walter e smithe daughters

We've got the radar out for that," Tim Smithe says. The Feldco guy creeps me out more. 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. 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. Most recently, she was at . The Chicago native attended Fenwick High School and the University of Notre Dame. I always suggest going with whatever color or colors are most pleasing to you, but some big color trends this spring are oranges, pinks, sage green and pastel blue. Its no longer that way.. We are a 4th generation family-owned business, and our employees are an integral part of . Feb 20, 2022 - The 4th generation of Walter E. Smithe family stops by to visit Bob and Marianne. Walter E. Smithe III, is the President of family owned and operated Walter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. "They've done a wonderful job building a distinctive brand," says Tim Calkins, a professor of marketing at Northwestern University. There is no rule book that says they all need to matchmetals always compliment one another. Sip A Negroni While Exploring This Stunning New Home Boutique, Peruse Artisan-Crafted Collections At This Chicago Boutique, Fresh And Feminine Vibes Rule This Winnetka Boutique, Whats In Store At Chicagos New Must-See Surface Destination, 3 Things To Know About The Latest RH Gallery, Do Not Sell Or Share My Personal Information. I'm a brand manager and their commercials make the brand seem like a discount bin. "We were kind of like dorks, geeks, growing up," Mark says. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, specializing in custom upholstery, and operates ten showrooms throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Walter E. Smithe Jr. died peacefully at age 86, his family said in a prepared statement. It's partnered with celebrity designers and broadened the mix of products carried in stores, online and in its resurrected catalog to include more current trends and a wider range of price points. ("You should keep that hat on for about three weeks. With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs, Walter E. Smithe is a local furniture icon. '", "I was at a gym on a treadmill," Mark says of the first time he caught one of the commercials. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, - Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, Paddock Publications, Inc. is an Employee-Owned Company. While they took breaks from the biz to make their own way after college, each came back when the right positions opened up. Holly Hunt (222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Ste. "In a family business, everyone has to wear all hats at all times," Maureen said. "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. Tomorrow, Hubbard Woods Design District (Green Bay Rd. Since 1945 the company has . 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. 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. /r/Chicago is the place to discuss and stay updated on the daily happenings of Chicago, Illinois, USA. ("Did you notice he used the wide-angle lens when he shot your [rear end]?"). 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. "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. Over the past 76 years, the company has grown to include 10 Chicago area showrooms. They got on each other's nerves and learned to talk quickly at the dinner table if they wanted to get a word in. The store, which has 10 locations in the Chicago area, has been open for nearly 75 years and has faced all the challenges of . Woven Roman shades, a jute rug and a blonde wood vanity usher texture and warmth into the otherwise minimalist design. Contents. Even with little ones underfoot, the Smithe sisters make balancing their family furniture business and their growing broods look effortless. 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Were a Chicago company that was given national exposure. The Smithe sisters now serve as the face . Shop the clearance. 9615 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077. In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. He attended the University of Notre Dame and earned a bachelor 's . 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. They seem very pretentious I think. No surprise why the quality is so crap. Find locations. A few bucks later, the clunker is off to Victory's Bensenville lot. They decided on an ad campaign that would, simply, pitch their product. Multi Location Business. This initiative calls for all hands on deck. That was the extent of his pitchman career. As mothers, theyve learned its not only possible, but preferable, to have a functional yet beautiful home. With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs, Walter E. Smithe is a local furniture icon. Who are these guys? 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. I love incorporating an unexpected element into a room. A new collection at Holly Hunt, discounts at EuroFurniture, a First Friday event at Hubbard Woods Design District, and more. 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! Caitie Smithe is aDesigner, Design Coordinator + Stylist atWalter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. Last year there aas a commercial where the puppet quickly moved to close his laptop when someone came in the office. 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. 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. "It's never gone completely crazy -- no one can say that one commercial will bring customers in -- but we kind of thought it re-established us in the marketplace. [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. Take dress up and glam up a notch with a self-care day at this luxurious spa for kids and tweens. The commercial included the tagline "Change the Name, Change the Luck", a reference to the Cubs' decades-long struggle to reach the World Series. getting a penny or nickel for every clearance tag we pulled," says Meghanthe four daughters of Walter Smithe III have . 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 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. [4], Many of Walter E. Smithe's commercials have been pop culture parodies. Bringing new and various textures into a room can take it from plain and lacking in interest to exciting and memorable. Read the rest of the issue. "Pam, Bill and I are always on the watch for pop culture. He NEVER blinks. But they do have a business. 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. Colleen Smithe, Director of Advertising Cindy went to college in Iowa and settled there after school. with Maureen Smithe Brusznicki and Caitie Smithe Jisa at Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design. We see this country chic trend currently happening as a design emergency, says Maureen. 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. I gave up sleep and TV, Maureen jokes. High School," Walter says. 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. The girls got the bedrooms; the three boys shared a room in the basement. About. "If our specialties fit those needs, then we were invited to have a conversation and explore the opportunity, but it was never a demand placed on us.". Lewis teamed up with Smithes merchandising team to create in-store vignettes, and also featured the store on his show. The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. His sons, Walter, Tim, and Mark, joined the company in the 1970s and 1980s. Sibling revelry; Their offbeat commercials have made the Smithe brothers cult heroes. We connect families with the best local resources, advice, stories, things to do with kids and much more. "And there's 10 televisions, all tuned to the same station. E. Smithe sisters Caitie, Colleen, Meghan and Maureen were introduced to the business at a young age. She is a celebrity who is genuinely interested in how her furniture will do and be perceived, Maureen says. Chicago's Best Furniture and Expert Design. Reaching a younger demographic and expanding their clientele has required some creativity, the sisters said. "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years," Meghan said. Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Home & Garden, Interior Design. Additional partnerships with the likes of Cynthia Rowley and Ellen Degeneres have exposed the company to a new customer base. There's a lot of blurred lines, and we have to learn when to defer to each other.". "It's been about reworking how we approach visually what we want to convey about the product that we're selling," Meghan said. We are sad to announce that on October 9, 2022 we had to say goodbye to Walter E. Smithe Jr. of Chicago, Illinois. 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. Then when I plugged it in, the place went up for grabs. My wife and I were just talking about this yesterday, we truly hate the Walter E Smithe commercials with the daughters. Chicago magazine newsletters have you covered. Their dad, the company's president, continued filming his signature ads with his brother, Mark, for a short period of time, Colleen said. We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". 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. 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. Be sure to visit Sawbridge Studios, which will showcase sustainably harvested, live-edge furniture by David Stine. Jeff Lewis's collection of vignettes is available at Walter E. Smithe's 11 showrooms in Chicago, and online. 177 East Army Trail Road, Glendale Heights, IL 60139. You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe . To see these serious, stuffy guys laughing and having fun someone yelled out, `You should use that as a commercial. walter e smithe furniture inc. Falling asleep. Walter E. Smithe Jr. also earned a master's degree in Anthropology at Loyola University Chicago in 1980. It was founded by Walter Edward Smithe and Bill Shanahan in 1945. "I think it's time for us to get out of these TV commercials," Walter said. Hell stand on things, jump on them, do his best to break dining chairs. Nearby is a mangled lamp that will never find its way to a Smithe showroom floor. 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. "[7] Maria Coons, a marketing teacher at Harper College, has also defended the advertisements, telling a Daily Herald reporter, "Some people who aren't in that [30 to 60 year old] demographic might consider them dorky, but for their target market, they're not. You can still be a fun premium brand (Virgin, for example) but this is Family Dollar-type schtick. 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. Then they tie in pop culture it shows that they're sort of a with-it furniture company. 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. Our lives can be overrun with technology, commitments and schedules. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN SUBAR, When Maureen Smithe returned from maternity leave after giving birth to identical twin daughters last August (children number five and six for those keeping count), she was puzzled by the pained looks she received from some of her colleagues. "That is the top priority for the four of us," Meghan Smithe said. Home Cities Chicago Meet the Smithe Sisters, The new generation is shaking things up at furniture icon Walter E. Smithe. The boys' first ventures into the working world included Walt's daily paper route -- 70 Tribunes, three or four Sun-Times and a couple of Wall Street Journals -- that Tim helped him with ("I got 1 cent per paper, and I'd give Tim 10 cents for helping me"), and collecting beer cans that they resold at a Park Ridge flea market. How could the Itasca-based company break the mold and reach a new audience while still carrying its message into a fourth generation? The Walter E. Smithe + Jeff Lewis showcase certainly fits the bill. 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. "He'd come up from behind and drop in it on us," Tim says. We don't take that lightly.". But the sisters also know they can always turn to the leaders who came before them. His four daughtersMaureen Megan Clarke Caitie Jisa and Colleen Parkerare now the new faces of this historic Chicago brand a spot he and his brothers held for decades. "It's always positive, and it's nice to be part of it. I havent seen the Tile Outlet lady in a while!! 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. 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. 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. So is there a `Wally and the Sofa Factory' in our future?". From 5 to 8 p.m., select retailers will offer refreshments while highlighting unique designers. First published on October 12, 2022 / 3:27 PM. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The sisters get together at least twice a week, traveling from their homes in Chicago, Barrington and Riverside, leaving behind their children, husbands and home duties. 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. 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. The daughters took over the company. "They were loved," said Colleen Smithe, the youngest daughter of Walter Smithe III. Read on to find out more about pelvic floor therapy and how it's growing in popularity among postpartum women. The Smithe sisters have heard it all before, and they've set out to dispel those misperceptions. Also would somebody please feed them? Sometimes you have to act fast. But now a new generationsisters Meghan, Colleen, Maureen, and Caitie . 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. Were not trying to portray an image that working mothers can pull off everything without something falling through, Maureen says candidly. 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. I'm so annoyed that I won't buy anything from there. Mark admonished Walt to keep his feet off the furniture. Maureen Smithe and Caitie Smithe had the pleasure of working with Chicago's own Mr. FixIt, Lou Manfredini.Such a nice guy and a true Chicagoan! But even as likable as the brothers are, do they run the risk of oversaturation or going to the well too often? And Amy is a singer and songwriter. I love the one where they are drinking what looks like Tang out of wine glasses. What are they up to?' 1251 West Thorndale Avenue. Billy Corgan and Walter E. Smithe Wrestling. Along the way, they got married, had children (17 in all!) Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design (Old Orchard) 17 miles. His line was, `If you can talk you can breathe.'". "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. We can be real nimble when we're this tight and this spread across the business.". The company began in 1945 as Tone Appliances and Furniture, a single store on Belmont Avenue in Chicago. You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe (smithe.com) siblings-on-a-couch commercials. Her sisters had fallen into their own specialties and were pursuing different paths at the time. - 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. The commercials are created in-house. I also think, coming from a family business myself, to see how they interact with each other just gives you the feeling that they're good people, that you'd want to do business with those people.". Since 1945, we have been Chicago's local source for quality furniture and expert design. Chicagoans came to know and appreciate the three Smithe brothers who starred for years in quirky TV commercials touting their family-run furniture company. 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. "We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". As the oldest sibling, Maureen was the first to officially join Walter E. Smithe in a professional capacity in 2004. Currently, there are 3 generations involved in the business: Walter Smithe Jr is retired, but regularly visits the showrooms. Favorite design style: Modern mixed with traditional. "[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". They can really do great things. Tim recalls Walt trying to smother him -- repeatedly, apparently -- with a bean bag chair. Explore more of the publications in our portfolio here. 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. "They're having a lot of fun. Plus, they seem like nice guys. We simply never had that conversation, Meghan says. For the most part, that relationship translates well in the business world, they say. There have been more than a thousand of them since, and thanks to the magic of cable TV he is now a national celebrity. 22 miles. Furniture Stores. "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. Give yourself time to just be in a comfortable and beautiful outdoor space. The announcement was merely an early April Fools' Day prank, although the Smithe brothers said they had received about one hundred emails from viewers who were not sure what to think. 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. USA. Whoever said brick-and-mortar is dead hasn't met the Smithe sisters. "As furniture commercials go, what the Smithes are doing is great," he says. Edit: I have been informed that they are the daughters, not the wives. Here, get to know this powerhouse quartet. Updating your home theater? Compare how recession-proof Walter E Smithe Furniture is relative to the industry overall. Find employees, official website, emails, phone numbers, revenue, employee headcount, social accounts, and anything related to Walter E. Smithe Furniture. "So that drove us, I think, to be successes.". "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years. 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. Relevant. While a new recession may strike a particular industry, measuring the industry and . Darvin is always yelling about discounts. At Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, we are committed to helping our clients love their homes through expert design, quality furnishings, and exemplary service. 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. For example, Meghan had to miss her sons Valentines Day party at school this year, due to work responsibilities. Customers were more concerned with what we were selling versus the people who were selling it, she adds. College was a turning point for the sisters, who now call one another their best friends. Someone really needs a new marketing director/CMO/agency because they do not know what they are doing. One by one, each sister began working in the family business. So, somewhat reluctantly, they let themselves become the public face of Walter E. Smithe Furniture. 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.. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design advertising has featured everything from parodies of "The Price Is Right" to a 2013 classic in which the Smithe brothers got into a wrestling ring with Billy Corgan. 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. Still, the Smithes have had to weather various challenges since joining the company, including the retirement of their uncle, Tim. Pinterest. The 86-year-old patriarch of the Smithe family, Walter Edward Smithe Jr., "died . 9's "Garfield Goose" and "Ray Rayner" shows. 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. Itasca, IL 60143. "That's F-A-M-E, with an E". Our dad always put an emphasis on hard work, and it stuck with us.. He cites the U2 music video takeoff. Personally, I dont want to stare at ugly furniture for all those years, Meghan says. "Staying fresh, young . Walter E. Smithe Jr. Obituary. 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 two renamed the store Smithe and Shanahan, but Bill Shanahan eventually sold his share to Smithe's brother Charlie. Press J to jump to the feed. Its a tough balance, but I like figuring out the retail puzzle.. 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. Mix together different, but complimentary, elements such as woods, metals and stonesand feel free to mix various metals together. The sisters laughed at hearing this family adage, knowing that home furnishing has been woven into the tapestry of their lives. 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. Compare how recession-proof Walter E. Smithe Furniture is relative to the industry overall. - 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. No outside agency required. They're nice folks. - 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. 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.

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