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. 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. They're not egomaniacs. Now its only the wives and zero about the furniture. Walter E. Smithe and Bill Shanahan founded the store anticipating a booming economy in the wake of World War II. "It's always positive, and it's nice to be part of it. Its a tough balance, but I like figuring out the retail puzzle.. Brothers Walt, Tim and Mark Smithe -- the faces of Walter E. Smithe Furniture -- seem to have hit on something with their ubiquitous ads. 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. "If we'd done that with a large agency, it would have been flying people in from New York and storyboards and approvals along the way," he says. Lewis Lazare. I love incorporating an unexpected element into a room. Spoken like the daughter of a true shop owner, as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. The seven pieces featured in the Quincy Master Bedroom vignette below (chair, trunk . 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. Oct 2012 - Apr 20152 years 7 months. 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. Whoever said brick-and-mortar is dead hasn't met the Smithe sisters. The brothers are recognized on the street, in grocery stores and coffee shops ("I got a free Starbucks latte once," Tim says). In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. 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! They brought in real clients, worked with real designers and demonstrated each sister's essential role within the business. They hammer out a script, call in O'Neil and start filming. - 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. We all trickled back in, and it happened really organically, says Meghan of the industrious quartet, who collectively has 17 children. Read the rest of the issue. But I never forget that these are my sisters and I completely respect them. We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". How could they ensure the 75-year-old brand would be sustainable for decades to come? The founder of well-known Chicago-area furniture company Walter E. Smithe has died, his family announced Wednesday. Get Eric Clark's email address (e*****@smithe.com) and phone number at RocketReach. Furniture Stores. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design (Old Orchard) 17 miles. 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. They've relaunched catalogs showcasing their furniture in fully designed spaces. Falling asleep. Even with little ones underfoot, the Smithe sisters make balancing their family furniture business and their growing broods look effortless. 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.. Walt and Tim mocked Mark's new haircut. Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. It's not included in a shorter version now airing on TV. Were often building on what we see resonating in the market and what is interesting and beautiful at the moment., Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design is coming off a successful year of strategic partnerships with Bravo TVs Jeff Lewis and interior designer Cynthia Rowley. The company offer of a free DVD generated a huge response, and more than 60,000 were given away.). 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 we've also gotten some really nice feedback from people who are happy to see four working women on their TV.". Mark admonished Walt to keep his feet off the furniture. 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. Along the way, they got married, had children (17 in all!) Today, they help oversee 10 showrooms, the warehouse and headquarters, working together (generally) perfectly. This style is out there and we need to respond and get it on our floor. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design. walter e smithe. Subscribe for free today! Further confused by the commercials now. 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. Itasca, IL 60143. Like their brothers, the four Smithe sisters were all in the business when they were in high school. How, they wondered, would longtime customers respond to four new female faces on their television screens? The Smithe boys started out in a tiny ranch house in Des Plaines, the children of Walter Jr. and Florence. Billy Corgan and Walter E. Smithe Wrestling. 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. If you grew up in Chicago, you can probably hum it. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. "Still hard for me to imagine.") Over the last 12 years, one by one, Walter's daughters have been hired on at Smithe in an official capacity. A matte black bathtub, vanity mirrors and hardware pop against the airy walls in this modern primary bathroom. [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]. Now, there are 12, a 115,000-square-foot headquarters in Itasca and more than 550 employees, and this year Walter E. Smithe Furniture will do $100 million in sales. Explore. It took the mother of six children a few years to figure out how to juggle her demanding career and busy home life. 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. Caitie Smithe is aDesigner, Design Coordinator + Stylist atWalter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. It turned out so well that Tim carried along a copy to a speaking engagement. This began a long series of lighthearted television commercials, which became increasingly elaborate over the next few years. And now with the company's 75th anniversary approaching in August, they're ready to push forward plans to expand and evolve. With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs, Walter E. Smithe is a local furniture icon. portalId: "6766057", Smithe's three sons the Smithe brothers Mark, Tim, and Walter III became executives in the business and were regularly featured in the commercials. "Staying fresh, young . Unlike their brothers, they chose other careers. Sometimes we present to our dad as a united front and other times we need him to be a tie breaker. "Smithes have fun at the old ballpark". It said he passed away peacef Subscribe to one or more of our free e-mail newsletters to get instant updates on local news, events, and opportunities in Chicago. October 12, 2022 / 3:27 PM 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. But now a new generationsisters Meghan, Colleen, Maureen, and Caitie . Most recently, she was at . Young. In the late '60s, the growing family -- there are also four sisters, Cindy, Margie and . We don't take that lightly.". The first order of business: ditch the longstanding, highly recognizable ad campaign featuring their father and two uncles. The Feldco guy creeps me out more. / CBS Chicago. "It was kind of ingrained in us," Caitie Smithe said. For people who are in their 40s and have families, that's how brothers act around each other when they get together. The Itasca-based company has 10 locations across Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, where the sisters ply their fourth-generation talents. We understand that customers see a certain look on, say, Instagram and they want it replicated in their own home, Colleen says. 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. 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. Take dress up and glam up a notch with a self-care day at this luxurious spa for kids and tweens. 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. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune). Mix together different, but complimentary, elements such as woods, metals and stonesand feel free to mix various metals together. 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. Walter E. Smithe Furniture is a company located in Itasca, Illinois, United States. So, somewhat reluctantly, they let themselves become the public face of Walter E. Smithe Furniture. CHICAGO The founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design has died. While it may not be usable 365 days a year, the days that your outdoor space are in fact usable should be embraced. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, - Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, Paddock Publications, Inc. is an Employee-Owned Company. "We're kind of strategically positioned in different departments," Meghan said. I love the one where they are drinking what looks like Tang out of wine glasses. "And of course this summer's blockbuster is supposed to be `Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' How could the Itasca-based company break the mold and reach a new audience while still carrying its message into a fourth generation? 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. 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. 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. 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 . 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. 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. Or "Hardrock, Coco and Joe." They got on each other's nerves and learned to talk quickly at the dinner table if they wanted to get a word in. "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years," Meghan said. 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. While we still have traditional pieces, our showroom appeals to a number of different lifestyles. You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe (smithe.com) siblings-on-a-couch commercials. "We're all rolling up our sleeves and getting dirty. One of my friends used to live near Fullerton and Western, and she would always tell people she lived near Tile Outlet. That cartoon of Bob has BDE and you can't deny it. Walter E. Smithe Jr. Obituary. 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. Contents. What The Walter E. Smithe Daughters Do . Also would somebody please feed them? Chicago magazine newsletters have you covered. 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. This initiative calls for all hands on deck. "If you think of furniture commercials, it's always just panning a showroom with obnoxious graphics," says O'Neil, who has directed all the Smithe commercials. Caitie, Colleen, Maureen and Meghan Smithe represent the fourth generation helping run their Chicago-based family furniture store, Walter E. Smithe, and they're determined not to be the last. The Smithes: (L-R) Colleen, Meghan, Walter III, Walter Jr., Mark, Caitie, and Maureen. Find employees, official website, emails, phone numbers, revenue, employee headcount, social accounts, and anything related to Walter E. Smithe Furniture. "As furniture commercials go, what the Smithes are doing is great," he says. In some of the footage, youll see my dad installing a dimmer or my uncle driving a truck. Spoken like the daughter of a true "shop owner," as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. Shop the Sofa Sale. 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. 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. "We wanted to entertain people first, so then when we wanted to inform them they'd already be paying attention," Tim says of their advertising philosophy. Meghan and Colleen spent several years working at advertising agencies in Chicago. "[5] Of the commercials, Tim Smithe has said, "We wanted to entertain people first, so then when we wanted to inform them they'd already be paying attention". And then fate gently tapped them on their shoulder. 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. walter e smithe, furniture stores near me, ballinger vase buy, gold side end table, tall mirror, walter e smithe daughters, furniture . 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. "It's made us focus on what we do best, which is designing our clients' homes," he said. The inky accents create a sleek statement against the white walls and lend a streamlined look to the space. He cites the U2 music video takeoff. 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. "In a family business, everyone has to wear all hats at all times," Maureen said. Her sisters had fallen into their own specialties and were pursuing different paths at the time. A few bucks later, the clunker is off to Victory's Bensenville lot. As their father, the company president, has told customers for decades, Life is too short to sit on uncomfortable furniture.. Our dad always put an emphasis on hard work, and it stuck with us.. '", "The business steadily increased since we started the commercials," Walt says. McCarthy was married to grandson of Walter E. Smithe, Timothy Smithe Jr. in Paris, France in June of 2013. . Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up in the Northwest Side's Belmont Central neighborhood. Here, get to know this powerhouse quartet. "The girls have all worked elsewhere before coming back to Smithe," says Walter of his daughters who have had careers ranging from merchandising to advertising. Reaching a younger demographic and expanding their clientele has required some creativity, the sisters said. The Chicago native attended Fenwick High School and the University of Notre Dame. Were a Chicago company that was given national exposure. Sometimes it does not pay to work with family. This has been our priority since we first began serving the Chicago area back in 1945. /r/Chicago is the place to discuss and stay updated on the daily happenings of Chicago, Illinois, USA. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. Someone really needs a new marketing director/CMO/agency because they do not know what they are doing. Their grandfather, who is in his 80s, remains active in the company, frequently visiting showrooms and making connections with clients. "So that drove us, I think, to be successes.". "They're having a lot of fun. Who are these guys? About. Smithe's wife of 64 years was by his side when he passed, and he . Watch. "He'd come up from behind and drop in it on us," Tim says. 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. Timothy Smithe Jr. (m. 2013-2018) Kyla Lynn McCarthy (born October 8, 1986) is the daughter of politician and former Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy. Draftfcb. [4][5] In 2008, they filmed and edited a takeoff of the Sex and the City franchise, with the brothers sipping "Smithe-o-politans". Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design is a family-owned furniture retailer, founded right here in Chicago, back in 1945. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Dont burden yourself with the boredom of a matching wood set. - Lynn Hauldren: Who? 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. Customers were more concerned with what we were selling versus the people who were selling it, she adds. 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. 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. ", Instead they talk about the U2/iTunes takeoff, the brothers' version of "The Apprentice" or the Olympic parody from last year. The Smithes stand out because they're doing silly things. "And there's 10 televisions, all tuned to the same station. 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. 9's "Garfield Goose" and "Ray Rayner" shows. 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 . Receive a 20 percent discount on sofas, love seats, sectionals, chaises, and more at Cassona (5241 N. Clark St., cassona.com) through March 13. In 2002 they brought in director Bill O'Neil to help them. Over the last 13 years, one by one, Walters daughters have been hired on at Smithe as the jobs became available. "That is the top priority for the four of us," Meghan Smithe said. In a new seven-minute "Smithe Family Makeover" video, you'll only see one Smithe brother and you'll only hear the new version of the familiar jingle if you watch all the way through to the credits. It was founded by Walter Edward Smithe and Bill Shanahan in 1945. officially retires, although he still enjoys visiting showrooms and meeting clients. View info about Walter E. Smithe Furniture (smithe.com). 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. The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. 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. 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 business's namesakeand the sisters' uncles, Mark and Tim. [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).