Shop the label. 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. Margie, who used to be a buyer for Smithe, moved to St. Louis with her husband, who worked for Anheuser-Busch's ad agency. Along the way, they got married, had children (17 in all!) Their interactions were zany, their dialogue lighthearted, their catchy jingle -- "you dream it, we build it" -- recognizable throughout the region. Tomorrow, Hubbard Woods Design District (Green Bay Rd. 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. While a new recession may strike a particular industry, measuring the industry and . As the fourth generation to run their family-owned Chicago furniture store, Walter. Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Home & Garden, Interior Design. [4], In March, 2017, daughters of Walter E. Smithe III became the fourth generation of the Smithe family to be featured in the commercials.[8]. - 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. Were not trying to portray an image that working mothers can pull off everything without something falling through, Maureen says candidly. The Smithe boys started out in a tiny ranch house in Des Plaines, the children of Walter Jr. and Florence. Feb 20, 2022 - The 4th generation of Walter E. Smithe family stops by to visit Bob and Marianne. Its no longer that way.. 'Flipping Out' Where To Get Jeff Lewis' Furniture Collection Timothy Smithe Jr. (m. 2013-2018) Kyla Lynn McCarthy (born October 8, 1986) is the daughter of politician and former Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy. 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. "They were loved," said Colleen Smithe, the youngest daughter of Walter Smithe III. Walter E. Smithe Jr. also earned a master's degree in Anthropology at Loyola University Chicago in 1980. Revenue: $100 to $500 million (USD) Competitors: Linly Designs, Rieke Office Interiors, 57st Design. 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. The sisters laughed at hearing this family adage, knowing that home furnishing has been woven into the tapestry of their lives. Chicago Furniture | Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design | Meet the Smithes My hope is to inspire people to slow down enough to talk with a designer and hopefully buy something.. To their delight, the reaction to that initial campaign was primarily positive, as has been the case for every commercial they've produced since. The Smithes: (L-R) Colleen, Meghan, Walter III, Walter Jr., Mark, Caitie, and Maureen. "Case in point, I was just this morning sketching out my first ideas for The Three Tenors, featuring, of course, the Smithe brothers in a coliseum. Walter E Smithe Daughters - Aniya Hendrix Trends "By being so close and meeting so regularly, we're all in the loop with what's happening in each other's sphere. The daughters took over the company. We connect families with the best local resources, advice, stories, things to do with kids and much more. 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.. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. The four women have been taking on bigger roles at the company and star in its new ad. Walter E. SMITHE: Employee Directory | ZoomInfo.com Edit: I have been informed that they are the daughters, not the wives. At-a-glance. Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. Hope, once a Smithe designer and store manager, now lives in Colorado with her husband. This is not how you attract a premium buyer or build a premium brand. Were really excited about this program, explains Meghan. The commercial included the tagline "Change the Name, Change the Luck", a reference to the Cubs' decades-long struggle to reach the World Series. Smithe then went into the computer industry working for General Electric and IBM in 1967, according to his obit. The brothers are recognized on the street, in grocery stores and coffee shops ("I got a free Starbucks latte once," Tim says). It was a natural fit, she said. "Pam, Bill and I are always on the watch for pop culture. The 3rd brother, Tim Smithe, retired in 2016. Compare how recession-proof Walter E. Smithe Furniture is relative to the industry overall. His signature line: "Linn Burton for certain!". This is useful in estimating the financial strength and credit risk of the company. I think people felt sorry for me, assuming that I wasnt getting any sleep and having to come to work every day, says Maureen. 1251 West Thorndale Avenue. Find out where to go, what to eat, where to live, and more. Caitie Smithe is aDesigner, Design Coordinator + Stylist atWalter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. Find locations. Favorite design style: Clean and neutral. They were each only a year apart, at one point covering all four grade levels at Barrington High School. "I think it's time for us to get out of these TV commercials," Walter said. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design - Chicago's Furniture Store and "But we've also gotten some really nice feedback from people who are happy to see four working women on their TV.". Colleen Smithe, Director of Advertising This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of Chicago Parent. Home Cities Chicago Meet the Smithe Sisters, The new generation is shaking things up at furniture icon Walter E. Smithe. Contact Information. "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years. 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. Walter E. Smithe Furn-Itasca | Better Business Bureau Profile Mix together different, but complimentary, elements such as woods, metals and stonesand feel free to mix various metals together. They seem very pretentious I think. Even with little ones underfoot, the Smithe sisters make balancing their family furniture business and their growing broods look effortless. At Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, we are committed to helping our clients love their homes through expert design, quality furnishings, and exemplary service. And it's those commercials, always informative and usually silly, that have the Smithe brothers walking in the footsteps of Linn Burton and the Empire Carpet Guy as Chicago TV commercial icons. Sisters Colleen, Meghan, Maureen and Caitie Smithe, from left, say three key words have helped them carry their family-run furniture company into a fourth generation: fresh, young and relevant. Three years later, she recruited Colleen to become advertising director -- a position she accepted without hesitation. In fact, none of the sisters seriously considered having a career in the company, founded by their great-grandfather in 1945. 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. Explore. CHICAGO The founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design has died. Not as long as they keep the commercials clever and topical, O'Neil says. "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. 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. Industry: Home Furniture & Housewares Stores. 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. Their camaraderie is genuine, and they can easily share ideas and bounce between conversations. The Smithe sisters now serve as the face . 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.". "He'd come up from behind and drop in it on us," Tim says. For example - my favorite large upholstered dining chairs are under $200. Oct 2012 - Apr 20152 years 7 months. It said he passed away peacef Still, the Smithes have had to weather various challenges since joining the company, including the retirement of their uncle, Tim. A new collection at Holly Hunt, discounts at EuroFurniture, a First Friday event at Hubbard Woods Design District, and more. Find employees, official website, emails, phone numbers, revenue, employee headcount, social accounts, and anything related to Walter E. Smithe Furniture. [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. 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. (Last year, Walter E. Smithe resurrected the 1950s-era cartoon that was a holiday staple on WGN-Ch. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design. 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. Some have criticized the spots for underemphasizing Walter E. Smithe's actual furniture products. His daughters were hesitant at first, questioning whether they were ready for such a responsibility. 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. "It's always positive, and it's nice to be part of it. 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. During a stint in the Army, Smithe attained the rank of captain and became an expert in the field of computers. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. But one by one, they followed Maureen's lead and rejoined the family business. Im stunned when people watch one of our makeovers and are surprised that Smithe carries so much of what they like, says Caitie. . WALTER E. SMITHE FURNITURE Revenue, Growth & Competitor Profile Ask how we can add diversity to your supply chain. 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! Warehouse workers go over every piece of inventory awaiting delivery with a fine-tooth comb, looking for things an untrained eye would never see. 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. This style is out there and we need to respond and get it on our floor. So much misogyny in these comments, their commercials have always been cheesy and annoying. You have this sense of passion and responsibility for it. It turned out so well that Tim carried along a copy to a speaking engagement. Kyla McCarthy - EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki It was founded by Walter Edward Smithe and Bill Shanahan in 1945. In the late '60s, the growing family -- there are also four sisters, Cindy, Margie and . Four sisters carry the Walter E. Smithe brand into the future Business Profile for Walter E. Smithe Furn-Itasca. She has a few ideas for how to add a little spring to your home. His line was, `If you can talk you can breathe.'". 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. But they do have a business. Walter e smithe daughters. 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. 1 Early life; 2 Television; 3 Personal Life; 4 References; . Spoken like the daughter of a true shop owner, as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. 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. "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. 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 Furniture, Inc. is headquartered in Itasca, IL. Additional partnerships with the likes of Cynthia Rowley and Ellen Degeneres have exposed the company to a new customer base. The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. Edited to add: Looked them up and gee, it's one of the daughters managing the marketing. The Empire Carpet Guy, of course. Smithe guy Walt actually Walter Smithe III 45 is president and general manager of the. The 4th generation (Walter III's daughters) join the business after careers in their respective fields; Maureen in 2002, Meghan in 2014, Caitie in 2015, and Colleen in 2016. 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 business steadily increased since we started the commercials," Walt says. Thats fast, but it shows what we can do. 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. - Lynn Hauldren: Who? 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. Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up in the Northwest Side's Belmont Central neighborhood. Eric Clark email address & phone number | Walter E. Smithe Furniture We don't take that lightly.". We see this country chic trend currently happening as a design emergency, says Maureen. As Caitie puts it, Theres no reason you cant use an entertainment console as a buffet in the dining room.. But repeated airings of the ad have made him and his door legendary. Her sisters had fallen into their own specialties and were pursuing different paths at the time. Favorite design style: Modern mixed with traditional. "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years," Meghan said. If you find the right furniture, it will last even through your kids, Colleen says. "Some dabbled and moved on and others just weren't interested.". I'm so annoyed that I won't buy anything from there. 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. I gave up sleep and TV, Maureen jokes. Visit Website (opens in new window) Walter E. Smithe. 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 by one, each sister began working in the family business. Smithe says that doing everything in-house allows them to be quick on their feet. I love incorporating an unexpected element into a room. formId: "acc781a7-d0b4-433d-bc7f-c5bac12f3766" For the most part, that relationship translates well in the business world, they say. With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs, Walter E. Smithe is a local furniture icon. Now, the Itasca-based furniture and interior design company wants you to get to know the Smithe sisters. While they took breaks from the biz to make their own way after college, each came back when the right positions opened up. There is no rule book that says they all need to matchmetals always compliment one another. Shop the Sofa Sale. Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up on the Northwest Side in Belmont Central. Smithe Parker leads Walter E. Smithe advertising Walter E. Smithe Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design Watch. Walter E. Smithe Jr., head of family furniture dynasty, dead at 86 Get 5 free searches. Contents. The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. Best Outlet Walter E Smithe near Glendale Heights, IL 60139 - Yelp They've spruced up their styles, selling more contemporary pieces among their traditional designs. View info about Walter E. Smithe Furniture (smithe.com). Further confused by the commercials now. - 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. Get Eric Clark's email address (e*****@smithe.com) and phone number at RocketReach. 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. 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. Itasca, IL 60143. Compare how recession-proof Walter E Smithe Furniture is relative to the industry overall. "Instead we did it on the turn of a dime. 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. 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. He began working in the . Walter E. Smithe also is changing up its ads. "It's made us focus on what we do best, which is designing our clients' homes," he said. That cartoon of Bob has BDE and you can't deny it. 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. 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. Chicago's Best Furniture and Expert Design. Nothing will be worse than the commercials they ran the last time the Cicadas were in season. 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 . The company gained national exposure from Lewis' collection, and each sister was able to shine in her own specialty. And Mark, 40, is Smithe's general counsel; he and his partner live in Lincoln Park with Petey, a 4-year-old bulldog. 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 and Bill Shanahan founded the store anticipating a booming economy in the wake of World War II. 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. 9's "Garfield Goose" and "Ray Rayner" shows. Who are these guys? 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. 70 reviews of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design "This is a really good store for when you hit age 40 or so and realize your house still resembles a college dorm.
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