I gave up sleep and TV, Maureen jokes. Now, a lot more people know about us than knew a few years ago.". Get Eric Clark's email address (e*****@smithe.com) and phone number at RocketReach. High School," Walter says. "Pam, Bill and I are always on the watch for pop culture. "It was kind of a neat way to kick off our involvement in the business as a group.". There is no true balance for moms in our situation., We cant be everything all at once, Meghan says. 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. Its a tough balance, but I like figuring out the retail puzzle.. Walter E. Smithe Jr. also earned a master's degree in Anthropology at Loyola University Chicago in 1980. Weird. CHICAGO (CBS) -- Walter Edward Smithe Jr., the founder of Chicago's Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86. "We had a common agreement that we had the best furniture in Chicago," Tim says, "but not enough people knew about it.". Walter E. Smithe Furniture, Inc. Corporate Profile - Winmo Edited to add: Looked them up and gee, it's one of the daughters managing the marketing. Sometimes you have to act fast. "They've done a wonderful job building a distinctive brand," says Tim Calkins, a professor of marketing at Northwestern University. "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. 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. Their dad, the company's president, continued filming his signature ads with his brother, Mark, for a short period of time, Colleen said. Shop the clearance. The Smithe sisters have always been close -- and growing up, it wasn't always by choice. Tim, 41, is the vice president of sales; he and his wife have four kids and live in Winnetka. The Smithe brothers used good-natured humor on countless TV commercials selling furniture. 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. [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. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. Were a Chicago company that was given national exposure. Smithe guy Walt actually Walter Smithe III 45 is president and general manager of the. ", Instead they talk about the U2/iTunes takeoff, the brothers' version of "The Apprentice" or the Olympic parody from last year. And now with the company's 75th anniversary approaching in August, they're ready to push forward plans to expand and evolve. CHICAGO The founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design has died. walter e smithe. What are they up to?' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_E._Smithe. 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. The first change I noticed was it became all about the sons. 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. [4][5] In 2008, they filmed and edited a takeoff of the Sex and the City franchise, with the brothers sipping "Smithe-o-politans". (He's now semi-retired, having turned the business over to his sons about 10 years ago.). Chicago magazine newsletters have you covered. Get 5 free searches. Colleen Smithe, Director of Advertising Growing up, she and her sisters held various roles at the furniture and design firm, earning their first paychecks and gaining job experience and exploring interests that would later launch their careers. 1251 W. Thorndale Ave. Itasca, IL 60143-1149. 9's "Garfield Goose" and "Ray Rayner" shows. 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. Haute Living is a network of luxury publications with bimonthly regional editions in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco. A few bucks later, the clunker is off to Victory's Bensenville lot. The company made its website easier to use and more modern-looking. Luxury Hotels, Travel, Dining, Lifestyle - Haute Living Furniture Stores. One of my friends used to live near Fullerton and Western, and she would always tell people she lived near Tile Outlet. 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. 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. /r/Chicago is the place to discuss and stay updated on the daily happenings of Chicago, Illinois, USA. - 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!". When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. What she does: I use both sides of my brain: left for all the analytical spreadsheet stuff and right for the creative vision. Tomorrow, Hubbard Woods Design District (Green Bay Rd. "Some dabbled and moved on and others just weren't interested.". Press J to jump to the feed. Walter Smithe, president of the furniture company, climbs the stairs March 21, 2017, at the Walter E. Smithe furniture store in Oak Brook, alongside his four daughters, Colleen, from left, Caitie . Walter E Smithe Daughters - Josephine Goodwin Blogs Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design is a family-owned furniture retailer, founded right here in Chicago, back in 1945. They've been able to weather the unexpected storm of the coronavirus pandemic. Walter E. Smithe ads, famous for their jingle, now featuring next 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. Still, the Smithes have had to weather various challenges since joining the company, including the retirement of their uncle, Tim. Then the commercial came on. Contents. 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. Now its only the wives and zero about the furniture. Who are these guys? But they do have a business. The Smithe sisters have heard it all before, and they've set out to dispel those misperceptions. It worked really well for a long time, but post-recession, we saw peoples sensibilities had changed, says Meghan. I love incorporating an unexpected element into a room. Caitie Smithe, Designer and Stylist. 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. A matte black bathtub, vanity mirrors and hardware pop against the airy walls in this modern primary bathroom. This has been our priority since we first began serving the Chicago area back in 1945. A family affair: How four sisters are bringing a 75-year-old store into 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. E. Smithe sisters Caitie, Colleen, Meghan and Maureen were introduced to the business at a young age. First published on October 12, 2022 / 3:27 PM. "Staying fresh, young . 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. Unlike their brothers, they chose other careers. It's fun to be part of Chicago in that way.". Spoken like the daughter of a true shop owner, as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. Updating your home theater? The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, . Holly Hunt (222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Ste. Moms of 17 juggle the Chicago-based family business 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. "That is the top priority for the four of us," Meghan Smithe said. Oct 2012 - Apr 20152 years 7 months. 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. For instance, finding that perfect piece of decorative furniture that creatively doubles as a toy box for kids games, toys and video devices. Walter E. Smithe Jr. Obituary (1936 - 2022) | Chicago, Illinois Walter Smithe III and Mark Smithe (the Smithe Brothers) are the sons of Walter Jr, and serve as President and VP/Legal Counsel, respectively. The seven pieces featured in the Quincy Master Bedroom vignette below (chair, trunk . 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. 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. portalId: "6766057", She is a celebrity who is genuinely interested in how her furniture will do and be perceived, Maureen says. 443 were here. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. ", Says Tim Smithe, "Pop culture is always changing and so are we.". It was founded by Walter Edward Smithe and Bill Shanahan in 1945. His line was, `If you can talk you can breathe.'". Am I the only one who just thinks he looks like Louis CK? Till your hair grows back."). That's a galaxy away from the current "Star Wars" parody. Reviews on Outlet Walter E Smithe in Glendale Heights, IL 60139 - Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, Toms Price Home, The Dump Furniture Outlet, Ashley HomeStore, The RoomPlace, Roy's Furniture, Domicile Walt and Tim mocked Mark's new haircut. You can still be a fun premium brand (Virgin, for example) but this is Family Dollar-type schtick. Or using a new high-tech application to keep couch fabric truly worry free from childrens spills, everything from spaghetti sauce to Kool-Aid. Ellen is very serious about design and had a definite voice in what this modern-rustic-meets-farmhouse collection would be. Billy Corgan and Walter E. Smithe Wrestling. At that age, it was very exciting to come home and brag that we sold maybe hundreds or thousands of dollars in furniture, Meghan recalls. The Walter E. Smithe + Jeff Lewis showcase certainly fits the bill. 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. Today, they help oversee 10 showrooms, the warehouse and headquarters, working together (generally) perfectly. Spoken like the daughter of a true "shop owner," as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design - Maureen Smithe and Caitie Smithe And they wanted a way to build the brand. 'Flipping Out' Where To Get Jeff Lewis' Furniture Collection Walter E. Smithe Jr. died peacefully at age 86, his family said in a prepared statement. Meet The Walter E. Smithe Furniture Sisters - Luxe - Design Bloomingdale Plaza. Our lives can be overrun with technology, commitments and schedules. 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. Contact Information. The brothers are recognized on the street, in grocery stores and coffee shops ("I got a free Starbucks latte once," Tim says). In the late '60s, the growing family -- there are also four sisters, Cindy, Margie and . They're not egomaniacs. Personally, I dont want to stare at ugly furniture for all those years, Meghan says. "They took different career paths," Tim says. The Smithes: (L-R) Colleen, Meghan, Walter III, Walter Jr., Mark, Caitie, and Maureen. 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. Chicagoans came to know and appreciate the three Smithe brothers who starred for years in quirky TV commercials touting their family-run furniture company. Calkins says that by minimizing production costs and media costs and doing those quick turnarounds, Smithe gets a bigger bang for its advertising buck. A wake will be held at Ryan-Parke Funeral Home in Park Ridge on Friday, Oct. 21, and a funeral mass will follow on Saturday, Oct. 22, and St. Paul of the Cross Church in Park Ridge. They were each only a year apart, at one point covering all four grade levels at Barrington High School. - 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. [4], Many of Walter E. Smithe's commercials have been pop culture parodies. "We're custom, so we can create everything, but we need to get the right mix out there to give people ideas," said Meghan Smithe, the company's director of marketing. 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. "KFC dances to beat of familiar drummers". 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. Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design Reviews - Glassdoor For example - my favorite large upholstered dining chairs are under $200. 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 . Home Cities Chicago Meet the Smithe Sisters, The new generation is shaking things up at furniture icon Walter E. Smithe. USA. Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. Then they brought in the wives. Walter E. Smithe Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design Walter E. Smithe Furn-Itasca | Better Business Bureau Profile Their advertising is creative, it's timely and it's interesting, so people remember it and they like it.". This led to the development of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design. Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture, dies at 86 They've spruced up their styles, selling more contemporary pieces among their traditional designs. "They go a long way with a limited budget through the use of creativity," he says. 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. They can really do great things. 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. October 12, 2022 / 3:27 PM Here, get to know this powerhouse quartet. In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. We connect families with the best local resources, advice, stories, things to do with kids and much more. It's not included in a shorter version now airing on TV. With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs, Walter E. Smithe is a local furniture icon. One spot was modeled after Apple's weird commercials. But the sisters also know they can always turn to the leaders who came before them. "I was at Dulles Airport in Washington, waiting for a 9:30 flight at night," Mark says. For example, Meghan had to miss her sons Valentines Day party at school this year, due to work responsibilities. Thats fast, but it shows what we can do. For the most part, that relationship translates well in the business world, they say. The are the Smithe sisters, Meghan, Colleen, Maureen and Caitie. 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. Born in the heart of Chicago, we're a family owned and operated local business since 1945, now four generations strong. Sometimes its the only quiet I get.. Walter E. SMITHE corporate office is located in 1775 W Rand Rd, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004, United States and has 382 employees. Determine whether Walter E. Smithe Furniture grew or shrank during the last recession. You may also light a candle in honor of Walter E. Smithe Jr. or send a beautiful flower arrangement to the funeral . Visit Website (opens in new window) Walter E. Smithe. The two renamed the store Smithe and Shanahan, but Bill Shanahan eventually sold his share to Smithe's brother Charlie. Compare how recession-proof Walter E Smithe Furniture is relative to the industry overall. "I was invited to speak to 300-some designers in Oak Brook," he says. This is useful in estimating the financial strength and credit risk of the company. So I'm speaking, and they're half listening, you know. Walter E. Smithe is a family business in every sense of the word, the sisters say. The Smithe family announced that their patriarch died this past Sunday with his wife of 64 years, Florence Flynn Smithe, by his side. 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. 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. My hope is to inspire people to slow down enough to talk with a designer and hopefully buy something.. 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. The Smithe sisters are working to expose the brand to a new customer base Photo credit: Robin Subar. 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. We not only respect this, we embrace it.. Feb 20, 2022 - The 4th generation of Walter E. Smithe family stops by to visit Bob and Marianne. 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. Best Outlet Walter E Smithe near Glendale Heights, IL 60139 - Yelp 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. 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. Others have been parodies of reality television shows, such as The Apprentice and The Bachelor. Their interactions were zany, their dialogue lighthearted, their catchy jingle -- "you dream it, we build it" -- recognizable throughout the region. "We have wonderful clients who are my generation or older, but we have to figure out how we cater to this new generation that's setting up households now. To make up for it, she woke up early to make heart-shaped pancakes. walter e smithe furniture inc. 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.". and runners at CB2 (800 W. North Ave., cb2.com). This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of Chicago Parent. Shop the label. Business Profile for Walter E. Smithe Furn-Itasca. Since 1945, we have been Chicago's local source for quality furniture and expert design. Her sisters had fallen into their own specialties and were pursuing different paths at the time. "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years. 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.". Its very much in line with our desire to offer the most beautiful pieces that are of the highest quality. No surprise why the quality is so crap. 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. Pinterest. The inky accents create a sleek statement against the white walls and lend a streamlined look to the space. 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! 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. "Smithes have fun at the old ballpark". "With a strategy to continue Smithe parodies of relevant topics, really, the future is limitless," he says. Its no longer that way.. "I said, `Let's get you guys on camera.'". Lewis Lazare. "It's been about reworking how we approach visually what we want to convey about the product that we're selling," Meghan said. "The brothers have no acting talent," Tim says. Over the past 76 years, the company has grown to include 10 Chicago area showrooms. Customers were more concerned with what we were selling versus the people who were selling it, she adds. Jeff Lewis's collection of vignettes is available at Walter E. Smithe's 11 showrooms in Chicago, and online. Find locations. Hope, once a Smithe designer and store manager, now lives in Colorado with her husband. Meghan and Colleen spent several years working at advertising agencies in Chicago. 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. Explore. Zajdel was a driver for Victory when he made the commercial a quarter-century ago. A new book offers a primer on how to spot, seize, and exploit and create lucky breaks More, Two new must-visit hotels from Austin to Houston More, Shop Patek Philippe timepieces, Oiya bracelets and a Miami-based skincare brand More, Plan a day of relaxation at Pressed Roots and The Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas More, Raise a glass to our favorite new French-inspired bistros, charming piano bars and bold Italian eateries in Manhattan More, From shoes to handbags, here are the new boutiques to visit in New York City More, The best-selling author, entrepreneur and global philanthropist continues a push with Feeding America to provide 1 billion meals More, Were Over The Moon About This New Travel Registry, 2022 Holiday Gift Guide: The Best Edible Presents, Room Request! Warehouse workers go over every piece of inventory awaiting delivery with a fine-tooth comb, looking for things an untrained eye would never see. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design. In 2002 they brought in director Bill O'Neil to help them. Whether bringing in color as an accent or making a big statement with a lot of color, your home will feel instantly transformed and personalized. Our dad always put an emphasis on hard work, and it stuck with us.. Caitie Smithe is aDesigner, Design Coordinator + Stylist atWalter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. Instead, the Smithe sisters Colleen, director of advertising; Maureen, a buyer; Caitie, a designer; and Meghan, the marketing director help a Chicago couple with tastes that sometimes clash give their town home a new look before relatives show up for a visit. We dont always agree on things, Colleen says. Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up in the Northwest Side's Belmont Central neighborhood. Relevant. 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. "[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". "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. My sisters and I represent the viewpoint of our younger clientele, Meghan says. Then he and Thorson meet with his brothers and throw ideas around. The CBS Chicago team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on CBSChicago.com. Itasca, IL 60143. While we still have traditional pieces, our showroom appeals to a number of different lifestyles. This began a long series of lighthearted television commercials, which became increasingly elaborate over the next few years. We get that question all the time, and that was to be expected," Colleen said. Favorite design style: Clean and neutral. The Smithes stand out because they're doing silly things. 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." "But these are guys who you'd go to dinner with, you know? 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.

American Traditions Insurance Company Payment Address, Independent Functioning Iep Goals, Articles W