Nothing is left unchanged, Meghan notes. "I think it's time for us to get out of these TV commercials," Walter said. Mark admonished Walt to keep his feet off the furniture. 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. Furniture store patriarch Walter E. Smithe Jr. dies at 86 Postpartum bladder leaks are common but there's help. Reaching a younger demographic and expanding their clientele has required some creativity, the sisters said. A matte black bathtub, vanity mirrors and hardware pop against the airy walls in this modern primary bathroom. "Instead we did it on the turn of a dime. Walter E. Smithe III, is the President of family owned and operated Walter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. View a map of participating First Friday locations. Walter E. Smithe Furniture founder, Walter E. Smithe Jr., dies at 86 Am I the only one who just thinks he looks like Louis CK? 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. CHICAGO (CBS) -- Walter Edward Smithe Jr., the founder of Chicago's Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86. It was founded by Walter Edward Smithe and Bill Shanahan in 1945. Since 1945, we have been Chicago's local source for quality furniture and expert design. "It's never gone completely crazy -- no one can say that one commercial will bring customers in -- but we kind of thought it re-established us in the marketplace. [1] 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 advertising). 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. We understand that customers see a certain look on, say, Instagram and they want it replicated in their own home, Colleen says. Last edited on 17 December 2022, at 02:33, https://incfact.com/company/walteresmithefurniture-itasca-il/, Walter E. Smithe gives royal treatment to Royal Manner. There have been more than a thousand of them since, and thanks to the magic of cable TV he is now a national celebrity. "And they've been able to personalize a retail chain through the use of the brothers. 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. Ask how we can add diversity to your supply chain. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs, Walter E. Smithe is a local furniture icon. "We're not your parents' furniture company," Caitie said. They've spruced up their styles, selling more contemporary pieces among their traditional designs. Watch. This initiative calls for all hands on deck. McCarthy was married to grandson of Walter E. Smithe, Timothy Smithe Jr. in Paris, France in June of 2013. . The Smithe brothers used good-natured humor on countless TV commercials selling furniture. From 5 to 8 p.m., select retailers will offer refreshments while highlighting unique designers. So is there a `Wally and the Sofa Factory' in our future?". Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, - Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, Paddock Publications, Inc. is an Employee-Owned Company. Oct 2012 - Apr 20152 years 7 months. This led to the development of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design. And Mark, 40, is Smithe's general counsel; he and his partner live in Lincoln Park with Petey, a 4-year-old bulldog. It was a natural fit, she said. But when they finally decided to accept, they knew they needed to come up with a unique and effective way to introduce themselves to the Chicago market as the new faces of Walter E. Smithe. Over the past 76 years, the company has grown to include 10 Chicago area showrooms. While a new recession may strike a particular industry, measuring the industry and . I havent seen the Tile Outlet lady in a while!! The four women have been taking on bigger roles at the company and star in its new ad. The Smithe boys started out in a tiny ranch house in Des Plaines, the children of Walter Jr. and Florence. As mothers, all of us have cleaned up a childs spill, or even their vomit, from our furniture, Colleen jokes. His line was, `If you can talk you can breathe.'". Walter E. Smithe Jr., Founder of Popular Chicago-Area Furniture Company ("Did you notice he used the wide-angle lens when he shot your [rear end]?"). "Pam, Bill and I are always on the watch for pop culture. 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. Relevant. In recent years, Smithe enjoyed his time with extended family. Kneen & Co. (399 W. Fullerton Pkwy., Ste. 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. An added factor in the commercials' success are the brothers, who come across as regular guys. 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. 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. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design - Yelp Its a constant toggle between work and family talk, notes Colleen, but at the end of the day theyre focused on creating a furniture company that helps clients truly curate a home. One of the first opportunities to test their compatibility was through a partnership with interior designer and TV personality Jeff Lewis. 1 Early life; 2 Television; 3 Personal Life; 4 References; . 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.. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. He attended the University of Notre Dame and earned a bachelor 's . The founder of well-known Chicago-area furniture company Walter E. Smithe has died, his family announced Wednesday. Now, there are 12, a 115,000-square-foot headquarters in Itasca and more than 550 employees, and this year Walter E. Smithe Furniture will do $100 million in sales. 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. 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. Its no longer that way.. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design. We don't take that lightly.". I gave up sleep and TV, Maureen jokes. This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of Chicago Parent. This has been our priority since we first began serving the Chicago area back in 1945. 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. "As furniture commercials go, what the Smithes are doing is great," he says. Furniture Stores. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. He received a Bachelor of Philosophy in Commerce from the University of Notre Dame in 1958. Pinterest. "They're having a lot of fun. Someone really needs a new marketing director/CMO/agency because they do not know what they are doing. As Caitie puts it, Theres no reason you cant use an entertainment console as a buffet in the dining room.. USA. Contents. 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 repeated airings of the ad have made him and his door legendary. To make up for it, she woke up early to make heart-shaped pancakes. Walter E. Smithe Trade In Sale - YouTube She is a celebrity who is genuinely interested in how her furniture will do and be perceived, Maureen says. 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. Walter E. Smithe Furn-Itasca | Better Business Bureau Profile The Chicago native attended Fenwick High School and the University of Notre Dame. "With a strategy to continue Smithe parodies of relevant topics, really, the future is limitless," he says. For people who are in their 40s and have families, that's how brothers act around each other when they get together. The are the Smithe sisters, Meghan, Colleen, Maureen and Caitie. Cindy went to college in Iowa and settled there after school. Unlike their brothers, they chose other careers. Favorite design style: Cozy and comfortableaka hygge ethos. walter e smithe furniture inc. Compare how recession-proof Walter E Smithe Furniture is relative to the industry overall. "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years," Meghan said. "[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. In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. Now, a lot more people know about us than knew a few years ago.". Through March 16, enjoy savings of up to 20 percent on select rugs (hopscotch, anyone?) Walter Smithe III and Mark Smithe (the Smithe Brothers) are the sons of Walter Jr, and serve as President and VP/Legal Counsel, respectively. The girls got the bedrooms; the three boys shared a room in the basement. I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. Its a tough balance, but I like figuring out the retail puzzle.. Get Eric Clark's email address (e*****@smithe.com) and phone number at RocketReach. She has a few ideas for how to add a little spring to your home. Smithe Parker leads Walter E. Smithe advertising (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune). (Last year, Walter E. Smithe resurrected the 1950s-era cartoon that was a holiday staple on WGN-Ch. Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Smithe Furniture, dies at 86 I was probably in elementary school when I would come in to work in the warehouse, sweeping for a nickel, Colleen says of the brand, which first opened in 1945. 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. But it wasn't long before he approached his youngest daughter with a proposition. Even their more than 250 employees are treated like family. 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. The Smithe sisters now serve as the face . ", Instead they talk about the U2/iTunes takeoff, the brothers' version of "The Apprentice" or the Olympic parody from last year. 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. 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. Walter E. Smithe Jr. died peacefully at age 86, his family said in a prepared statement. Primary Address. "That was the best part," she said. As their father, the company president, has told customers for decades, Life is too short to sit on uncomfortable furniture.. Sibling revelry; Their offbeat commercials have made the Smithe brothers cult heroes. Most recently, she was at . 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. "We're all rolling up our sleeves and getting dirty. Smithe Family Takeover - Country Magazine The Smithe sisters, all in their thirties, worked in the family business as teens but pursued different career paths in adulthood. "Some dabbled and moved on and others just weren't interested.". 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. Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. We had no grand plan.. The 86-year-old patriarch of the Smithe family, Walter Edward Smithe Jr., "died . They decided on an ad campaign that would, simply, pitch their product. "The brothers have no acting talent," Tim says. Their interactions were zany, their dialogue lighthearted, their catchy jingle -- "you dream it, we build it" -- recognizable throughout the region. We learned so much from these relationships, Colleen says. Currently, there are 3 generations involved in the business: Walter Smithe Jr is retired, but regularly visits the showrooms. 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. Calkins says that by minimizing production costs and media costs and doing those quick turnarounds, Smithe gets a bigger bang for its advertising buck. That's why when she and her three sisters -- Maureen, Meghan and Caitie -- were asked a few years ago to transition into the role their father and uncles held for so long, they weren't immediately receptive. Caitie was a manufacturers' representative before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Along the way, they got married, had children (17 in all!) between Scott Ave. and Tower Rd., Winnetka, shophwdd.com) hosts a First Friday event on the North Shore. The transition took place over the span of 12 years as key positions became available in the company, starting with Maureen who became a merchandise buyer. Walter E Smithe Daughters - Aniya Hendrix Trends Margie, who used to be a buyer for Smithe, moved to St. Louis with her husband, who worked for Anheuser-Busch's ad agency. "It's a big responsibility. He cites the U2 music video takeoff. Meet The Walter E. Smithe Furniture Sisters - Luxe - Design But now a new generationsisters Meghan, Colleen, Maureen, and Caitie . Regarded as top performer within the account and the Agency, as a result of consistent over-delivery, passion to grow the business . "Staying fresh, young . "And of course this summer's blockbuster is supposed to be `Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' Walter E. Smithe Furniture - Employees, Contact info, Overview - Wiza Her sisters had fallen into their own specialties and were pursuing different paths at the time. "[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". Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. Edit: I have been informed that they are the daughters, not the wives. 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. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. 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. Indian Trail, High Street intersection work approved in Aurora, Suspect in high-speed chase crashes into, kills veteran Indiana State Trooper trying to stop him: officials, Educators get peek at Paramount play about artificial intelligence which is set to tour schools, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information.