Haute Living is a network of luxury publications with bimonthly regional editions in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco. Darvin is always yelling about discounts. It takes work and sacrifice.. "Pam, Bill and I are always on the watch for pop culture. Margie, who used to be a buyer for Smithe, moved to St. Louis with her husband, who worked for Anheuser-Busch's ad agency. How could the Itasca-based company break the mold and reach a new audience while still carrying its message into a fourth generation? And Amy is a singer and songwriter. But now a new generationsisters Meghan, Colleen, Maureen, and Caitie Smitheis shaking things up in a big way. "We're dreamers and we have big ideas," Meghan said. This rating has improved by 10% over the last 12 months. By last year, though, each had returned to the company their great-grandfather founded. The seven pieces featured in the Quincy Master Bedroom vignette below (chair, trunk . Smithe then went into the computer industry working for General Electric and IBM in 1967, according to his obit. They were each only a year apart, at one point covering all four grade levels at Barrington High School. 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. - 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. Im stunned when people watch one of our makeovers and are surprised that Smithe carries so much of what they like, says Caitie. - 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. Tomorrow, Hubbard Woods Design District (Green Bay Rd. /r/Chicago is the place to discuss and stay updated on the daily happenings of Chicago, Illinois, USA. Through March 16, enjoy savings of up to 20 percent on select rugs (hopscotch, anyone?) He attended the University of Notre Dame and earned a bachelor 's . "They took different career paths," Tim says. Pinterest. The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up in the Northwest Side's Belmont Central neighborhood. Additional partnerships with the likes of Cynthia Rowley and Ellen Degeneres have exposed the company to a new customer base. The best commercial -- at least the one viewers relished -- featured this grating kid getting hit in the face with a pie. Smithe guy Walt actually Walter Smithe III 45 is president and general manager of the. Hope, once a Smithe designer and store manager, now lives in Colorado with her husband. Shop now. "What about you and your sisters?". The Smithe sisters, all in their thirties, worked in the family business as teens but pursued different career paths in adulthood. We can be real nimble when we're this tight and this spread across the business.". Our lives can be overrun with technology, commitments and schedules. We feel like we can now speak to the multitude of generations who shop with us, she says. "And I'd be yelling, `I can't breathe! Tim offered Walt brotherly support after a just-completed scene. 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Smithe III, has worked with high-profile advertising agencies in Chicago. This style is out there and we need to respond and get it on our floor. The company began in 1945 as Tone Appliances and Furniture, a single store on Belmont Avenue in Chicago. The Walter E. Smithe furniture jingle "you dream it, we build it" has been a longtime fixture in the firm's television ads, just as the Smithe brothers themselves have been. CHICAGO (CBS) -- Walter Edward Smithe Jr., the founder of Chicago's Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86. . [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]. 1 Early life; 2 Television; 3 Personal Life; 4 References; . Oct 2012 - Apr 20152 years 7 months. Newlyweds can now register for exclusive honeymoon stays and experiences at 23 of Auberge Resorts Collections luxury hotels and resorts worldwide More, With two movies out this winter, the actress and producer Salma Hayek Pinault is at the top of her game More, The star of A Beautiful Noise, which just opened at the Broadhurst Theatre, is a big Neil Diamond fan More, The writer and actor makes his Broadway debut in his just-opened play Aint No Mo More, After flying high in the hit sequel Top Gun: Maverick, Glen Powell stars in the new film Devotion, out now More, It's not enough to just be smart. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. 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. "But these are guys who you'd go to dinner with, you know? In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. 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. I can't breathe!' 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. 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.. 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. Edited to add: Looked them up and gee, it's one of the daughters managing the marketing. Walter was the first of the third generation to join the family business in 1981 . 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. Smithe says that doing everything in-house allows them to be quick on their feet. He NEVER blinks. Get 5 free searches. 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. "There are still people who ask us, 'Where are the brothers? Relevant. The four women have been taking on bigger roles at the company and star in its new ad. 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. Multi Location Business. As their father, the company president, has told customers for decades, Life is too short to sit on uncomfortable furniture.. They pointed out how affordable the pieces are. Customers were more concerned with what we were selling versus the people who were selling it, she adds. It said he passed away peacef 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. Meghan and Colleen spent several years working at advertising agencies in Chicago. I love the one where they are drinking what looks like Tang out of wine glasses. Walter E. Smithe Jr's death was announced Thursday on the company's Facebook page. 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. Mark admonished Walt to keep his feet off the furniture. "As needs within the business grew, positions opened up organically," Maureen said. My sisters and I represent the viewpoint of our younger clientele, Meghan says. "And they've been able to personalize a retail chain through the use of the brothers. Walter E. Smithe Jr. also earned a master's degree in Anthropology at Loyola University Chicago in 1980. The company gained national exposure from Lewis' collection, and each sister was able to shine in her own specialty. 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. Industry: Home Furniture & Housewares Stores. Walter E. Smithe and Bill Shanahan founded the store anticipating a booming economy in the wake of World War II. 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. hbspt.forms.create({ In 2002 they brought in director Bill O'Neil to help them. That collective experience comes in handy ahead of any major decisions. "It's made us focus on what we do best, which is designing our clients' homes," he said. '", "The business steadily increased since we started the commercials," Walt says. His daughters were hesitant at first, questioning whether they were ready for such a responsibility. Not as long as they keep the commercials clever and topical, O'Neil says. "We're kind of strategically positioned in different departments," Meghan said. Compare how recession-proof Walter E Smithe Furniture is relative to the industry overall. Sometimes it does not pay to work with family. Determine whether Walter E. Smithe Furniture grew or shrank during the last recession. Over the last 13 years, one by one, Walters daughters have been hired on at Smithe as the jobs became available. portalId: "6766057", Read the rest of the issue. Revenue: $100 to $500 million (USD) Competitors: Linly Designs, Rieke Office Interiors, 57st Design. 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. The Smithe sisters are working to expose the brand to a new customer base Photo credit: Robin Subar. "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.". walter e smithe. Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. Jeff Lewis's collection of vignettes is available at Walter E. Smithe's 11 showrooms in Chicago, and online. "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years. 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. That can help Walter E. Smithe differentiate itself from the growing number of lower-priced furniture retailers that have moved into the Chicago area in the past couple of years, Walter Smithe said. Their interactions were zany, their dialogue lighthearted, their catchy jingle -- "you dream it, we build it" -- recognizable throughout the region. 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 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 . Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, - Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, Paddock Publications, Inc. is an Employee-Owned Company. Feb 20, 2022 - The 4th generation of Walter E. Smithe family stops by to visit Bob and Marianne. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. How could they ensure the 75-year-old brand would be sustainable for decades to come? About. 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. Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Home & Garden, Interior Design. Chicago, IL. In recent years, Smithe enjoyed his time with extended family. The commercial included the tagline "Change the Name, Change the Luck", a reference to the Cubs' decades-long struggle to reach the World Series. Walter E. Smithe Jr. died peacefully at age 86, his family said in a prepared statement. Building upon the Smithe family legacy is a big responsibility, the sisters said, one they've embraced with fervor. We take inspiration from the world of interior design to curate customized . 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. Even with little ones underfoot, the Smithe sisters make balancing their family furniture business and their growing broods look effortless. Three years later, she recruited Colleen to become advertising director -- a position she accepted without hesitation. Walt and Tim mocked Mark's new haircut. 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. With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs, Walter E. Smithe is a local furniture icon. 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. What she does: I use both sides of my brain: left for all the analytical spreadsheet stuff and right for the creative vision. The store, which has 10 locations in the Chicago area, has been open for nearly 75 years and has faced all the challenges of . (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune). The Smithe brothers have been described as "Chicago's most recognizable furniture purveyors", due to their ubiquitous television commercials starring themselves. 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 are the Smithe sisters, Meghan, Colleen, Maureen and Caitie. The daughters took over the company. Caitie Smithe is aDesigner, Design Coordinator + Stylist atWalter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. Maureen Smithe and Caitie Smithe had the pleasure of working with Chicago's own Mr. FixIt, Lou Manfredini.Such a nice guy and a true Chicagoan! Zajdel was a driver for Victory when he made the commercial a quarter-century ago. To make up for it, she woke up early to make heart-shaped pancakes. walter e smithe. getting a penny or nickel for every clearance tag we pulled," says Meghanthe four daughters of Walter Smithe III have . The company made its website easier to use and more modern-looking. walter e smithe, furniture stores near me, ballinger vase buy, gold side end table, tall mirror, walter e smithe daughters, furniture . It was founded by Walter Edward Smithe and Bill Shanahan in 1945. But even as likable as the brothers are, do they run the risk of oversaturation or going to the well too often? It took the mother of six children a few years to figure out how to juggle her demanding career and busy home life. The commercials were being shot at a studio in Northfield and would result in enough footage for dozens of TV ads to appear over the next six months. The Smithe family announced that their patriarch died this past Sunday with his wife of 64 years, Florence Flynn Smithe, by his side. Walter E. Smithe also is changing up its ads. Walter E. Smithe told me they work with many designers but Jeff was really able to get a lot of value into the pieces in his collection and that its why . 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. Edit: I have been informed that they are the daughters, not the wives. Today, they help oversee 10 showrooms, the warehouse and headquarters, working together (generally) perfectly. The commercials are created in-house. The Smithes stand out because they're doing silly things. [7], Chicagoans have had mixed reactions to the Walter E. Smithe commercials. Subscribe to one or more of our free e-mail newsletters to get instant updates on local news, events, and opportunities in Chicago. But it wasn't long before he approached his youngest daughter with a proposition. ("You should keep that hat on for about three weeks. walter e smithe furniture - inc. walter e smithe furniture. He received a Bachelor of Philosophy in Commerce from the University of Notre Dame in 1958. He also hosted telethons. 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 can really do great things. Tim recalls Walt trying to smother him -- repeatedly, apparently -- with a bean bag chair. Chicago Parent, as a Zoe Communications Group company, is certified as a Womens Business Enterprise by the Womens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nations largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women. I only hear them on the radio. "They're having a lot of fun. The journey from Point A to Point B started with an all-blooper and outtakes reel that O'Neil and Tim Smithe put together as a birthday gift for mom Florence. We learned so much from these relationships, Colleen says. The sisters laughed at hearing this family adage, knowing that home furnishing has been woven into the tapestry of their lives. 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. 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 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. 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." It was a natural fit, she said. The 3rd brother, Tim Smithe, retired in 2016. 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. One of the first opportunities to test their compatibility was through a partnership with interior designer and TV personality Jeff Lewis. At-a-glance. It's pretty surprising they are still playing on these tired sexist tropes in this day and age. Since 1945, we have been Chicago's local source for quality furniture and expert 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.
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