https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_E._Smithe. Smithe's wife of 64 years was by his side when he passed, and he . 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. McCarthy was married to grandson of Walter E. Smithe, Timothy Smithe Jr. in Paris, France in June of 2013. . Smithe then went into the computer industry working for General Electric and IBM in 1967, according to his obit. You could say that the Smithes are a bit obsessed with quality. The are the Smithe sisters, Meghan, Colleen, Maureen and Caitie. walter e smithe furniture - inc. walter e smithe furniture. Favorite design style: Cozy and comfortableaka hygge ethos. '", "The business steadily increased since we started the commercials," Walt says. The implication was that he was doing/looking at something inappropriate. Over the last 13 years, one by one, Walters daughters have been hired on at Smithe as the jobs became available. 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. and runners at CB2 (800 W. North Ave., cb2.com). Chicagoans came to know and appreciate the three Smithe brothers who starred for years in quirky TV commercials touting their family-run furniture company. "[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. The company made its website easier to use and more modern-looking. The sisters laughed at hearing this family adage, knowing that home furnishing has been woven into the tapestry of their lives. Tim, 41, is the vice president of sales; he and his wife have four kids and live in Winnetka. Read the rest of the issue. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, - Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, Paddock Publications, Inc. is an Employee-Owned Company. There is no rule book that says they all need to matchmetals always compliment one another. Lewis Lazare. 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! [4][5] In 2008, they filmed and edited a takeoff of the Sex and the City franchise, with the brothers sipping "Smithe-o-politans". The commercial included the tagline "Change the Name, Change the Luck", a reference to the Cubs' decades-long struggle to reach the World Series. Colleen Smithe, Director of Advertising The boys' first ventures into the working world included Walt's daily paper route -- 70 Tribunes, three or four Sun-Times and a couple of Wall Street Journals -- that Tim helped him with ("I got 1 cent per paper, and I'd give Tim 10 cents for helping me"), and collecting beer cans that they resold at a Park Ridge flea market. We feel like we can now speak to the multitude of generations who shop with us, she says. While we still have traditional pieces, our showroom appeals to a number of different lifestyles. Meghan Smithe was on maternity leave when she began working part time in the family business, long known for its infectious jingle: You dream it, we build it.. Walter E. Smithe Jr. also earned a master's degree in Anthropology at Loyola University Chicago in 1980. 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. Sometimes you have to act fast. We had no grand plan.. The best commercial -- at least the one viewers relished -- featured this grating kid getting hit in the face with a pie. For example, Meghan had to miss her sons Valentines Day party at school this year, due to work responsibilities. An added factor in the commercials' success are the brothers, who come across as regular guys. Our lives can be overrun with technology, commitments and schedules. 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! Sibling revelry; Their offbeat commercials have made the Smithe brothers cult heroes. High School," Walter says. walter e smithe. 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. This has been our priority since we first began serving the Chicago area back in 1945. 22 miles. 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 the truth is, I love coming to the office. Favorite design style: Modern mixed with traditional. Create Comparison. Walter e smithe daughters. 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. They seem very pretentious I think. College was a turning point for the sisters, who now call one another their best friends. The Walter E. Smithe + Jeff Lewis showcase certainly fits the bill. The campaign was inspired in part by a partnership with designer/house-flipper Jeff Lewis of the Bravo show Flipping Out. Walter E. Smithe is a family business in every sense of the word, the sisters say. Since 1945 the company has . The Smithes: (L-R) Colleen, Meghan, Walter III, Walter Jr., Mark, Caitie, and Maureen. "And a woman was there with her daughter, and she nudged her and I heard her say, 'That's the Walter E. Smithe guy.' 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. "In a family business, everyone has to wear all hats at all times," Maureen said. Instead of starring third-generation brothers Walter III, Tim, and Mark, the new ones put the spotlight on fourth-generation sisters Caitie, Meghan, Maureen, and Colleen. 177 East Army Trail Road, Glendale Heights, IL 60139. The Bob's puppet is a far better actor than the Smithe girls though. Here, get to know this powerhouse quartet. And Mark, 40, is Smithe's general counsel; he and his partner live in Lincoln Park with Petey, a 4-year-old bulldog. They've relaunched catalogs showcasing their furniture in fully designed spaces. 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. This began a long series of lighthearted television commercials, which became increasingly elaborate over the next few years. 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.. The answer -- and the sisters' secret to success -- can be summed up in three key words: Fresh. It turned out so well that Tim carried along a copy to a speaking engagement. What The Walter E. Smithe Daughters Do . Press J to jump to the feed. Determine whether Walter E. Smithe Furniture grew or shrank during the last recession. "Pam, Bill and I are always on the watch for pop culture. [6], One of Walter E. Smithe's most discussed commercials aired in late March 2006. The girls got the bedrooms; the three boys shared a room in the basement. 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. With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs, Walter E. Smithe is a local furniture icon. So I'm speaking, and they're half listening, you know. Favorite design style: Clean and neutral. - 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. Its nice to see when a family is ready to replace a well-loved piece that they come back to Smithe to do it. To date, there are 10 Smithe stores scattered throughout Chicago, and one in northwest Indiana. 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. Sometimes it does not pay to work with family. "It's a big responsibility. My wife and I were just talking about this yesterday, we truly hate the Walter E Smithe commercials with the daughters. 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. And they're not showbiz types. Brothers Walt, Tim and Mark Smithe -- the faces of Walter E. Smithe Furniture -- seem to have hit on something with their ubiquitous ads. Its unjust to think that women can somehow balance it all, Colleen adds. "We're kind of strategically positioned in different departments," Meghan said. 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. 1251 W. Thorndale Ave. Itasca, IL 60143-1149. Margie, who used to be a buyer for Smithe, moved to St. Louis with her husband, who worked for Anheuser-Busch's ad agency. The Smithe sisters have always been close -- and growing up, it wasn't always by choice. Someone really needs a new marketing director/CMO/agency because they do not know what they are doing. Customers were more concerned with what we were selling versus the people who were selling it, she adds. Updating your home theater? We all trickled back in, and it happened really organically, says Meghan of the industrious quartet, who collectively has 17 children. "I think it's time for us to get out of these TV commercials," Walter said. 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. She is a celebrity who is genuinely interested in how her furniture will do and be perceived, Maureen says. "It was kind of a neat way to kick off our involvement in the business as a group.". The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, . Till your hair grows back."). ("You should keep that hat on for about three weeks. 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. "Some dabbled and moved on and others just weren't interested.". Not as long as they keep the commercials clever and topical, O'Neil says. This style is out there and we need to respond and get it on our floor. /r/Chicago is the place to discuss and stay updated on the daily happenings of Chicago, Illinois, USA. Walter E. Smithe Jr's death was announced Thursday on the company's Facebook page. USA. 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. They look hungry. "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. They pointed out how affordable the pieces are. 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. You want it to succeed and do well.". 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. Additional partnerships with the likes of Cynthia Rowley and Ellen Degeneres have exposed the company to a new customer base. Opening Day is March 30. 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. Like most mothers, whether theyre working or staying at home, we do what we can, she says. We get that question all the time, and that was to be expected," Colleen said. 1 Early life; 2 Television; 3 Personal Life; 4 References; . 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. The chemistry among this familial foursome is something parents can only hope for from their children. About. You have this sense of passion and responsibility for it. Then he and Thorson meet with his brothers and throw ideas around. He began working in the . This rating has improved by 10% over the last 12 months. It's not included in a shorter version now airing on TV. Like their brothers, the four Smithe sisters were all in the business when they were in high school. "KFC dances to beat of familiar drummers". We not only respect this, we embrace it.. No surprise why the quality is so crap. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. 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. In fact, none of the sisters seriously considered having a career in the company, founded by their great-grandfather in 1945. But I never forget that these are my sisters and I completely respect them. "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years. Smithe says that doing everything in-house allows them to be quick on their feet. "So that drove us, I think, to be successes.". While a new recession may strike a particular industry, measuring the industry and . Visit . The inky accents create a sleek statement against the white walls and lend a streamlined look to the space. Am I the only one who just thinks he looks like Louis CK? (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune). This is useful in estimating the financial strength and credit risk of the company. After college, all three gravitated back to the family business, which was founded by their father. 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 3rd brother, Tim Smithe, retired in 2016. If you find the right furniture, it will last even through your kids, Colleen says. How, they wondered, would longtime customers respond to four new female faces on their television screens? And I thought, `makeup and lighting. Itasca, IL 60143. Their advertising is creative, it's timely and it's interesting, so people remember it and they like it.". 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 has been known to take furniture for test drives, says Meghan. People are buying a look, but they want it to feel curated and personal., Its up to Maureen and Caitie to monitor the market, make sure the showroom reflects current palettes, while staying a few steps ahead of what is currently trending. To the Smithe sisters, the company has always been a piece of their identity, an integral thread of their childhood. Tim recalls Walt trying to smother him -- repeatedly, apparently -- with a bean bag chair. 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.". I can't breathe!' It said he passed away peacef 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. You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe . 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Walter E. SMITHE corporate office is located in 1775 W Rand Rd, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004, United States and has 382 employees. "They took different career paths," Tim says. Visit Website (opens in new window) Walter E. Smithe. As the fourth generation to run their family-owned Chicago furniture store, Walter. [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. 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.