Contact Information. Who are the Walter E Smithe daughters? The two renamed the store Smithe and Shanahan, but Bill Shanahan eventually sold his share to Smithe's brother Charlie. How, they wondered, would longtime customers respond to four new female faces on their television screens? Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Home & Garden, Interior Design. The daughters took over the company. Compare how recession-proof Walter E. Smithe Furniture is relative to the industry overall. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design - Chicago's Furniture Store and 9's "Garfield Goose" and "Ray Rayner" shows. But even as likable as the brothers are, do they run the risk of oversaturation or going to the well too often? Smithe's wife of 64 years was by his side when he passed, and he . 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. You want it to succeed and do well.". With 16 1/2 children among them (Colleen is due with her third baby this month), the sisters also find work as a time to be togethersans children. 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. I think people felt sorry for me, assuming that I wasnt getting any sleep and having to come to work every day, says Maureen. Around the same time, Caitie was ready to return to the workforce as a designer and stylist, a skill she had honed early in her career. 1 Early life; 2 Television; 3 Personal Life; 4 References; . Walter E. Smithe Trade In Sale - YouTube 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 strive to bring our clients the best in home furnishings for every style, budget, and. 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. Were a Chicago company that was given national exposure. Is she OK? I can't breathe!' Tomorrow, Hubbard Woods Design District (Green Bay Rd. Primary Address. 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. Chicago magazine newsletters have you covered. To their delight, the reaction to that initial campaign was primarily positive, as has been the case for every commercial they've produced since. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design (Old Orchard) 17 miles. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, specializing in custom upholstery, and operates ten showrooms throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. "Staying fresh, young . 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. 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.. 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. 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. Be sure to visit Sawbridge Studios, which will showcase sustainably harvested, live-edge furniture by David Stine. As the oldest sibling, Maureen was the first to officially join Walter E. Smithe in a professional capacity in 2004. 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. We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". I presented my ideas for this two weeks ago and it will be out on the floor in three weeks. Tim recalls Walt trying to smother him -- repeatedly, apparently -- with a bean bag chair. We not only respect this, we embrace it.. Then they brought in the wives. Im stunned when people watch one of our makeovers and are surprised that Smithe carries so much of what they like, says Caitie. Reaching a younger demographic and expanding their clientele has required some creativity, the sisters said. 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. And it's not uncommon for their kids to make cameo appearances in advertisements or to help sort through fabric samples, "which would technically make it a five-generation business," Maureen says. The Smithe brothers have been described as "Chicago's most recognizable furniture purveyors", due to their ubiquitous television commercials starring themselves. There's a preconceived notion that furniture stores are stuffy and tired, run by men in suits and catering to older generations. Am I the only one who just thinks he looks like Louis CK? Walter E. Smithe Furniture is a company located in Itasca, Illinois, United States. It worked really well for a long time, but post-recession, we saw peoples sensibilities had changed, says Meghan. My hope is to inspire people to slow down enough to talk with a designer and hopefully buy something.. Now its only the wives and zero about the furniture. 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. 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. As mothers, theyve learned its not only possible, but preferable, to have a functional yet beautiful home. Unlike their brothers, they chose other careers. We take inspiration from the world of interior design to curate customized . But they do have a business. I havent seen the Tile Outlet lady in a while!! I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. 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. It couldn't have gone more perfectly, Maureen said. 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. Read on to find out more about pelvic floor therapy and how it's growing in popularity among postpartum women. 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. Since 1945 the company has . 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. While we still have traditional pieces, our showroom appeals to a number of different lifestyles. She is a celebrity who is genuinely interested in how her furniture will do and be perceived, Maureen says. One of my friends used to live near Fullerton and Western, and she would always tell people she lived near Tile Outlet. Their camaraderie is genuine, and they can easily share ideas and bounce between conversations. Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture, dies at 86 [6], One of Walter E. Smithe's most discussed commercials aired in late March 2006. ". Its no longer that way.. Over the past 76 years, the company has grown to include 10 Chicago area showrooms. 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. They decided on an ad campaign that would, simply, pitch their product. Their grandfather, who is in his 80s, remains active in the company, frequently visiting showrooms and making connections with clients. Others have been parodies of reality television shows, such as The Apprentice and The Bachelor. Dont burden yourself with the boredom of a matching wood set. In some of the footage, youll see my dad installing a dimmer or my uncle driving a truck. ", Says Tim Smithe, "Pop culture is always changing and so are we.". We learned so much from these relationships, Colleen says. 'Flipping Out' Where To Get Jeff Lewis' Furniture Collection About. If you find the right furniture, it will last even through your kids, Colleen says. For example, Meghan had to miss her sons Valentines Day party at school this year, due to work responsibilities. Four sisters carry the Walter E. Smithe brand into the future Woven Roman shades, a jute rug and a blonde wood vanity usher texture and warmth into the otherwise minimalist design. So much misogyny in these comments, their commercials have always been cheesy and annoying. 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." Nothing will be worse than the commercials they ran the last time the Cicadas were in season. Sibling revelry; Their offbeat commercials have made the Smithe brothers cult heroes. In the late '60s, the growing family -- there are also four sisters, Cindy, Margie and . My sisters and I loved being a part of it.. For example - my favorite large upholstered dining chairs are under $200. 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. Edited to add: Looked them up and gee, it's one of the daughters managing the marketing. 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. /r/Chicago is the place to discuss and stay updated on the daily happenings of Chicago, Illinois, USA. Now, a lot more people know about us than knew a few years ago.". Favorite design style: Cozy and comfortableaka hygge ethos. Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up on the Northwest Side in Belmont Central. 74% of employees would recommend working at Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design to a friend and 70% have a positive outlook for the business. Moms of 17 juggle the Chicago-based family business It was founded by Walter Edward Smithe and Bill Shanahan in 1945. "And of course this summer's blockbuster is supposed to be `Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' Tim offered Walt brotherly support after a just-completed scene. As the fourth generation to run their family-owned Chicago furniture store, Walter. He began working in the . A few bucks later, the clunker is off to Victory's Bensenville lot. Walt and Tim mocked Mark's new haircut. Their advertising is creative, it's timely and it's interesting, so people remember it and they like it.". Regarded as top performer within the account and the Agency, as a result of consistent over-delivery, passion to grow the business . Getting the Smithes in front of the camera wasn't easy. Smithe guy Walt actually Walter Smithe III 45 is president and general manager of the. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. It's pretty surprising they are still playing on these tired sexist tropes in this day and age. However, Lewis Lazare, the Chicago Sun-Times' advertising critic, has defended the commercials. Thats fast, but it shows what we can do. He attended the University of Notre Dame and earned a bachelor 's . In recent years, Smithe enjoyed his time with extended family. That cartoon of Bob has BDE and you can't deny it. Ellen is very serious about design and had a definite voice in what this modern-rustic-meets-farmhouse collection would be. 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. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. Were not trying to portray an image that working mothers can pull off everything without something falling through, Maureen says candidly. You could say that the Smithes are a bit obsessed with quality. We don't take that lightly.". Meet The Walter E. Smithe Furniture Sisters - Luxe - Design 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. 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. "It's always positive, and it's nice to be part of it. Bloomingdale Plaza. 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. But repeated airings of the ad have made him and his door legendary. I gave up sleep and TV, Maureen jokes. Press J to jump to the feed. Kneen & Co. (399 W. Fullerton Pkwy., Ste. Personally, I dont want to stare at ugly furniture for all those years, Meghan says. ("Did you notice he used the wide-angle lens when he shot your [rear end]?"). What happened to the Walter E Smithe guys? - Cowetaamerican.com "We had a common agreement that we had the best furniture in Chicago," Tim says, "but not enough people knew about it.". They brought in real clients, worked with real designers and demonstrated each sister's essential role within the business. William Hageman and Tribune staff reporter. Caitie Smithe is aDesigner, Design Coordinator + Stylist atWalter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. 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. 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. Mix together different, but complimentary, elements such as woods, metals and stonesand feel free to mix various metals together. "We're not your parents' furniture company," Caitie said. In fact, none of the sisters seriously considered having a career in the company, founded by their great-grandfather in 1945. "I think it's time for us to get out of these TV commercials," Walter said. For the most part, that relationship translates well in the business world, they say. Sometimes we present to our dad as a united front and other times we need him to be a tie breaker. In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. Walter E. Smithe Jr. also earned a master's degree in Anthropology at Loyola University Chicago in 1980. 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. Shop the clearance. We had no grand plan.. "We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". 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. High School," Walter says. 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. "It's been about reworking how we approach visually what we want to convey about the product that we're selling," Meghan said. The Smithe sisters have heard it all before, and they've set out to dispel those misperceptions. Walter E. SMITHE: Employee Directory | ZoomInfo.com Walter E. Smithe is a furniture company based in Itasca, Illinois. Working at Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design | Glassdoor There have been more than a thousand of them since, and thanks to the magic of cable TV he is now a national celebrity. 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. Weird. 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. Oct 2012 - Apr 20152 years 7 months. "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years," Meghan said. I only hear them on the radio. "That is the top priority for the four of us," Meghan Smithe said. Eric Clark email address & phone number | Walter E. Smithe Furniture Customers were more concerned with what we were selling versus the people who were selling it, she adds. 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. You may also light a candle in honor of Walter E. Smithe Jr. or send a beautiful flower arrangement to the funeral . They've transitioned into the spotlight. Sometimes it does not pay to work with family. }); Chicago Parent is Chicagolands trusted parenting hub since 1984. One of the first opportunities to test their compatibility was through a partnership with interior designer and TV personality Jeff Lewis. The Smithe boys started out in a tiny ranch house in Des Plaines, the children of Walter Jr. and Florence. The brothers are recognized on the street, in grocery stores and coffee shops ("I got a free Starbucks latte once," Tim says). (847) 933-1481. He NEVER blinks. 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. "[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". CHICAGO (CBS) -- Walter Edward Smithe Jr., the founder of Chicago's Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86. Walter E. Smithe Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design 9615 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077. E. Smithe sisters Caitie, Colleen, Meghan and Maureen were introduced to the business at a young age. This is useful in estimating the financial strength and credit risk of the company. The Smithe brothers used good-natured humor on countless TV commercials selling furniture. Take dress up and glam up a notch with a self-care day at this luxurious spa for kids and tweens. Multi Location Business. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. The original simple jingle and slogan was perfect. They've spruced up their styles, selling more contemporary pieces among their traditional designs. 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. 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. Industry: Home Furniture & Housewares Stores. Building upon the Smithe family legacy is a big responsibility, the sisters said, one they've embraced with fervor. "As needs within the business grew, positions opened up organically," Maureen said. The company began in 1945 as Tone Appliances and Furniture, a single store on Belmont Avenue in Chicago. Walter E. Smithe Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design I'm a brand manager and their commercials make the brand seem like a discount bin. walter e smithe furniture - inc. walter e smithe furniture. "What about you and your sisters?". It took the mother of six children a few years to figure out how to juggle her demanding career and busy home life. 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. '", "I was at a gym on a treadmill," Mark says of the first time he caught one of the commercials. The Bob's puppet is a far better actor than the Smithe girls though. Walter E. SMITHE corporate office is located in 1775 W Rand Rd, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004, United States and has 382 employees. It said he passed away peacef "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. [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]. This rating has improved by 10% over the last 12 months. 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. 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. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design - Yelp Chicago, IL. Walter E. Smithe Furniture: Contact Details and Business Profile It's fun to be part of Chicago in that way.". This led to the development of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design. "I said, `Let's get you guys on camera.'". "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years. 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. Whoever said brick-and-mortar is dead hasn't met the Smithe sisters. President - Walter E. Smithe Furniture + Design - LinkedIn This has been our priority since we first began serving the Chicago area back in 1945. 443 were here. "They go a long way with a limited budget through the use of creativity," he says. During a stint in the Army, Smithe attained the rank of captain and became an expert in the field of computers. Determine whether Walter E. Smithe Furniture grew or shrank during the last recession. Its a tough balance, but I like figuring out the retail puzzle.. 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.

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