I'm a brand manager and their commercials make the brand seem like a discount bin. 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. First published on October 12, 2022 / 3:27 PM. Visit . Bloomingdale Plaza. The slogans "You dream it, we build it", or "That's Smithe, with an E" are commonly used.
The Sisters Behind the Walter E. Smithe Furniture Company - DuJour 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. Walter E. Smithe Jr. Obituary. Lewis teamed up with Smithes merchandising team to create in-store vignettes, and also featured the store on his show. "And they've been able to personalize a retail chain through the use of the brothers. We don't take that lightly.". Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm.
Meet The Walter E. Smithe Furniture Sisters - Luxe - Design 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. I love incorporating an unexpected element into a room. 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. As mothers, theyve learned its not only possible, but preferable, to have a functional yet beautiful home. "They took different career paths," Tim says. - 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. 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. Zajdel was a driver for Victory when he made the commercial a quarter-century ago. As mothers, all of us have cleaned up a childs spill, or even their vomit, from our furniture, Colleen jokes. 1 Early life; 2 Television; 3 Personal Life; 4 References; . Its no longer that way.. While a new recession may strike a particular industry, measuring the industry and . But repeated airings of the ad have made him and his door legendary. walter e smithe. As they grew into their teens, there were the usual summer jobs -- caddying, yard work, selling ice cream from a motorized three-wheeler. "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. They were each only a year apart, at one point covering all four grade levels at Barrington High School. 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. Walter E. Smithe III, is the President of family owned and operated Walter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. While we still have traditional pieces, our showroom appeals to a number of different lifestyles. It was an organic transition for each of us, says Colleen, the youngest sister.
"As needs within the business grew, positions opened up organically," Maureen said.
Four sisters carry the Walter E. Smithe brand into the future Colleen Smithe, Director of Advertising I'm so annoyed that I won't buy anything from there. They've been able to weather the unexpected storm of the coronavirus pandemic. 1428, hollyhunt.com) has expanded its Great Plains textile offering with the Foreign Affair collection, which has a mix of warm and cool neutrals.
Walter E. Smithe III, the company's president, and his four beautiful She sounds annoyed that the spill isn't absorbing, like there's some insurance scheme that hinges on being able to stain this white couch. 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.". 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 implication was that he was doing/looking at something inappropriate. Explore more of the publications in our portfolio here. Find employees, official website, emails, phone numbers, revenue, employee headcount, social accounts, and anything related to Walter E. Smithe Furniture. I havent seen the Tile Outlet lady in a while!!
Sisters Take Smithe Spotlight, More High-End Barware, and a Sofa Sale 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. walter e smithe. Smithe's wife of 64 years was by his side when he passed, and he . 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. Business Profile for Walter E. Smithe Furn-Itasca. 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. Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. We understand that customers see a certain look on, say, Instagram and they want it replicated in their own home, Colleen says. They decided on an ad campaign that would, simply, pitch their product. "They go a long way with a limited budget through the use of creativity," he says. So I'm speaking, and they're half listening, you know. Billy Corgan and Walter E. Smithe Wrestling. Margie, who used to be a buyer for Smithe, moved to St. Louis with her husband, who worked for Anheuser-Busch's ad agency. "So that drove us, I think, to be successes.". 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. Today, they help oversee 10 showrooms, the warehouse and headquarters, working together (generally) perfectly. Caitie Smithe is aDesigner, Design Coordinator + Stylist atWalter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. Walter E. Smithe is a furniture company based in Itasca, Illinois. For people who are in their 40s and have families, that's how brothers act around each other when they get together. With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs, Walter E. Smithe is a local furniture icon. 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. Take dress up and glam up a notch with a self-care day at this luxurious spa for kids and tweens. "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 Smithe boys started out in a tiny ranch house in Des Plaines, the children of Walter Jr. and Florence. It worked really well for a long time, but post-recession, we saw peoples sensibilities had changed, says Meghan. [7], Chicagoans have had mixed reactions to the Walter E. Smithe commercials.
Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture, dies at 86 "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. Darvin is always yelling about discounts. Anyone got a link to the current commercial? They look hungry. It was like the empire jingle. We get that question all the time, and that was to be expected," Colleen said. 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. getting a penny or nickel for every clearance tag we pulled," says Meghanthe four daughters of Walter Smithe III have . It's not included in a shorter version now airing on TV.
Happy Hour With Jeff Lewis + Walter E. Smithe - fountainof30.com 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. There is no true balance for moms in our situation., We cant be everything all at once, Meghan says. The girls got the bedrooms; the three boys shared a room in the basement. "It's made us focus on what we do best, which is designing our clients' homes," he said. Ellen is very serious about design and had a definite voice in what this modern-rustic-meets-farmhouse collection would be. In 2002 they brought in director Bill O'Neil to help them. [4], Many of Walter E. Smithe's commercials have been pop culture parodies. Sometimes we present to our dad as a united front and other times we need him to be a tie breaker.
First there were the brothers. Now the Walter E. Smithe - Pinterest Its unnerving. My wife and I were just talking about this yesterday, we truly hate the Walter E Smithe commercials with the daughters. Weird. 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. About. Also would somebody please feed them? 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. 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.". The Chicago native attended Fenwick High School and the University of Notre Dame. And they're not showbiz types. Spoken like the daughter of a true "shop owner," as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. One by one, each sister began working in the family business. /r/Chicago is the place to discuss and stay updated on the daily happenings of Chicago, Illinois, USA. [3], The company has become well known in the Chicago area for its television commercials, which for decades starred the three Smithe brothers, and now star the four Smithe sisters. Read the rest of the issue. They hammer out a script, call in O'Neil and start filming. Personally, I dont want to stare at ugly furniture for all those years, Meghan says. There is no rule book that says they all need to matchmetals always compliment one another. "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.
Sibling revelry - Chicago Tribune Jeff Lewis's collection of vignettes is available at Walter E. Smithe's 11 showrooms in Chicago, and online.
Walter E. SMITHE: Employee Directory | ZoomInfo.com Its unjust to think that women can somehow balance it all, Colleen adds. What are they up to?' Then they tie in pop culture it shows that they're sort of a with-it furniture company.
Walter E. Smithe - Wikipedia This style is out there and we need to respond and get it on our floor. It's pretty surprising they are still playing on these tired sexist tropes in this day and age. 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. The Bob's puppet is a far better actor than the Smithe girls though.
Smithe Family Takeover - Country Magazine I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. 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. E. Smithe sisters Caitie, Colleen, Meghan and Maureen were introduced to the business at a young age. 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. One spot was modeled after Apple's weird 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. How, they wondered, would longtime customers respond to four new female faces on their television screens? Smithe says that doing everything in-house allows them to be quick on their feet. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The 86-year-old patriarch of the Smithe family, Walter Edward Smithe Jr., "died . To make up for it, she woke up early to make heart-shaped pancakes. The company gained national exposure from Lewis' collection, and each sister was able to shine in her own specialty. Born in the heart of Chicago, we're a family owned and operated local business since 1945, now four generations strong. Young. The company began in 1945 as Tone Appliances and Furniture, a single store on Belmont Avenue in Chicago. "The brothers have no acting talent," Tim says. Compare how recession-proof Walter E Smithe Furniture is relative to the industry overall. But the sisters also know they can always turn to the leaders who came before them. "I think it's time for us to get out of these TV commercials," Walter said. Smithe brothers aim for 'Sex' appeal in latest quirky commercial, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Walter_E._Smithe&oldid=1127865487, This page was last edited on 17 December 2022, at 02:33.
Walter E. Smithe Furniture - Employees, Contact info, Overview - Wiza He cites the U2 music video takeoff. "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years," Meghan said. "There was some physical violence between the brothers," Walt says with that satisfied look of a big brother who got to dish it out. As the oldest sibling, Maureen was the first to officially join Walter E. Smithe in a professional capacity in 2004. 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.. Falling asleep. He received a Bachelor of Philosophy in Commerce from the University of Notre Dame in 1958. Were really excited about this program, explains Meghan. This rating has improved by 10% over the last 12 months. We connect families with the best local resources, advice, stories, things to do with kids and much more. He attended the University of Notre Dame and earned a bachelor 's . Give yourself time to just be in a comfortable and beautiful outdoor space. That collective experience comes in handy ahead of any major decisions. So, somewhat reluctantly, they let themselves become the public face of Walter E. Smithe Furniture. walter e smithe furniture inc.
Walter E. Smithe Furniture: Contact Details and Business Profile We strive to bring our clients the best in home furnishings for every style, budget, and stage of life. "And I'd be yelling, `I can't breathe! [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]. They can really do great things. Jamie Sotonoff. 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. 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! So much misogyny in these comments, their commercials have always been cheesy and annoying. It takes work and sacrifice.. Revenue: $100 to $500 million (USD) Competitors: Linly Designs, Rieke Office Interiors, 57st Design. 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. Who are the Walter E Smithe daughters? Now, the Itasca-based furniture and interior design company wants you to get to know the Smithe sisters. Her sisters had fallen into their own specialties and were pursuing different paths at the time. At Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, we are committed to helping our clients love their homes through expert design, quality furnishings, and exemplary service. Even with little ones underfoot, the Smithe sisters make balancing their family furniture business and their growing broods look effortless. The daughters took over the company. "They've done a wonderful job building a distinctive brand," says Tim Calkins, a professor of marketing at Northwestern University. Read on to find out more about pelvic floor therapy and how it's growing in popularity among postpartum women. (Last year, Walter E. Smithe resurrected the 1950s-era cartoon that was a holiday staple on WGN-Ch. However, Lewis Lazare, the Chicago Sun-Times' advertising critic, has defended the commercials. 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. The seven pieces featured in the Quincy Master Bedroom vignette below (chair, trunk .
"What about you and your sisters?". You could say that the Smithes are a bit obsessed with quality. It stuck in your head. In recent years, Smithe enjoyed his time with extended family. The company made its website easier to use and more modern-looking. Sometimes you have to act fast. "As furniture commercials go, what the Smithes are doing is great," he says. officially retires, although he still enjoys visiting showrooms and meeting clients. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune). The Smithe brothers used good-natured humor on countless TV commercials selling furniture. Edited to add: Looked them up and gee, it's one of the daughters managing the marketing. The 3rd brother, Tim Smithe, retired in 2016. (He's now semi-retired, having turned the business over to his sons about 10 years ago.). Opening Day is March 30. "It was kind of a neat way to kick off our involvement in the business as a group.". 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. Over the past 76 years, the company has grown to include 10 Chicago area showrooms. "I was at Dulles Airport in Washington, waiting for a 9:30 flight at night," Mark says. Im stunned when people watch one of our makeovers and are surprised that Smithe carries so much of what they like, says Caitie. My sisters and I loved being a part of it.. 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 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. Itasca, IL 60143. The Smithe sisters now serve as the face . Walter E. Smithe is a furniture company based in Itasca, Illinois. In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. Some have criticized the spots for underemphasizing Walter E. Smithe's actual furniture products. After college, all three gravitated back to the family business, which was founded by their father. We learned so much from these relationships, Colleen says. 22 miles. "And of course this summer's blockbuster is supposed to be `Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' Draftfcb. Hope, once a Smithe designer and store manager, now lives in Colorado with her husband.
President - Walter E. Smithe Furniture + Design - LinkedIn Subscribe for free today! Most recently, she was at . We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". CHICAGO (WLS) -- Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. "We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". 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.
Favorite design style: Modern mixed with traditional.
Smithe Parker leads Walter E. Smithe advertising Walter Smithe III and Mark Smithe (the Smithe Brothers) are the sons of Walter Jr, and serve as President and VP/Legal Counsel, respectively. You have this sense of passion and responsibility for it. 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. When the boys took over from their father, there were about a half-dozen stores. Their dad, the company's president, continued filming his signature ads with his brother, Mark, for a short period of time, Colleen said. And they wanted a way to build the brand. Shop the clearance. I was probably in elementary school when I would come in to work in the warehouse sweeping for a nickel Colleen says. What she does: I use both sides of my brain: left for all the analytical spreadsheet stuff and right for the creative vision. Further confused by the commercials now. Favorite design style: Cozy and comfortableaka hygge ethos. We see this country chic trend currently happening as a design emergency, says Maureen. 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 Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design Not as long as they keep the commercials clever and topical, O'Neil says. Tim offered Walt brotherly support after a just-completed scene. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, specializing in custom upholstery, and operates ten showrooms throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. - 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!". In some of the footage, youll see my dad installing a dimmer or my uncle driving a truck.
Moms of 17 juggle the Chicago-based family business "[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. That was the extent of his pitchman career. "In a family business, everyone has to wear all hats at all times," Maureen said. McCarthy was married to grandson of Walter E. Smithe, Timothy Smithe Jr. in Paris, France in June of 2013. .
Walter E. Smithe Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design 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. 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. The Smithe family announced that their patriarch died this past Sunday with his wife of 64 years, Florence Flynn Smithe, by his side. Mix together different, but complimentary, elements such as woods, metals and stonesand feel free to mix various metals together.