At-a-glance. Lewis Lazare. William Hageman and Tribune staff reporter. But I never forget that these are my sisters and I completely respect them. Brothers Walt, Tim and Mark Smithe -- the faces of Walter E. Smithe Furniture -- seem to have hit on something with their ubiquitous ads. "We're all rolling up our sleeves and getting dirty. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design. 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 Chicago's Best Furniture and Expert Design. 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. As mothers, theyve learned its not only possible, but preferable, to have a functional yet beautiful home. The sisters laughed at hearing this family adage, knowing that home furnishing has been woven into the tapestry of their lives. For the most part, that relationship translates well in the business world, they say. We are a 4th generation family-owned business, and our employees are an integral part of . 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. "So that drove us, I think, to be successes.". This is useful in estimating the financial strength and credit risk of the company. . 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. It was founded by Walter Edward Smithe and Bill Shanahan in 1945. A new collection at Holly Hunt, discounts at EuroFurniture, a First Friday event at Hubbard Woods Design District, and more. 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. - 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. They seem very pretentious I think. Primary Address. This is not how you attract a premium buyer or build a premium brand. 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! Whoever said brick-and-mortar is dead hasn't met the Smithe sisters. You have this sense of passion and responsibility for it. 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. Its no longer that way.. CHICAGO The founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design has died. formId: "acc781a7-d0b4-433d-bc7f-c5bac12f3766" Dazzling Divas Glam Mansion Offers the Ultimate Diva Experience, Family Guide to Attending a Chicago Cubs Game at Wrigley Field, Pelvic Floor Therapy Growing in Popularity for Women, 10 Non-Candy Items for Your Kids Easter Basket. The Smithe sisters are working to expose the brand to a new customer base Photo credit: Robin Subar. One of my friends used to live near Fullerton and Western, and she would always tell people she lived near Tile Outlet. Who are the Walter E Smithe daughters? Those early Smithe commercials were straight-forward affairs, with each brother talking about his area of expertise -- Walt discussed the merchandise, Tim the company's designers, and Mark Smithe's delivery system and customer satisfaction -- and, of course, the furniture. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Hauldren -- an advertising copywriter who created the character -- first appeared in the ads in 1973. Some have criticized the spots for underemphasizing Walter E. Smithe's actual furniture products. I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. Walter E. Smithe Furniture, Inc. Corporate Profile - Winmo The brothers are recognized on the street, in grocery stores and coffee shops ("I got a free Starbucks latte once," Tim says). Am I the only one who just thinks he looks like Louis CK? 9's "Garfield Goose" and "Ray Rayner" shows. The two renamed the store Smithe and Shanahan, but Bill Shanahan eventually sold his share to Smithe's brother Charlie. What she does: I use both sides of my brain: left for all the analytical spreadsheet stuff and right for the creative vision. Oct 2012 - Apr 20152 years 7 months. Jeff Lewis's collection of vignettes is available at Walter E. Smithe's 11 showrooms in Chicago, and online. We take inspiration from the world of interior design to curate customized . And they wanted a way to build the brand. 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. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. 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. Thats fast, but it shows what we can do. 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. "Smithes have fun at the old ballpark". 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. Walter Smithe III and his brothers Mark and Tim helped make the furniture store a household name with clever commercials -- a tradition that's continued with Smithe III's four daughters, Colleen . 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. It's pretty surprising they are still playing on these tired sexist tropes in this day and age. '", "I was at a gym on a treadmill," Mark says of the first time he caught one of the commercials. Her sisters had fallen into their own specialties and were pursuing different paths at the time. Young. How could they ensure the 75-year-old brand would be sustainable for decades to come? Unlike their brothers, they chose other careers. To their delight, the reaction to that initial campaign was primarily positive, as has been the case for every commercial they've produced since. Chicago magazine newsletters have you covered. Walter E. Smithe Furniture founder, Walter E. Smithe Jr., dies at 86 This style is out there and we need to respond and get it on our floor. And it's not uncommon for their kids to make cameo appearances in advertisements or to help sort through fabric samples, "which would technically make it a five-generation business," Maureen says. Chicago Furniture | Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design | Meet the Smithes One by one, each sister began working in the family business. Our dad always put an emphasis on hard work, and it stuck with us.. We see this country chic trend currently happening as a design emergency, says Maureen. Contact Information. Woven Roman shades, a jute rug and a blonde wood vanity usher texture and warmth into the otherwise minimalist design. They pointed out how affordable the pieces are. Colleen Smithe, Director of Advertising Furniture Stores. Zajdel was a driver for Victory when he made the commercial a quarter-century ago. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, specializing in custom upholstery, and operates ten showrooms throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. 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. "And of course this summer's blockbuster is supposed to be `Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' 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. The implication was that he was doing/looking at something inappropriate. The Smithe brothers have been described as "Chicago's most recognizable furniture purveyors", due to their ubiquitous television commercials starring themselves. Colleen Smithe - Director of Advertising - Walter E. Smithe Furniture This rating has improved by 10% over the last 12 months. 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.. Walter E. Smithe III, the company's president, and his four beautiful Walter E. Smithe is a furniture company based in Itasca, Illinois. The 3rd brother, Tim Smithe, retired in 2016. Further confused by the commercials now. Warehouse workers go over every piece of inventory awaiting delivery with a fine-tooth comb, looking for things an untrained eye would never see. Give yourself time to just be in a comfortable and beautiful outdoor space. Building upon the Smithe family legacy is a big responsibility, the sisters said, one they've embraced with fervor. This began a long series of lighthearted television commercials, which became increasingly elaborate over the next few years. 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.. As they grew into their teens, there were the usual summer jobs -- caddying, yard work, selling ice cream from a motorized three-wheeler. 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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. In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. Walter E. Smithe Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design 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. 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. But one by one, they followed Maureen's lead and rejoined the family business. Walter E Smithe Daughters - Aniya Hendrix Trends It also featured an appearance by Dutchie Caray, wife of the late Cubs announcer Harry Caray. The Smithe boys started out in a tiny ranch house in Des Plaines, the children of Walter Jr. and Florence. They brought in real clients, worked with real designers and demonstrated each sister's essential role within the business. 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. We get that question all the time, and that was to be expected," Colleen said. Smithe Family Takeover - Country Magazine 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. Subscribe for free today! "They've done a wonderful job building a distinctive brand," says Tim Calkins, a professor of marketing at Northwestern University. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Spoken like the daughter of a true "shop owner," as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. "There was some physical violence between the brothers," Walt says with that satisfied look of a big brother who got to dish it out. 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. 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. Walter E. Smithe Jr., head of family furniture dynasty, dead at 86 Subscribe to one or more of our free e-mail newsletters to get instant updates on local news, events, and opportunities in Chicago. - Lynn Hauldren: Who? The daughters took over the company. portalId: "6766057", In fact, none of the sisters seriously considered having a career in the company, founded by their great-grandfather in 1945. "An hour and a half. As their father, the company president, has told customers for decades, Life is too short to sit on uncomfortable furniture.. Their advertising is creative, it's timely and it's interesting, so people remember it and they like it.". The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, . The original simple jingle and slogan was perfect. This has been our priority since we first began serving the Chicago area back in 1945. Even their more than 250 employees are treated like family. The commercials are created in-house. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. His sons, Walter, Tim, and Mark, joined the company in the 1970s and 1980s. Their dad, the company's president, continued filming his signature ads with his brother, Mark, for a short period of time, Colleen said. The company began in 1945 as Tone Appliances and Furniture, a single store on Belmont Avenue in Chicago. 22 miles. "The girls have all worked elsewhere before coming back to Smithe," says Walter of his daughters who have had careers ranging from merchandising to advertising. The are the Smithe sisters, Meghan, Colleen, Maureen and Caitie. Caitie Smithe is aDesigner, Design Coordinator + Stylist atWalter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. You can still be a fun premium brand (Virgin, for example) but this is Family Dollar-type schtick. We learned so much from these relationships, Colleen says. and became working moms in different industries. "I was invited to speak to 300-some designers in Oak Brook," he says. He began working in the . "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years," Meghan said. I presented my ideas for this two weeks ago and it will be out on the floor in three weeks. Walter has been known to take furniture for test drives, says Meghan. She is a celebrity who is genuinely interested in how her furniture will do and be perceived, Maureen says. "With a strategy to continue Smithe parodies of relevant topics, really, the future is limitless," he says. Best Outlet Walter E Smithe near Glendale Heights, IL 60139 - Yelp 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. Press J to jump to the feed. (Last year, Walter E. Smithe resurrected the 1950s-era cartoon that was a holiday staple on WGN-Ch. 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. In some of the footage, youll see my dad installing a dimmer or my uncle driving a truck. Compare how recession-proof Walter E. Smithe Furniture is relative to the industry overall. Last year there aas a commercial where the puppet quickly moved to close his laptop when someone came in the office. One of the first opportunities to test their compatibility was through a partnership with interior designer and TV personality Jeff Lewis. My sisters and I represent the viewpoint of our younger clientele, Meghan says. "We were kind of like dorks, geeks, growing up," Mark says. What The Walter E. Smithe Daughters Do . Our lives can be overrun with technology, commitments and schedules. Then he and Thorson meet with his brothers and throw ideas around. Its very much in line with our desire to offer the most beautiful pieces that are of the highest quality. Walter E. Smithe Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design 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.. 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 10 years of advertising industry experience, Smithe Parker, daughter of President Walter E. Smithe III, has worked with high-profile advertising agencies in Chicago. Nothing is left unchanged, Meghan notes. The four women have been taking on bigger roles at the company and star in its new ad. But they do have a business. Watch. There have been more than a thousand of them since, and thanks to the magic of cable TV he is now a national celebrity. Shop now. "The brothers have no acting talent," Tim says. It was a natural fit, she said. 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. 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. 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. Its unjust to think that women can somehow balance it all, Colleen adds. 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. Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. 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. Walter E. Smithe Jr. also earned a master's degree in Anthropology at Loyola University Chicago in 1980. "It's been about reworking how we approach visually what we want to convey about the product that we're selling," Meghan said. Along the way, they got married, had children (17 in all!) Sisters Take Smithe Spotlight, More High-End Barware, and a Sofa Sale "And a woman was there with her daughter, and she nudged her and I heard her say, 'That's the Walter E. Smithe guy.' When Smithe makes a furniture delivery, Its not uncommon for our crews to bring a 25-year-old sofa with a Smithe sticker on it back to this warehouse, Meghan says. "Staying fresh, young . The Smithe family announced that their patriarch died this past Sunday with his wife of 64 years, Florence Flynn Smithe, by his side. "[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. Walter E. Smithe also is changing up its ads. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design - Yelp "There are still people who ask us, 'Where are the brothers? Walter Smithe III and Mark Smithe (the Smithe Brothers) are the sons of Walter Jr, and serve as President and VP/Legal Counsel, respectively. It takes work and sacrifice.. walter e smithe, furniture stores near me, ballinger vase buy, gold side end table, tall mirror, walter e smithe daughters, furniture . 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. We strive to bring our clients the best in home furnishings for every style, budget, and. We feel like we can now speak to the multitude of generations who shop with us, she says. Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up in the Northwest Side's Belmont Central neighborhood. 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. "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. The first change I noticed was it became all about the sons. The store, which has 10 locations in the Chicago area, has been open for nearly 75 years and has faced all the challenges of . getting a penny or nickel for every clearance tag we pulled," says Meghanthe four daughters of Walter Smithe III have . Determine whether Walter E. Smithe Furniture grew or shrank during the last recession. [6], One of Walter E. Smithe's most discussed commercials aired in late March 2006. I only hear them on the radio. As mothers, all of us have cleaned up a childs spill, or even their vomit, from our furniture, Colleen jokes. They've transitioned into the spotlight. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. 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.