Industry: Home Furniture & Housewares Stores. Caitie Smithe is aDesigner, Design Coordinator + Stylist atWalter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. (847) 933-1481. How, they wondered, would longtime customers respond to four new female faces on their television screens? It said he passed away peacef The Smithe boys started out in a tiny ranch house in Des Plaines, the children of Walter Jr. and Florence. Or "Hardrock, Coco and Joe." We don't take that lightly.". 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. I'm a brand manager and their commercials make the brand seem like a discount bin. 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. So I'm speaking, and they're half listening, you know. Then there's their father, a hardworking industry expert who leads by example and walks into any work setting saying, "We check our egos at the door.". They were each only a year apart, at one point covering all four grade levels at Barrington High School. While a new recession may strike a particular industry, measuring the industry and . "KFC dances to beat of familiar drummers". His sons, Walter, Tim, and Mark, joined the company in the 1970s and 1980s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_E._Smithe. 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. The best commercial -- at least the one viewers relished -- featured this grating kid getting hit in the face with a pie. Smithe guy Walt actually Walter Smithe III 45 is president and general manager of the. This began a long series of lighthearted television commercials, which became increasingly elaborate over the next few years. The Walter E. Smithe + Jeff Lewis showcase certainly fits the bill. I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. As they grew into their teens, there were the usual summer jobs -- caddying, yard work, selling ice cream from a motorized three-wheeler. Nothing is left unchanged, Meghan notes. What she does: I make spaces beautiful for clients homes, our catalogs and showrooms, and play couples therapist for clients who cant agree on a sofa.. What are they up to?' The Smithe brothers used good-natured humor on countless TV commercials selling furniture. 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. 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. "We're dreamers and we have big ideas," Meghan said. Over the past 76 years, the company has grown to include 10 Chicago area showrooms. We all trickled back in, and it happened really organically, says Meghan of the industrious quartet, who collectively has 17 children. 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. To see these serious, stuffy guys laughing and having fun someone yelled out, `You should use that as a commercial. The two renamed the store Smithe and Shanahan, but Bill Shanahan eventually sold his share to Smithe's brother Charlie. "We were kind of like dorks, geeks, growing up," Mark says. Getting the Smithes in front of the camera wasn't easy. It was like the empire jingle. The Smithes stand out because they're doing silly things. Walter was the first of the third generation to join the family business in 1981 . As mothers, all of us have cleaned up a childs spill, or even their vomit, from our furniture, Colleen jokes. "And they've been able to personalize a retail chain through the use of the brothers. "I said, `Let's get you guys on camera.'". Our dad always put an emphasis on hard work, and it stuck with us.. "But we've also gotten some really nice feedback from people who are happy to see four working women on their TV.". With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs Walter E. Maureen in 2002 Meghan in 2014 Caitie in 2015 and Colleen in 2016. 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. About. So is there a `Wally and the Sofa Factory' in our future?". For people who are in their 40s and have families, that's how brothers act around each other when they get together. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. The sisters left for college with a few prized furnishings and a work ethic that became a permanent fixture in their lives. Sometimes you have to act fast. They're nice folks. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, . CHICAGO (CBS) -- Walter Edward Smithe Jr., the founder of Chicago's Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86. The company's commercials were originally straightforward descriptions of their products and services, but in 2003, the brothers decided to include outtakes from past filmings, which showed the brothers stumbling over words and laughing at each other. - 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. Business Profile for Walter E. Smithe Furn-Itasca. From 5 to 8 p.m., select retailers will offer refreshments while highlighting unique designers. Bringing new and various textures into a room can take it from plain and lacking in interest to exciting and memorable. Then the commercial came on. "We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". Chicago's Best Furniture and Expert Design. A new collection at Holly Hunt, discounts at EuroFurniture, a First Friday event at Hubbard Woods Design District, and more. She is a celebrity who is genuinely interested in how her furniture will do and be perceived, Maureen says. Not as long as they keep the commercials clever and topical, O'Neil says. Unlike their brothers, they chose other careers. and became working moms in different industries. Walter E. Smithe is a furniture company based in Itasca, Illinois. 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. "In what seems to be their unending and over-the-top zeal to self-promote, they just may be helping drive traffic," he wrote, adding, "If nothing else, the advertising suggests the chain has some suits with personality attached. His signature line: "Linn Burton for certain!". "People really did love seeing them on their TVs.". Caitie was a manufacturers' representative before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Shop the Sofa Sale. "They go a long way with a limited budget through the use of creativity," he says. ", Instead they talk about the U2/iTunes takeoff, the brothers' version of "The Apprentice" or the Olympic parody from last year. His daughters were hesitant at first, questioning whether they were ready for such a responsibility. Its very much in line with our desire to offer the most beautiful pieces that are of the highest quality. Please enter valid email address to continue. "So that drove us, I think, to be successes.". It couldn't have gone more perfectly, Maureen said. walter e smithe. We strive to bring our clients the best in home furnishings for every style, budget, and. As mothers, theyve learned its not only possible, but preferable, to have a functional yet beautiful home. Meghan and Colleen spent several years working at advertising agencies in Chicago. I dont think anyone in the furniture industry does advertising well. Hope, once a Smithe designer and store manager, now lives in Colorado with her husband. They decided on an ad campaign that would, simply, pitch their product. 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. "They're having a lot of fun. The answer -- and the sisters' secret to success -- can be summed up in three key words: Fresh. Warehouse workers go over every piece of inventory awaiting delivery with a fine-tooth comb, looking for things an untrained eye would never see. Now its only the wives and zero about the furniture. Since 1945 the company has . It was founded by Walter Edward Smithe and Bill Shanahan in 1945. We learned so much from these relationships, Colleen says. We've got the radar out for that," Tim Smithe says. Sometimes it does not pay to work with family. Walter E. Smithe III, is the President of family owned and operated Walter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. The company made its website easier to use and more modern-looking. Favorite design style: Modern mixed with traditional. The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. Through March 7, EuroFurniture (2145 W. Grand Ave., eurofurniture.com) is offering 15 percent off BDI media cabinets and consoles available in-store, online, and by phone. Billy Corgan and Walter E. Smithe Wrestling. walter e smithe furniture & design. In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. Smithe then went into the computer industry working for General Electric and IBM in 1967, according to his obit. portalId: "6766057", Favorite design style: Clean and neutral. "We had a common agreement that we had the best furniture in Chicago," Tim says, "but not enough people knew about it.". If you grew up in Chicago, you can probably hum it. Lewis Lazare. Meghan was hired in 2013 and now serves as director of sales strategy. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design. The company began in 1945 as Tone Appliances and Furniture, a single store on Belmont Avenue in Chicago. "That's F-A-M-E, with an E". The new campaign, dubbed Smithe Family Makeovers, showcases Smithe furniture in the homes of actual clients, revealing the handiwork of the companys designers in HGTV-esque episodes. What The Walter E. Smithe Daughters Do . 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. Contact Information. As the oldest sibling, Maureen was the first to officially join Walter E. Smithe in a professional capacity in 2004. 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. That's why when she and her three sisters -- Maureen, Meghan and Caitie -- were asked a few years ago to transition into the role their father and uncles held for so long, they weren't immediately receptive. Rocketreach finds email, phone & social media for 450M+ professionals. They've been able to weather the unexpected storm of the coronavirus pandemic. Home Cities Chicago Meet the Smithe Sisters, The new generation is shaking things up at furniture icon Walter E. Smithe. 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. We can be real nimble when we're this tight and this spread across the business.". "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years," Meghan said. You have this sense of passion and responsibility for it. "As furniture commercials go, what the Smithes are doing is great," he says. Were really excited about this program, explains Meghan. 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. Find out where to go, what to eat, where to live, and more. And youll see each of my sisters doing what they do best.. Were a Chicago company that was given national exposure. He began working in the . View info about Walter E. Smithe Furniture (smithe.com). Currently, there are 3 generations involved in the business: Walter Smithe Jr is retired, but regularly visits the showrooms. 1428, hollyhunt.com) has expanded its Great Plains textile offering with the Foreign Affair collection, which has a mix of warm and cool neutrals. Since 1945, we have been Chicago's local source for quality furniture and expert design. Assuming your a dude your not supposed to understand the commercials. 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. The seven pieces featured in the Quincy Master Bedroom vignette below (chair, trunk . - Lynn Hauldren: Who? 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. Further confused by the commercials now. Personally, I dont want to stare at ugly furniture for all those years, Meghan says. But I never forget that these are my sisters and I completely respect them. A few bucks later, the clunker is off to Victory's Bensenville lot. And they're not showbiz types. Later, both Tim and Mark were night managers at competing convenience stores, Tim at a 7-Eleven in Niles and Mark at a Park Ridge White Hen. 1E, kneenandco.com) continues to add to its Robbe & Berking assortment with the new Martel Bar collection, which features bar cart staples like handmade silver tumblers and cocktail coupes as well as bottle openers and nutcrackers. Walt (actually Walter Smithe III), 45, is president and general manager of the company; he and his wife have five kids and live in Barrington Hills. Then when I plugged it in, the place went up for grabs. "They were loved," said Colleen Smithe, the youngest daughter of Walter Smithe III. (He's now semi-retired, having turned the business over to his sons about 10 years ago.). 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. E. Smithe sisters Caitie, Colleen, Meghan and Maureen were introduced to the business at a young age. But the truth is, I love coming to the office. "By being so close and meeting so regularly, we're all in the loop with what's happening in each other's sphere. Hotel Mousai Puerto Vallarta, Room Request: Four Seasons Hotel Bogota Casa Medina, New Restaurants and Bars in New York City, Clare V., Mulberry and More New Retail Openings in NYC, Tony Robbins Challenge to Provide 1 Billion Meals Nears its Goal, Get behind-the-scenes pictures on Instagram. Others have been parodies of reality television shows, such as The Apprentice and The Bachelor. The founder of well-known Chicago-area furniture company Walter E. Smithe has died, his family announced Wednesday. The are the Smithe sisters, Meghan, Colleen, Maureen and Caitie. Revenue: $100 to $500 million (USD) Competitors: Linly Designs, Rieke Office Interiors, 57st Design. Holly Hunt (222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Ste. [7], Chicagoans have had mixed reactions to the Walter E. Smithe commercials. The commercials are created in-house. Draftfcb. Mix together different, but complimentary, elements such as woods, metals and stonesand feel free to mix various metals together. Plus, they seem like nice guys. So, somewhat reluctantly, they let themselves become the public face of Walter E. Smithe Furniture. Brothers Walt, Tim and Mark Smithe -- the faces of Walter E. Smithe Furniture -- seem to have hit on something with their ubiquitous ads. Tomorrow, Hubbard Woods Design District (Green Bay Rd. There's a preconceived notion that furniture stores are stuffy and tired, run by men in suits and catering to older generations. The sisters laughed at hearing this family adage, knowing that home furnishing has been woven into the tapestry of their lives. The fourth generation of Smithe leadership is hoping that this young, fresh approach to advertising and marketing will resonate with a consumer base that hasnt yet shopped with Smithe before. Contents. For decades, the public faces of the privately owned company have been the sisters father, Walter E. Smithe IIIthe 59-year-old grandson of the businesss namesakeand the sisters uncles, Mark and Tim. walter e smithe. Take dress up and glam up a notch with a self-care day at this luxurious spa for kids and tweens. High School," Walter says. Walter E. SMITHE corporate office is located in 1775 W Rand Rd, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004, United States and has 382 employees. Walter E. Smithe Furniture is a company located in Itasca, Illinois, United States. The company offer of a free DVD generated a huge response, and more than 60,000 were given away.). Like their brothers, the four Smithe sisters were all in the business when they were in high school. "It was kind of a neat way to kick off our involvement in the business as a group.". Born in the heart of Chicago, we're a family owned and operated local business since 1945, now four generations strong. "An hour and a half. 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. 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. What she does: I use both sides of my brain: left for all the analytical spreadsheet stuff and right for the creative vision. She has a few ideas for how to add a little spring to your home. 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. Caitie Smithe, Designer and Stylist. So much misogyny in these comments, their commercials have always been cheesy and annoying. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. As the fourth generation to run their family-owned Chicago furniture store, Walter. Reaching a younger demographic and expanding their clientele has required some creativity, the sisters said. 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. Now, a lot more people know about us than knew a few years ago.". But one by one, they followed Maureen's lead and rejoined the family business. Who are the Walter E Smithe daughters? We are sad to announce that on October 9, 2022 we had to say goodbye to Walter E. Smithe Jr. of Chicago, Illinois. Walter E. Smithe and Bill Shanahan founded the store anticipating a booming economy in the wake of World War II. 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.. To the Smithe sisters, the company has always been a piece of their identity, an integral thread of their childhood. The Smithe sisters, all in their thirties, worked in the family business as teens but pursued different career paths in adulthood. As their father, the company president, has told customers for decades, Life is too short to sit on uncomfortable furniture.. 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. No outside agency required. To make up for it, she woke up early to make heart-shaped pancakes. 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. The first change I noticed was it became all about the sons. Most recently, she was at . Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. Explore more of the publications in our portfolio here. This is not how you attract a premium buyer or build a premium brand. Oct 2012 - Apr 20152 years 7 months. "And I'd be yelling, `I can't breathe! 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. The commercial included the tagline "Change the Name, Change the Luck", a reference to the Cubs' decades-long struggle to reach the World Series. "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. The slogans "You dream it, we build it", or "That's Smithe, with an E" are commonly used. While we still have traditional pieces, our showroom appeals to a number of different lifestyles. When Smithe makes a furniture delivery, Its not uncommon for our crews to bring a 25-year-old sofa with a Smithe sticker on it back to this warehouse, Meghan says. I only hear them on the radio. There is nothing like a day spent soaking up the sun and a good book or an evening with friends and good food and drinks under the stars. The Chicago native attended Fenwick High School and the University of Notre Dame. In family businesses, thats the only way to ensure a companys continued success. Today, Maureen is a buyer, Meghan is the director of marketing, Caitie is a designer and assists the merchandising team, and Colleen is the director of advertising. ("Did you notice he used the wide-angle lens when he shot your [rear end]?"). CHICAGO The founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design has died. I'm so annoyed that I won't buy anything from there. You may also light a candle in honor of Walter E. Smithe Jr. or send a beautiful flower arrangement to the funeral . walter e smithe furniture inc. Shop now. 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. Sometimes its the only quiet I get.. The Smithe brothers used good-natured humor on countless TV commercials selling furniture. Dazzling Divas Glam Mansion Offers the Ultimate Diva Experience, Family Guide to Attending a Chicago Cubs Game at Wrigley Field, Pelvic Floor Therapy Growing in Popularity for Women, 10 Non-Candy Items for Your Kids Easter Basket. Weird. 2023 Zoe Communications Group | 332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite #LL-M974, Chicago, IL 60604 | 708.386.5555 | Website by Web Publisher PRO, ParentEd Talks: Free Virtual Speaker Series, A Concerned Parents Guide to Gun Violence and Gun Safety. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, specializing in custom upholstery, and operates ten showrooms throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. All three attended St. Mary's College in Winona, Minn. Walt got an MBA at Notre Dame, Tim got one at Northwestern, and Mark got a law degree at Loyola. For instance, finding that perfect piece of decorative furniture that creatively doubles as a toy box for kids games, toys and video devices.
How To Put A Torch Lighter Back Together, Stakeholder Mapping Of Unilever, Fov Sens Calculator, Brighton Marina Berthing Costs, Articles W