources, advice, stories, things to do with kids and much more. I'm a brand manager and their commercials make the brand seem like a discount bin. 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. 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. 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. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. The commercials were being shot at a studio in Northfield and would result in enough footage for dozens of TV ads to appear over the next six months. Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Home & Garden, Interior Design. In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. [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). 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. Some ways to do this include mixing fabrics and leathers such as pairing linens with velvets, shag rugs, fur throws, organic elements such as rattan and bamboo even the reflective-ness of chrome can add texture to a room! Currently, there are 3 generations involved in the business: Walter Smithe Jr is retired, but regularly visits the showrooms. The company has become known over the years in particular for its quirky TV commercials Chicago TV viewers have long known the jingle, "Walter E. Smithe, you dream it we build it." In some of the footage, youll see my dad installing a dimmer or my uncle driving a truck. 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. The commercials are created in-house. 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. 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. She also sees more demand for curation: Rather than walking into a store and getting an entire matching bedroom or dining set, people are mixing and matching and getting a look thats uniquely theirs., The new ED Ellen DeGeneres furniture collection (now available at all 11 Walter E. Smithe showrooms) allows for just thatand it includes versatile pieces that transcend their typical use. The Smithes: (L-R) Colleen, Meghan, Walter III, Walter Jr., Mark, Caitie, and Maureen. Who are the Walter E Smithe daughters? First published on October 12, 2022 / 3:27 PM. You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe (smithe.com) siblings-on-a-couch commercials. He was still spending weekends at Smithe furniture showrooms until recently and he volunteered for many years for Habitat for Humanity, building houses in the U.S. and Central America. Colleen Smithe, Director of Advertising They decided on an ad campaign that would, simply, pitch their product. So as long as strangers keep serenading them with the company jingle instead of pelting them with "Hardrock, Coco and Joe" DVDs, and as long as the business continues to grow, they'll keep doing the ads. "Some dabbled and moved on and others just weren't interested.". CHICAGO (WLS) -- Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. "I think it's time for us to get out of these TV commercials," Walter said. Sometimes its the only quiet I get.. Now, a lot more people know about us than knew a few years ago.". "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.". [7], Chicagoans have had mixed reactions to the Walter E. Smithe commercials. Then the commercial came on. People are buying a look, but they want it to feel curated and personal., Its up to Maureen and Caitie to monitor the market, make sure the showroom reflects current palettes, while staying a few steps ahead of what is currently trending. Not as long as they keep the commercials clever and topical, O'Neil says. While their father and grandfather are still actively involved in the day-to-day, the women have taken over the companys marketing, design, advertising and buying effortsand immediately went about altering brand perceptions.
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