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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. Visit . Since 1945, we have been Chicago's local source for quality furniture and expert design. 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. I'm a brand manager and their commercials make the brand seem like a discount bin. Anyone got a link to the current commercial? The 86-year-old patriarch of the Smithe family, Walter Edward Smithe Jr., "died . The Smithe sisters now serve as the face . The spot showed the brothers at a news conference announcing that they had purchased Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, with plans to rename it Walter E. Smithe Field. We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". '", "I was at a gym on a treadmill," Mark says of the first time he caught one of the commercials. Customers were more concerned with what we were selling versus the people who were selling it, she adds. You can still be a fun premium brand (Virgin, for example) but this is Family Dollar-type schtick. Now its only the wives and zero about the furniture. 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. / CBS Chicago. "KFC dances to beat of familiar drummers". We connect families with the best local resources, advice, stories, things to do with kids and much more. 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. Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. Is she OK? Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Home & Garden, Interior Design. 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! Their advertising is creative, it's timely and it's interesting, so people remember it and they like it.". No outside agency required. "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years," Meghan said. 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. Instead of starring third-generation brothers Walter III, Tim, and Mark, the new ones put the spotlight on fourth-generation sisters Caitie, Meghan, Maureen, and Colleen. Smithe's three sons the Smithe brothers Mark, Tim, and Walter III became executives in the business and were regularly featured in the commercials. 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. [4][5] In 2008, they filmed and edited a takeoff of the Sex and the City franchise, with the brothers sipping "Smithe-o-politans". You may also light a candle in honor of Walter E. Smithe Jr. or send a beautiful flower arrangement to the funeral . Relevant. And yet, as they went off to college and moved into the next phase of life, they were never expected to someday return full time. Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. His line was, `If you can talk you can breathe.'". I was probably in elementary school when I would come in to work in the warehouse, sweeping for a nickel, Colleen says of the brand, which first opened in 1945. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design (Old Orchard) 17 miles. 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. 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. One by one, each sister began working in the family business. They can really do great things. The Smithe brothers used good-natured humor on countless TV commercials selling furniture. You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe . "So that drove us, I think, to be successes.". Start shopping. This has been our priority since we first began serving the Chicago area back in 1945. This rating has improved by 10% over the last 12 months. Meghan is director of marketing, Caitie is a designer and stylist and Colleen is director of advertising. Here, get to know this powerhouse quartet. 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.". Zajdel was a driver for Victory when he made the commercial a quarter-century ago. officially retires, although he still enjoys visiting showrooms and meeting clients. They've spruced up their styles, selling more contemporary pieces among their traditional designs. (He's now semi-retired, having turned the business over to his sons about 10 years ago.). A matte black bathtub, vanity mirrors and hardware pop against the airy walls in this modern primary bathroom. 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 Itasca-based company has 10 locations across Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, where the sisters ply their fourth-generation talents. Walter E. Smithe Furniture, Inc. is headquartered in Itasca, IL. Its unjust to think that women can somehow balance it all, Colleen adds. 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. They hammer out a script, call in O'Neil and start filming. And youll see each of my sisters doing what they do best.. That collective experience comes in handy ahead of any major decisions. There's a lot of blurred lines, and we have to learn when to defer to each other.". "It's a big responsibility. This initiative calls for all hands on deck. The Smithe sisters have heard it all before, and they've set out to dispel those misperceptions. Last year there aas a commercial where the puppet quickly moved to close his laptop when someone came in the office. 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. (Last year, Walter E. Smithe resurrected the 1950s-era cartoon that was a holiday staple on WGN-Ch. The sisters left for college with a few prized furnishings and a work ethic that became a permanent fixture in their lives. First published on October 12, 2022 / 3:27 PM. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, specializing in custom upholstery, and operates ten showrooms throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. 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. They decided on an ad campaign that would, simply, pitch their product. In 2002 they brought in director Bill O'Neil to help them. Walter E. Smithe Jr. also earned a master's degree in Anthropology at Loyola University Chicago in 1980. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. "And a woman was there with her daughter, and she nudged her and I heard her say, 'That's the Walter E. Smithe guy.' Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. 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. For the most part, that relationship translates well in the business world, they say. 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. There's a preconceived notion that furniture stores are stuffy and tired, run by men in suits and catering to older generations. Colleen loved being able to point out that her dad and uncles, Mark and Tim, brainstormed and executed the ideas themselves. However, Lewis Lazare, the Chicago Sun-Times' advertising critic, has defended the commercials. It couldn't have gone more perfectly, Maureen said. When I first came on board, our industry was very much a good old boys club, says Maureen, who regularly travels to marketplaces around the country to buy merchandise. "Pam, Bill and I are always on the watch for pop culture. Be sure to visit Sawbridge Studios, which will showcase sustainably harvested, live-edge furniture by David Stine. Thats fast, but it shows what we can do. Walter E. Smithe Furniture is a company located in Itasca, Illinois, United States. [7], Chicagoans have had mixed reactions to the Walter E. Smithe commercials. No surprise why the quality is so crap. 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. Building upon the Smithe family legacy is a big responsibility, the sisters said, one they've embraced with fervor. Receive a 20 percent discount on sofas, love seats, sectionals, chaises, and more at Cassona (5241 N. Clark St., cassona.com) through March 13. She has a few ideas for how to add a little spring to your home. Am I the only one who just thinks he looks like Louis CK? 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. CHICAGO The founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design has died. Subscribe for free today! [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). That sentiment applies to their lively commercials, too, which frequently feature the sisters chatting on a stylish couch or gathering with family members in a beautifully staged home. The commercial included the tagline "Change the Name, Change the Luck", a reference to the Cubs' decades-long struggle to reach the World Series. 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. They got on each other's nerves and learned to talk quickly at the dinner table if they wanted to get a word in. We not only respect this, we embrace it.. "And there's 10 televisions, all tuned to the same station. While it may not be usable 365 days a year, the days that your outdoor space are in fact usable should be embraced. "They're having a lot of fun. "With a strategy to continue Smithe parodies of relevant topics, really, the future is limitless," he says. As they grew into their teens, there were the usual summer jobs -- caddying, yard work, selling ice cream from a motorized three-wheeler. But shes quick to point out that the business is still very much a multigenerational effort, noting that their 81-year-old grandfather still regularly meets with clients. 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Opening Day is March 30. Today. Tim offered Walt brotherly support after a just-completed scene. 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.". Sometimes it does not pay to work with family. As teens, the four sisters worked only part time in their fathers showroom or outlet store, selling furniture and earning their first paychecks along with other eager, cash-strapped teens. Three years later, she recruited Colleen to become advertising director -- a position she accepted without hesitation. Industry: Home Furniture & Housewares Stores. 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. Walter E. Smithe is a furniture company based in Itasca, Illinois. To see these serious, stuffy guys laughing and having fun someone yelled out, `You should use that as a commercial. Then they brought in the wives. The Smithe sisters have always been close -- and growing up, it wasn't always by choice. 22 miles. 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. 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. This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of Chicago Parent. The chemistry among this familial foursome is something parents can only hope for from their children. 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. "But these are guys who you'd go to dinner with, you know? Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design. "That's F-A-M-E, with an E". 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. "There was some physical violence between the brothers," Walt says with that satisfied look of a big brother who got to dish it out. There's a certain time and simplicity factor, so from the time of the idea to the time we shoot it can be as short as a week.". With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs, Walter E. Smithe is a local furniture icon. Then he and Thorson meet with his brothers and throw ideas around. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. "I was at Dulles Airport in Washington, waiting for a 9:30 flight at night," Mark says. And they're not showbiz types. walter e smithe furniture - inc. walter e smithe furniture. "And I'd be yelling, `I can't breathe! 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. Updating your home theater? Give yourself time to just be in a comfortable and beautiful outdoor space. We take inspiration from the world of interior design to curate customized . Or "Hardrock, Coco and Joe." [6], One of Walter E. Smithe's most discussed commercials aired in late March 2006. My sisters and I loved being a part of it.. Our lives can be overrun with technology, commitments and schedules. He began working in the . Ask how we can add diversity to your supply chain. We feel like we can now speak to the multitude of generations who shop with us, she says. }); Chicago Parent is Chicagolands trusted parenting hub since 1984. 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. Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up in the Northwest Side's Belmont Central neighborhood. But now a new generationsisters Meghan, Colleen, Maureen, and Caitie Smitheis shaking things up in a big way. My sisters and I represent the viewpoint of our younger clientele, Meghan says. But repeated airings of the ad have made him and his door legendary. It was an organic transition for each of us, says Colleen, the youngest sister. Over the last 13 years, one by one, Walters daughters have been hired on at Smithe as the jobs became available. 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. Home Cities Chicago Meet the Smithe Sisters, The new generation is shaking things up at furniture icon Walter E. Smithe. Walter Smithe III and Mark Smithe (the Smithe Brothers) are the sons of Walter Jr, and serve as President and VP/Legal Counsel, respectively. Their dad, the company's president, continued filming his signature ads with his brother, Mark, for a short period of time, Colleen said. 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. We are sad to announce that on October 9, 2022 we had to say goodbye to Walter E. Smithe Jr. of Chicago, Illinois. We are a 4th generation family-owned business, and our employees are an integral part of . 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. "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. [4], Many of Walter E. Smithe's commercials have been pop culture parodies. 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. 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." 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. But he soon returned to the family furniture business that his father first started in 1945, and pioneered the concept of custom-order furniture in the Chicago area. Born in the heart of Chicago, we're a family owned and operated local business since 1945, now four generations strong. 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. 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. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. That cartoon of Bob has BDE and you can't deny it. Like most mothers, whether theyre working or staying at home, we do what we can, she says. You have this sense of passion and responsibility for it. Most recently, she was at . And now with the company's 75th anniversary approaching in August, they're ready to push forward plans to expand and evolve. They've been able to weather the unexpected storm of the coronavirus pandemic. "As furniture commercials go, what the Smithes are doing is great," he says. "What about you and your sisters?". The sisters laughed at hearing this family adage, knowing that home furnishing has been woven into the tapestry of their lives. Meghan Smithe was on maternity leave when she began working part time in the family business, long known for its infectious jingle: You dream it, we build it.. 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. 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. Press J to jump to the feed. I only hear them on the radio. Were not trying to portray an image that working mothers can pull off everything without something falling through, Maureen says candidly. 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.. They've relaunched catalogs showcasing their furniture in fully designed spaces. Its nice to see when a family is ready to replace a well-loved piece that they come back to Smithe to do it. To date, there are 10 Smithe stores scattered throughout Chicago, and one in northwest Indiana. Hope, once a Smithe designer and store manager, now lives in Colorado with her husband. About. 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. Dont burden yourself with the boredom of a matching wood set. 1428, hollyhunt.com) has expanded its Great Plains textile offering with the Foreign Affair collection, which has a mix of warm and cool neutrals. 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. 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. Timothy Smithe Jr. (m. 2013-2018) Kyla Lynn McCarthy (born October 8, 1986) is the daughter of politician and former Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy. 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. Colleen Smithe, Director of Advertising 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. The Smithe brothers commercials Chicagoans are used to were great for getting the Walter E. Smithe name out, but the new ads put the focus back on the furniture and design services, said Meghan Smithe. "You think a huge corporation is going to have pencil pushers and button touchers," says Lynn Hamilton, vice president of the Shirley Hamilton Agency, a Chicago talent agency. Feb 20, 2022 - The 4th generation of Walter E. Smithe family stops by to visit Bob and Marianne. "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.". Others have been parodies of reality television shows, such as The Apprentice and The Bachelor. 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. 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. There is no true balance for moms in our situation., We cant be everything all at once, Meghan says. "I said, `Let's get you guys on camera.'". Walter e smithe daughters. USA. While a new recession may strike a particular industry, measuring the industry and . 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. You want it to succeed and do well.". She is a celebrity who is genuinely interested in how her furniture will do and be perceived, Maureen says. The Smithes stand out because they're doing silly things. Caitie Smithe is aDesigner, Design Coordinator + Stylist atWalter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The brothers are recognized on the street, in grocery stores and coffee shops ("I got a free Starbucks latte once," Tim says). 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. My wife and I were just talking about this yesterday, we truly hate the Walter E Smithe commercials with the daughters. William Hageman and Tribune staff reporter. Warehouse workers go over every piece of inventory awaiting delivery with a fine-tooth comb, looking for things an untrained eye would never see. - Nick Celozzi and Maury Ettleson: Starting in the early '70s, they waved fistfuls of cash at TV viewers and reminded everyone that Celozzi-Ettleson Chevrolet in Elmhurst was "Where you always save more money!". Tim, 41, is the vice president of sales; he and his wife have four kids and live in Winnetka. Lewis teamed up with Smithes merchandising team to create in-store vignettes, and also featured the store on his show. "It's always positive, and it's nice to be part of it. There is no rule book that says they all need to matchmetals always compliment one another. 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. Some have criticized the spots for underemphasizing Walter E. Smithe's actual furniture products. As Caitie puts it, Theres no reason you cant use an entertainment console as a buffet in the dining room.. 1251 W. Thorndale Ave. Itasca, IL 60143-1149. 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. His sons, Walter, Tim, and Mark, joined the company in the 1970s and 1980s. Now, a lot more people know about us than knew a few years ago.". They're not egomaniacs. The business grew in popularity as they approached adulthood, at which point friends would regularly sing the jingle and colleagues would ask about the creative TV ads. Till your hair grows back."). Determine whether Walter E. Smithe Furniture grew or shrank during the last recession. [4], In March, 2017, daughters of Walter E. Smithe III became the fourth generation of the Smithe family to be featured in the commercials.[8]. - The Victory Auto Wreckers guy: Almost every night since 1981, on some channel, Bob Zajdel has barely escaped injury when the driver's door fell off his old Chevy. That was the extent of his pitchman career. Like their brothers, the four Smithe sisters were all in the business when they were in high school.