William Hageman and Tribune staff reporter. He NEVER blinks. 74% of employees would recommend working at Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design to a friend and 70% have a positive outlook for the business. Meghan and Colleen spent several years working at advertising agencies in Chicago. [4], Many of Walter E. Smithe's commercials have been pop culture parodies. "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. ("You should keep that hat on for about three weeks. High School," Walter says. The company gained national exposure from Lewis' collection, and each sister was able to shine in her own specialty. "We were kind of like dorks, geeks, growing up," Mark says. Rocketreach finds email, phone & social media for 450M+ professionals. 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. Walter e smithe daughters. We dont always agree on things, Colleen says. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. The Smithe boys started out in a tiny ranch house in Des Plaines, the children of Walter Jr. and Florence. Even if you weren't sure that Walt, Tim and Mark Smithe were brothers -- yep, those Smithe brothers, of "Walter E. Smithe, you dream it, we build it" fame -- their banter at a recent commercial shoot was a dead giveaway. walter e smithe furniture - inc. walter e smithe furniture. Spoken like the daughter of a true shop owner, as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. 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. Then the commercial came on. 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. "So that drove us, I think, to be successes.". The campaign was inspired in part by a partnership with designer/house-flipper Jeff Lewis of the Bravo show Flipping Out. hbspt.forms.create({ 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. Walter E. Smithe is a family business in every sense of the word, the sisters say. There is no rule book that says they all need to matchmetals always compliment one another. The announcement was merely an early April Fools' Day prank, although the Smithe brothers said they had received about one hundred emails from viewers who were not sure what to think. The CBS Chicago team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on CBSChicago.com. Nah, I know a few of them. Get 5 free searches. They're nice folks. 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. From 5 to 8 p.m., select retailers will offer refreshments while highlighting unique designers. The implication was that he was doing/looking at something inappropriate. Is she OK? It said he passed away peacef USA. Read the rest of the issue. But now a new generationsisters Meghan, Colleen, Maureen, and Caitie . Currently, there are 3 generations involved in the business: Walter Smithe Jr is retired, but regularly visits the showrooms. 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.. Lewis Lazare. 9615 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077. Our dad always put an emphasis on hard work, and it stuck with us.. Walter E. Smithe Jr. Obituary. officially retires, although he still enjoys visiting showrooms and meeting clients. We don't take that lightly.". "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. We not only respect this, we embrace it.. No outside agency required. "But we've also gotten some really nice feedback from people who are happy to see four working women on their TV.". Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design is a family-owned furniture retailer, founded right here in Chicago, back in 1945. We learned so much from these relationships, Colleen says. / CBS Chicago. We are sad to announce that on October 9, 2022 we had to say goodbye to Walter E. Smithe Jr. of Chicago, Illinois. "It's always positive, and it's nice to be part of it. Lewis teamed up with Smithes merchandising team to create in-store vignettes, and also featured the store on his show. 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. 9's "Garfield Goose" and "Ray Rayner" shows. View info about Walter E. Smithe Furniture (smithe.com). The Bob's puppet is a far better actor than the Smithe girls though. In recent years, Smithe enjoyed his time with extended family. View a map of participating First Friday locations. 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. 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. 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. The Smithe sisters have always been close -- and growing up, it wasn't always by choice. Updating your home theater? In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. Mix together different, but complimentary, elements such as woods, metals and stonesand feel free to mix various metals together. I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design (Old Orchard) 17 miles. There's a preconceived notion that furniture stores are stuffy and tired, run by men in suits and catering to older generations. "I think it's time for us to get out of these TV commercials," Walter said. Nothing will be worse than the commercials they ran the last time the Cicadas were in season. To see these serious, stuffy guys laughing and having fun someone yelled out, `You should use that as a commercial. - Linn Burton: He started selling appliances in Polk Bros. ads in 1953, but the majority of his 35-year TV career was spent hawking cars -- Kaisers, Frazers, Joe Rizza's Pontiacs and, most famously, Bert Weinman's Fords. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Margie, who used to be a buyer for Smithe, moved to St. Louis with her husband, who worked for Anheuser-Busch's ad agency. 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 Feldco guy creeps me out more. The Smithe sisters now serve as the face . You can still be a fun premium brand (Virgin, for example) but this is Family Dollar-type schtick. For the most part, that relationship translates well in the business world, they say. While it may not be usable 365 days a year, the days that your outdoor space are in fact usable should be embraced. That was the extent of his pitchman career. 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. By last year, though, each had returned to the company their great-grandfather founded. Find locations. 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. Compare how recession-proof Walter E Smithe Furniture is relative to the industry overall. Zajdel was a driver for Victory when he made the commercial a quarter-century ago. I love the one where they are drinking what looks like Tang out of wine glasses. You may also light a candle in honor of Walter E. Smithe Jr. or send a beautiful flower arrangement to the funeral . I only hear them on the radio. Jamie Sotonoff. 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. 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. Then they brought in the wives. walter e smithe. "They've done a wonderful job building a distinctive brand," says Tim Calkins, a professor of marketing at Northwestern University. So is there a `Wally and the Sofa Factory' in our future?". Walter E. Smithe also is changing up its ads. 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. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_E._Smithe. Meghan is director of marketing, Caitie is a designer and stylist and Colleen is director of advertising. Walter e smithe is a high end furniture store, no surprise their ads are geared towards middle aged women from high income households aka suburban moms. This rating has improved by 10% over the last 12 months. The Smithe brothers have been described as "Chicago's most recognizable furniture purveyors", due to their ubiquitous television commercials starring themselves. Additional partnerships with the likes of Cynthia Rowley and Ellen Degeneres have exposed the company to a new customer base. Holly Hunt (222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Ste. (Last year, Walter E. Smithe resurrected the 1950s-era cartoon that was a holiday staple on WGN-Ch. 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! The Smithe brothers used good-natured humor on countless TV commercials selling furniture. 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. When the boys took over from their father, there were about a half-dozen stores. There are so many cool and unique materials being used to manufacture furniture these dayssuch as capiz shells, bone inlay, faux shagreen, concrete, rope and slate. Feb 20, 2022 - The 4th generation of Walter E. Smithe family stops by to visit Bob and Marianne. You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe . But they do have a business. We take inspiration from the world of interior design to curate customized . How could the Itasca-based company break the mold and reach a new audience while still carrying its message into a fourth generation? The seven pieces featured in the Quincy Master Bedroom vignette below (chair, trunk . Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up in the Northwest Side's Belmont Central neighborhood. "People really did love seeing them on their TVs.". Darvin is always yelling about discounts. "KFC dances to beat of familiar drummers". "Smithes have fun at the old ballpark". It took the mother of six children a few years to figure out how to juggle her demanding career and busy home life. Am I the only one who just thinks he looks like Louis CK? Press J to jump to the feed. Assuming your a dude your not supposed to understand the commercials. It stuck in your head. She is a celebrity who is genuinely interested in how her furniture will do and be perceived, Maureen says. "That's F-A-M-E, with an E". 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. We connect families with the best local resources, advice, stories, things to do with kids and much more. He also hosted telethons. We feel like we can now speak to the multitude of generations who shop with us, she says. "They took different career paths," Tim says. 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. Billy Corgan and Walter E. Smithe Wrestling. They look hungry. Walter E. Smithe Furniture, Inc. is headquartered in Itasca, IL. We get that question all the time, and that was to be expected," Colleen said. I'm a brand manager and their commercials make the brand seem like a discount bin. Regarded as top performer within the account and the Agency, as a result of consistent over-delivery, passion to grow the business . It's pretty surprising they are still playing on these tired sexist tropes in this day and age. 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. Shop the Sofa Sale. This led to the development of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design. Now its only the wives and zero about the furniture. In some of the footage, youll see my dad installing a dimmer or my uncle driving a truck. But the truth is, I love coming to the office. 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. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design. "It's been about reworking how we approach visually what we want to convey about the product that we're selling," Meghan said. 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.. Since 1945, we have been Chicago's local source for quality furniture and expert 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. "And I'd be yelling, `I can't breathe! His signature line: "Linn Burton for certain!". Visit . Sometimes we present to our dad as a united front and other times we need him to be a tie breaker. Through March 7, EuroFurniture (2145 W. Grand Ave., eurofurniture.com) is offering 15 percent off BDI media cabinets and consoles available in-store, online, and by phone. 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. Kneen & Co. (399 W. Fullerton Pkwy., Ste. 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. So much misogyny in these comments, their commercials have always been cheesy and annoying. "We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". And youll see each of my sisters doing what they do best.. Hope, once a Smithe designer and store manager, now lives in Colorado with her husband. walter e smithe furniture & design. Through March 16, enjoy savings of up to 20 percent on select rugs (hopscotch, anyone?) Over the past 76 years, the company has grown to include 10 Chicago area showrooms. and became working moms in different industries. They decided on an ad campaign that would, simply, pitch their product. They brought in real clients, worked with real designers and demonstrated each sister's essential role within the business. When they get a topic, Smithe says, he tries to figure a way to blend it into an ad. Ask how we can add diversity to your supply chain. Sometimes you have to act fast. And they're not showbiz types. Trendwise, Caitie says the color gurus at Pantone were right on when they selected a bright shade of green as Color of the Year. Determine whether Walter E. Smithe Furniture grew or shrank during the last recession. 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. 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. As the oldest sibling, Maureen was the first to officially join Walter E. Smithe in a professional capacity in 2004. Then when I plugged it in, the place went up for grabs. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Or using a new high-tech application to keep couch fabric truly worry free from childrens spills, everything from spaghetti sauce to Kool-Aid. If you find the right furniture, it will last even through your kids, Colleen says. During a stint in the Army, Smithe attained the rank of captain and became an expert in the field of computers. This is useful in estimating the financial strength and credit risk of the company. 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. You could say that the Smithes are a bit obsessed with quality. "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years. 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. "We had a common agreement that we had the best furniture in Chicago," Tim says, "but not enough people knew about it.". An added factor in the commercials' success are the brothers, who come across as regular guys. Favorite design style: Cozy and comfortableaka hygge ethos. Edited to add: Looked them up and gee, it's one of the daughters managing the marketing. The Smithes: (L-R) Colleen, Meghan, Walter III, Walter Jr., Mark, Caitie, and Maureen. First published on October 12, 2022 / 3:27 PM. The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. 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. She has a few ideas for how to add a little spring to your home. 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. While a new recession may strike a particular industry, measuring the industry 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. Check out the new collection. "But these are guys who you'd go to dinner with, you know? Draftfcb. (847) 933-1481. Take dress up and glam up a notch with a self-care day at this luxurious spa for kids and tweens. We had no grand plan.. Then they tie in pop culture it shows that they're sort of a with-it furniture company. October 12, 2022 / 3:27 PM Smithe guy Walt actually Walter Smithe III 45 is president and general manager of the. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune). They can really do great things. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN SUBAR, When Maureen Smithe returned from maternity leave after giving birth to identical twin daughters last August (children number five and six for those keeping count), she was puzzled by the pained looks she received from some of her colleagues. We can be real nimble when we're this tight and this spread across the business.". Revenue: $100 to $500 million (USD) Competitors: Linly Designs, Rieke Office Interiors, 57st Design. 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. "They're having a lot of fun. The girls got the bedrooms; the three boys shared a room in the basement. Further confused by the commercials now. Or "Hardrock, Coco and Joe." This is not how you attract a premium buyer or build a premium brand. "We're all rolling up our sleeves and getting dirty. Some ways to do this include mixing fabrics and leathers such as pairing linens with velvets, shag rugs, fur throws, organic elements such as rattan and bamboo even the reflective-ness of chrome can add texture to a room! I was probably in elementary school when I would come in to work in the warehouse sweeping for a nickel Colleen says. "I was at Dulles Airport in Washington, waiting for a 9:30 flight at night," Mark says. A new collection at Holly Hunt, discounts at EuroFurniture, a First Friday event at Hubbard Woods Design District, and more. Who are these guys? While they took breaks from the biz to make their own way after college, each came back when the right positions opened up. "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.". Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Home & Garden, Interior Design. 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. Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years," Meghan said. Chicago, IL. Thats fast, but it shows what we can do. What The Walter E. Smithe Daughters Do . Home Cities Chicago Meet the Smithe Sisters, The new generation is shaking things up at furniture icon Walter E. Smithe. The Smithe boys started out in a tiny ranch house in Des Plaines, the children of Walter Jr. and Florence. 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. "Still hard for me to imagine.") Over the last 12 years, one by one, Walter's daughters have been hired on at Smithe in an official capacity. Anyone got a link to the current commercial? 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, Maureen and Meghan. How could they ensure the 75-year-old brand would be sustainable for decades to come? 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. Walter Smithe III and Mark Smithe (the Smithe Brothers) are the sons of Walter Jr, and serve as President and VP/Legal Counsel, respectively. Walter E. SMITHE corporate office is located in 1775 W Rand Rd, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004, United States and has 382 employees. The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. We all trickled back in, and it happened really organically, says Meghan of the industrious quartet, who collectively has 17 children. "If you think of furniture commercials, it's always just panning a showroom with obnoxious graphics," says O'Neil, who has directed all the Smithe commercials. One of the first opportunities to test their compatibility was through a partnership with interior designer and TV personality Jeff Lewis. 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. 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. 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 . Brothers Walt, Tim and Mark Smithe -- the faces of Walter E. Smithe Furniture -- seem to have hit on something with their ubiquitous ads. 443 were here. My sisters and I represent the viewpoint of our younger clientele, Meghan says. Someone really needs a new marketing director/CMO/agency because they do not know what they are doing. Sometimes its the only quiet I get.. "It was kind of ingrained in us," Caitie Smithe said. Explore more of the publications in our portfolio here. The original simple jingle and slogan was perfect. walter e smithe. A few bucks later, the clunker is off to Victory's Bensenville lot. McCarthy was married to grandson of Walter E. Smithe, Timothy Smithe Jr. in Paris, France in June of 2013. . For example - my favorite large upholstered dining chairs are under $200. We simply never had that conversation, Meghan says. One spot was modeled after Apple's weird commercials. If you are ready to get grown-up furniture, this place has a very nice selection, with helpful staff who can guide you toward the proper colors, scale, and what looks nice together. 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. Then he and Thorson meet with his brothers and throw ideas around. "And they've been able to personalize a retail chain through the use of the brothers. He entertained the youngest generation of the family playing banjo and singing folk songs such as "The Rock Island Line," and telling stories of Tiny Tim and the Magic Gumball Machine, his obit said.