Rocketreach finds email, phone & social media for 450M+ professionals. Regarded as top performer within the account and the Agency, as a result of consistent over-delivery, passion to grow the business . The company made its website easier to use and more modern-looking. 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. Meghan was hired in 2013 and now serves as director of sales strategy. With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs, Walter E. Smithe is a local furniture icon. Get 5 free searches. Caitie Smithe, Designer and Stylist. As mothers, all of us have cleaned up a childs spill, or even their vomit, from our furniture, Colleen jokes. Im stunned when people watch one of our makeovers and are surprised that Smithe carries so much of what they like, says Caitie. Then when I plugged it in, the place went up for grabs. After college, all three gravitated back to the family business, which was founded by their father. I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. To the Smithe sisters, the company has always been a piece of their identity, an integral thread of their childhood. And they're not showbiz types. "And I'd be yelling, `I can't breathe! Ellen is very serious about design and had a definite voice in what this modern-rustic-meets-farmhouse collection would be. "KFC dances to beat of familiar drummers". 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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. Whoever said brick-and-mortar is dead hasn't met the Smithe sisters. Warehouse workers go over every piece of inventory awaiting delivery with a fine-tooth comb, looking for things an untrained eye would never see. Determine whether Walter E. Smithe Furniture grew or shrank during the last recession. We strive to bring our clients the best in home furnishings for every style, budget, and stage of life. That collective experience comes in handy ahead of any major decisions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_E._Smithe. The implication was that he was doing/looking at something inappropriate. 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. Bringing new and various textures into a room can take it from plain and lacking in interest to exciting and memorable. [7], Chicagoans have had mixed reactions to the Walter E. Smithe 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. 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. The commercials are created in-house. The sisters laughed at hearing this family adage, knowing that home furnishing has been woven into the tapestry of their lives. 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. 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. "The majority of what we run is informational and tells about the company, but those aren't the ones people are talking about at the water cooler. 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. "By being so close and meeting so regularly, we're all in the loop with what's happening in each other's sphere. What The Walter E. Smithe Daughters Do . Further confused by the commercials now. Sometimes it does not pay to work with family. hbspt.forms.create({ It's pretty surprising they are still playing on these tired sexist tropes in this day and age. We connect families with the best local resources, advice, stories, things to do with kids and much more. We are a 4th generation family-owned business, and our employees are an integral part of . 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. The CBS Chicago team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on CBSChicago.com. "In what seems to be their unending and over-the-top zeal to self-promote, they just may be helping drive traffic," he wrote, adding, "If nothing else, the advertising suggests the chain has some suits with personality attached. Who are the Walter E Smithe daughters? 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. Caitie was a manufacturers' representative before becoming a stay-at-home mom. But one by one, they followed Maureen's lead and rejoined the family business. 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. I'm so annoyed that I won't buy anything from there. Chicago, IL. Oct 2012 - Apr 20152 years 7 months. And yet, as they went off to college and moved into the next phase of life, they were never expected to someday return full time. As the oldest sibling, Maureen was the first to officially join Walter E. Smithe in a professional capacity in 2004. We feel like we can now speak to the multitude of generations who shop with us, she says. Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. The Smithe boys started out in a tiny ranch house in Des Plaines, the children of Walter Jr. and Florence. Our lives can be overrun with technology, commitments and schedules. How could the Itasca-based company break the mold and reach a new audience while still carrying its message into a fourth generation? 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. "They go a long way with a limited budget through the use of creativity," he says. Like most mothers, whether theyre working or staying at home, we do what we can, she says. "[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". Others have been parodies of reality television shows, such as The Apprentice and The Bachelor. Smithe guy Walt actually Walter Smithe III 45 is president and general manager of the. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Someone really needs a new marketing director/CMO/agency because they do not know what they are doing. Read on to find out more about pelvic floor therapy and how it's growing in popularity among postpartum women. 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 . Nothing is left unchanged, Meghan notes. 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. The first order of business: ditch the longstanding, highly recognizable ad campaign featuring their father and two uncles. Sometimes its the only quiet I get.. Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. While it may not be usable 365 days a year, the days that your outdoor space are in fact usable should be embraced. Main Telephone (630) 285-8000. Favorite design style: Cozy and comfortableaka hygge ethos. 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. There have been more than a thousand of them since, and thanks to the magic of cable TV he is now a national celebrity. The Smithe sisters have always been close -- and growing up, it wasn't always by choice. Today, they help oversee 10 showrooms, the warehouse and headquarters, working together (generally) perfectly. But always start from a place where we love each other and enjoy working together., Between the ages of 10 and 18, former Barrington High School soccer, For Olympian Patrick Gasienica, ski jumping has been a part of his, Dr. Rekha S. Rajan has devoted her personal and professional life to, One of the most prestigious dance companies in the world, The Joffrey, Saint Anne Catholic Community Churchs Project Hope ministry, A night of sequin-studded disco fever, the 5th Annual Hoosier Ball was. In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. "We're kind of strategically positioned in different departments," Meghan said. I'm a brand manager and their commercials make the brand seem like a discount bin. The daughters took over the company. Pinterest. Additional partnerships with the likes of Cynthia Rowley and Ellen Degeneres have exposed the company to a new customer base. "We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". Mix together different, but complimentary, elements such as woods, metals and stonesand feel free to mix various metals together. There's a lot of blurred lines, and we have to learn when to defer to each other.". Is she OK? 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. This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of Chicago Parent. Itasca, IL 60143. The Feldco guy creeps me out more. What are they up to?' "I was invited to speak to 300-some designers in Oak Brook," he says. The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. Please enter valid email address to continue. No surprise why the quality is so crap. Their dad, the company's president, continued filming his signature ads with his brother, Mark, for a short period of time, Colleen said. and runners at CB2 (800 W. North Ave., cb2.com). The fourth generation of Smithe leadership is hoping that this young, fresh approach to advertising and marketing will resonate with a consumer base that hasnt yet shopped with Smithe before. 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. This has been our priority since we first began serving the Chicago area back in 1945. "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years. Haute Living is a network of luxury publications with bimonthly regional editions in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco. But the truth is, I love coming to the office. His daughters were hesitant at first, questioning whether they were ready for such a responsibility. Over the last 13 years, one by one, Walters daughters have been hired on at Smithe as the jobs became available. I think people felt sorry for me, assuming that I wasnt getting any sleep and having to come to work every day, says Maureen. His line was, `If you can talk you can breathe.'". Till your hair grows back."). "With a strategy to continue Smithe parodies of relevant topics, really, the future is limitless," he says. The are the Smithe sisters, Meghan, Colleen, Maureen and Caitie. Smithe says that doing everything in-house allows them to be quick on their feet. Their camaraderie is genuine, and they can easily share ideas and bounce between conversations. 443 were here. Edited to add: Looked them up and gee, it's one of the daughters managing the marketing. Since 1945, we have been Chicago's local source for quality furniture and expert design. Spoken like the daughter of a true shop owner, as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. The store, which has 10 locations in the Chicago area, has been open for nearly 75 years and has faced all the challenges of . When the boys took over from their father, there were about a half-dozen stores. Walter E. Smithe Jr. also earned a master's degree in Anthropology at Loyola University Chicago in 1980. But the sisters also know they can always turn to the leaders who came before them. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. She is a celebrity who is genuinely interested in how her furniture will do and be perceived, Maureen says. Visit . Still, the Smithes have had to weather various challenges since joining the company, including the retirement of their uncle, Tim. 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. Their interactions were zany, their dialogue lighthearted, their catchy jingle -- "you dream it, we build it" -- recognizable throughout the region. They're nice folks. "We're dreamers and we have big ideas," Meghan said. and became working moms in different industries. So I'm speaking, and they're half listening, you know. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design. / CBS Chicago. Sibling revelry; Their offbeat commercials have made the Smithe brothers cult heroes. I only hear them on the radio. - Lynn Hauldren: Who? When they get a topic, Smithe says, he tries to figure a way to blend it into an ad. We understand that customers see a certain look on, say, Instagram and they want it replicated in their own home, Colleen says. with Maureen Smithe Brusznicki and Caitie Smithe Jisa at Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design. "It's a big responsibility. But now a new generationsisters Meghan, Colleen, Maureen, and Caitie . Explore. Now, a lot more people know about us than knew a few years ago.". While they took breaks from the biz to make their own way after college, each came back when the right positions opened up. 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 . They've transitioned into the spotlight. If you grew up in Chicago, you can probably hum it. However, Lewis Lazare, the Chicago Sun-Times' advertising critic, has defended the commercials. 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. walter e smithe furniture inc. 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. So, somewhat reluctantly, they let themselves become the public face of Walter E. Smithe Furniture. Getting the Smithes in front of the camera wasn't easy. The Walter E. Smithe + Jeff Lewis showcase certainly fits the bill. Feb 20, 2022 - The 4th generation of Walter E. Smithe family stops by to visit Bob and Marianne. Now, the Itasca-based furniture and interior design company wants you to get to know the Smithe sisters. Hauldren -- an advertising copywriter who created the character -- first appeared in the ads in 1973. Were a Chicago company that was given national exposure. Were not trying to portray an image that working mothers can pull off everything without something falling through, Maureen says candidly. But now a new generationsisters Meghan, Colleen, Maureen, and Caitie Smitheis shaking things up in a big way. Furniture Stores. 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. It's partnered with celebrity designers and broadened the mix of products carried in stores, online and in its resurrected catalog to include more current trends and a wider range of price points. William Hageman and Tribune staff reporter. The commercial included the tagline "Change the Name, Change the Luck", a reference to the Cubs' decades-long struggle to reach the World Series. Favorite design style: Modern mixed with traditional. Also would somebody please feed them? "In a family business, everyone has to wear all hats at all times," Maureen said. The original simple jingle and slogan was perfect. There is no rule book that says they all need to matchmetals always compliment one another. The Itasca-based company has 10 locations across Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, where the sisters ply their fourth-generation talents. They pointed out how affordable the pieces are. It was a natural fit, she said. Lewis Lazare. Were really excited about this program, explains Meghan. We get that question all the time, and that was to be expected," Colleen said. 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 company began in 1945 as Tone Appliances and Furniture, a single store on Belmont Avenue in Chicago. E. Smithe sisters Caitie, Colleen, Meghan and Maureen were introduced to the business at a young age. The first change I noticed was it became all about the sons. I gave up sleep and TV, Maureen jokes. 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. I was probably in elementary school when I would come in to work in the warehouse sweeping for a nickel Colleen says. The Smithe brothers commercials Chicagoans are used to were great for getting the Walter E. Smithe name out, but the new ads put the focus back on the furniture and design services, said Meghan Smithe. It's not included in a shorter version now airing on TV. At Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, we are committed to helping our clients love their homes through expert design, quality furnishings, and exemplary service. 70 reviews of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design "This is a really good store for when you hit age 40 or so and realize your house still resembles a college dorm. For instance, finding that perfect piece of decorative furniture that creatively doubles as a toy box for kids games, toys and video devices. Here, get to know this powerhouse quartet. "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. During a stint in the Army, Smithe attained the rank of captain and became an expert in the field of computers. 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. Walter E. Smithe Jr. Obituary. "That's F-A-M-E, with an E". 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. Relevant. She had been a buyer for Abercrombie and Fitch for a few years after college when a job opened up in the Smithe merchandising office. Zajdel was a driver for Victory when he made the commercial a quarter-century ago. High School," Walter says. Hope, once a Smithe designer and store manager, now lives in Colorado with her husband. That was the extent of his pitchman career. Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Home & Garden, Interior Design. ". They were each only a year apart, at one point covering all four grade levels at Barrington High School. getting a penny or nickel for every clearance tag we pulled," says Meghanthe four daughters of Walter Smithe III have . 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.. 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. 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. "[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. You may also light a candle in honor of Walter E. Smithe Jr. or send a beautiful flower arrangement to the funeral . 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. 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 is a furniture company based in Itasca, Illinois. It was founded by Walter Edward Smithe and Bill Shanahan in 1945. Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up in the Northwest Side's Belmont Central neighborhood. 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. Take dress up and glam up a notch with a self-care day at this luxurious spa for kids and tweens. Lewis teamed up with Smithes merchandising team to create in-store vignettes, and also featured the store on his show. The answer -- and the sisters' secret to success -- can be summed up in three key words: Fresh. The 86-year-old patriarch of the Smithe family, Walter Edward Smithe Jr., "died . By last year, though, each had returned to the company their great-grandfather founded. Born in the heart of Chicago, we're a family owned and operated local business since 1945, now four generations strong. So much misogyny in these comments, their commercials have always been cheesy and annoying. (He's now semi-retired, having turned the business over to his sons about 10 years ago.). [6], One of Walter E. Smithe's most discussed commercials aired in late March 2006. walter e smithe furniture - inc. walter e smithe furniture. 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. Walter E. Smithe is a family business in every sense of the word, the sisters say. He also hosted telethons. Press J to jump to the feed. "It almost feels like the business is, in a weird way, a member of the family. (Last year, Walter E. Smithe resurrected the 1950s-era cartoon that was a holiday staple on WGN-Ch. Walter has been known to take furniture for test drives, says Meghan. 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. How could they ensure the 75-year-old brand would be sustainable for decades to come? Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design is a family-owned furniture retailer, founded right here in Chicago, back in 1945. Plus, they seem like nice guys. "What about you and your sisters?". In some of the footage, youll see my dad installing a dimmer or my uncle driving a truck. 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. 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.