Their advertising is creative, it's timely and it's interesting, so people remember it and they like it.". Relevant. He attended the University of Notre Dame and earned a bachelor 's . (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune). Start shopping. 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. Dont burden yourself with the boredom of a matching wood set. Revenue: $100 to $500 million (USD) Competitors: Linly Designs, Rieke Office Interiors, 57st Design. About. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design is a family-owned furniture retailer, founded right here in Chicago, back in 1945. 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 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. You want it to succeed and do well.". Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design - Yelp Walter E. SMITHE corporate office is located in 1775 W Rand Rd, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004, United States and has 382 employees. 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.. Sibling revelry - Chicago Tribune What she does: Come up with ideas that get people off their couch and into our storesand put my sisters in awkward positions (see our commercials)., What she does: Whether were working or just hanging out, my Type A personality keeps us organized and on track.. As mothers, theyve learned its not only possible, but preferable, to have a functional yet beautiful home. McCarthy was married to grandson of Walter E. Smithe, Timothy Smithe Jr. in Paris, France in June of 2013. . This rating has improved by 10% over the last 12 months. Sibling revelry; Their offbeat commercials have made the Smithe brothers cult heroes. Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. Warehouse workers go over every piece of inventory awaiting delivery with a fine-tooth comb, looking for things an untrained eye would never see. Colleen Smithe, Director of Advertising But the sisters also know they can always turn to the leaders who came before them. 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. To see these serious, stuffy guys laughing and having fun someone yelled out, `You should use that as a commercial. ", Instead they talk about the U2/iTunes takeoff, the brothers' version of "The Apprentice" or the Olympic parody from last year. Chicago, IL. 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. 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. Check out the new collection. It turned out so well that Tim carried along a copy to a speaking engagement. View a map of participating First Friday locations. Its a tough balance, but I like figuring out the retail puzzle.. The company's commercials were originally straightforward descriptions of their products and services, but in 2003, the brothers decided to include outtakes from past filmings, which showed the brothers stumbling over words and laughing at each other. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . They're not egomaniacs. 177 East Army Trail Road, Glendale Heights, IL 60139. 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. 'Flipping Out' Where To Get Jeff Lewis' Furniture Collection 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. It's pretty surprising they are still playing on these tired sexist tropes in this day and age. 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. We strive to bring our clients the best in home furnishings for every style, budget, and stage of life. 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. And in between the entertainment were his folksy commercials for Courtesy Motors -- his cars were "honeys" and "sweeties" -- which at one point was the world's largest Ford dealer. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. Walter E. Smithe Jr. died peacefully at age 86, his family said in a prepared statement. "That was the best part," she said. For the most part, that relationship translates well in the business world, they say. In the late '60s, the growing family -- there are also four sisters, Cindy, Margie and . At Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, we are committed to helping our clients love their homes through expert design, quality furnishings, and exemplary service. "It's a big responsibility. His sons, Walter, Tim, and Mark, joined the company in the 1970s and 1980s. I only hear them on the radio. They look hungry. For people who are in their 40s and have families, that's how brothers act around each other when they get together. The CBS Chicago team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on CBSChicago.com. 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. With 10 years of advertising industry experience, Smithe Parker, daughter of President Walter E. Smithe III, has worked with high-profile advertising agencies in Chicago. Over the last 13 years, one by one, Walters daughters have been hired on at Smithe as the jobs became available. 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. The chemistry among this familial foursome is something parents can only hope for from their children. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design - Maureen Smithe and Caitie Smithe [4][5] In 2008, they filmed and edited a takeoff of the Sex and the City franchise, with the brothers sipping "Smithe-o-politans". They've spruced up their styles, selling more contemporary pieces among their traditional designs. Favorite design style: Modern mixed with traditional. Till your hair grows back."). While they took breaks from the biz to make their own way after college, each came back when the right positions opened up. So, somewhat reluctantly, they let themselves become the public face of Walter E. Smithe Furniture. The commercial included the tagline "Change the Name, Change the Luck", a reference to the Cubs' decades-long struggle to reach the World Series. High School," Walter says. In recent years, Smithe enjoyed his time with extended family. Like their brothers, the four Smithe sisters were all in the business when they were in high school. Caitie Smithe, Designer and Stylist. Through March 16, enjoy savings of up to 20 percent on select rugs (hopscotch, anyone?) The Sisters Behind the Walter E. Smithe Furniture Company - DuJour 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. And they wanted a way to build the brand. 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. Industry: Home Furniture & Housewares Stores. / CBS Chicago. 1251 West Thorndale Avenue. Main Telephone (630) 285-8000. walter e smithe furniture inc. The sisters left for college with a few prized furnishings and a work ethic that became a permanent fixture in their lives. "As needs within the business grew, positions opened up organically," Maureen said. The Smithe brothers used good-natured humor on countless TV commercials selling furniture. We connect families with the best local resources, advice, stories, things to do with kids and much more. There is no rule book that says they all need to matchmetals always compliment one another. Walter E. Smithe Furniture is a company located in Itasca, Illinois, United States. Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. 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. Create Comparison. The Smithe sisters, all in their thirties, worked in the family business as teens but pursued different career paths in adulthood. Moms of 17 juggle the Chicago-based family business 22 miles. His daughters were hesitant at first, questioning whether they were ready for such a responsibility. We feel like we can now speak to the multitude of generations who shop with us, she says. getting a penny or nickel for every clearance tag we pulled," says Meghanthe four daughters of Walter Smithe III have . /r/Chicago is the place to discuss and stay updated on the daily happenings of Chicago, Illinois, USA. The daughters took over the company. To make up for it, she woke up early to make heart-shaped pancakes. It was a natural fit, she said. Their interactions were zany, their dialogue lighthearted, their catchy jingle -- "you dream it, we build it" -- recognizable throughout the region. Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. 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. "Smithes have fun at the old ballpark". Caitie Smithe is aDesigner, Design Coordinator + Stylist atWalter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design has an overall rating of 4.0 out of 5, based on over 92 reviews left anonymously by employees. Then the commercial came on. 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. They brought in real clients, worked with real designers and demonstrated each sister's essential role within the business. The sisters are making their official debut in a new campaign theyve recently launched called the Smithe Family Makeovers. Fielding countless applications, the Smithes choose a home where they redesign a space and showcase the full range of interior design services and furnishings Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design offers. Bloomingdale Plaza. After college, all three gravitated back to the family business, which was founded by their father. Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up on the Northwest Side in Belmont Central. 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 . During a stint in the Army, Smithe attained the rank of captain and became an expert in the field of computers. Updating your home theater? Walter E. Smithe Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design 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. While we still have traditional pieces, our showroom appeals to a number of different lifestyles. There have been more than a thousand of them since, and thanks to the magic of cable TV he is now a national celebrity. Tim, 41, is the vice president of sales; he and his wife have four kids and live in Winnetka. Haute Living is a network of luxury publications with bimonthly regional editions in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco. Working at Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design | Glassdoor You could say that the Smithes are a bit obsessed with quality. [6], One of Walter E. Smithe's most discussed commercials aired in late March 2006. "But these are guys who you'd go to dinner with, you know? The two renamed the store Smithe and Shanahan, but Bill Shanahan eventually sold his share to Smithe's brother Charlie. She has a few ideas for how to add a little spring to your home. 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. What she does: I make spaces beautiful for clients homes, our catalogs and showrooms, and play couples therapist for clients who cant agree on a sofa.. Contact Information. 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. With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs Walter E. Maureen in 2002 Meghan in 2014 Caitie in 2015 and Colleen in 2016. (He's now semi-retired, having turned the business over to his sons about 10 years ago.). Meghan is director of marketing, Caitie is a designer and stylist and Colleen is director of advertising. Walter E. Smithe Furn-Itasca | Better Business Bureau Profile (Last year, Walter E. Smithe resurrected the 1950s-era cartoon that was a holiday staple on WGN-Ch. What The Walter E. Smithe Daughters Do . Hauldren -- an advertising copywriter who created the character -- first appeared in the ads in 1973. Furniture store patriarch Walter E. Smithe Jr. dies at 86 Determine whether Walter E. Smithe Furniture grew or shrank during the last recession. Trendwise, Caitie says the color gurus at Pantone were right on when they selected a bright shade of green as Color of the Year. "An hour and a half. The Smithe sisters now serve as the face of the firm, offering a female perspective that better reflects the company, the industry and the country today. Further confused by the commercials now. 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.". They pointed out how affordable the pieces are. "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.". Meghan can recall her pigtails bouncing as she ran through the Walter E. Smithe warehouse as a young girl, pulling sales tags in exchange for a nickel or dime from her grandfather, Walter Smithe Jr. It couldn't have gone more perfectly, Maureen said. Today. It said he passed away peacef Edit: I have been informed that they are the daughters, not the wives. I gave up sleep and TV, Maureen jokes. . 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. Jamie Sotonoff. We are a 4th generation family-owned business, and our employees are an integral part of . Her sisters had fallen into their own specialties and were pursuing different paths at the time. Rocketreach finds email, phone & social media for 450M+ professionals. For example, Meghan had to miss her sons Valentines Day party at school this year, due to work responsibilities. However, Lewis Lazare, the Chicago Sun-Times' advertising critic, has defended the commercials. Building upon the Smithe family legacy is a big responsibility, the sisters said, one they've embraced with fervor. President - Walter E. Smithe Furniture + Design - LinkedIn USA. The best commercial -- at least the one viewers relished -- featured this grating kid getting hit in the face with a pie. 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. 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. "There are still people who ask us, 'Where are the brothers? Here, get to know this powerhouse quartet. Walter E. Smithe Jr's death was announced Thursday on the company's Facebook page. - 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!". Cw Davis Middle School Schedule, Articles W