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Compare how recession-proof Walter E. Smithe Furniture is relative to the industry overall. Our dad always put an emphasis on hard work, and it stuck with us.. The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. Be sure to visit Sawbridge Studios, which will showcase sustainably harvested, live-edge furniture by David Stine. "That is the top priority for the four of us," Meghan Smithe said. They're nice folks. 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. Some have criticized the spots for underemphasizing Walter E. Smithe's actual furniture products. 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. 9615 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077. The implication was that he was doing/looking at something inappropriate. He NEVER blinks. 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. He received a Bachelor of Philosophy in Commerce from the University of Notre Dame in 1958. About. As the fourth generation to run their family-owned Chicago furniture store, Walter. "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. Please enter valid email address to continue. "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 CBS Chicago team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on CBSChicago.com. 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. 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. "We're dreamers and we have big ideas," Meghan said. The best commercial -- at least the one viewers relished -- featured this grating kid getting hit in the face with a pie. Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Home & Garden, Interior Design. We take inspiration from the world of interior design to curate customized . 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. When they get a topic, Smithe says, he tries to figure a way to blend it into an ad. What are they up to?' 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. Ellen is very serious about design and had a definite voice in what this modern-rustic-meets-farmhouse collection would be. Postpartum bladder leaks are common but there's help. 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. Nah, I know a few of them. How, they wondered, would longtime customers respond to four new female faces on their television screens? And Amy is a singer and songwriter. 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. "They were loved," said Colleen Smithe, the youngest daughter of Walter Smithe III. The company began in 1945 as Tone Appliances and Furniture, a single store on Belmont Avenue in Chicago. Like most mothers, whether theyre working or staying at home, we do what we can, she says. That was the extent of his pitchman career. You can still be a fun premium brand (Virgin, for example) but this is Family Dollar-type schtick. 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. The Smithe brothers are following in the footsteps of other memorable Chicago commercial icons: - Jim Moran: Starting in the late '40s, "The Courtesy Man" sponsored wrestling programs, late-night movies, a country-and-western music show and his own variety show. Nothing is left unchanged, Meghan notes. Im stunned when people watch one of our makeovers and are surprised that Smithe carries so much of what they like, says Caitie. It's pretty surprising they are still playing on these tired sexist tropes in this day and age. - Lynn Hauldren: Who? They pointed out how affordable the pieces are. Oct 2012 - Apr 20152 years 7 months. We get that question all the time, and that was to be expected," Colleen said. Born in the heart of Chicago, we're a family owned and operated local business since 1945, now four generations strong. Anyone got a link to the current commercial? walter e smithe furniture & design. In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. William Hageman and Tribune staff reporter. We strive to bring our clients the best in home furnishings for every style, budget, and. Trendwise, Caitie says the color gurus at Pantone were right on when they selected a bright shade of green as Color of the Year. In some of the footage, youll see my dad installing a dimmer or my uncle driving a truck. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. "Staying fresh, young . 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. 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. Getting the Smithes in front of the camera wasn't easy. 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. 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. They decided on an ad campaign that would, simply, pitch their product. "The brothers have no acting talent," Tim says. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The company's commercials were originally straightforward descriptions of their products and services, but in 2003, the brothers decided to include outtakes from past filmings, which showed the brothers stumbling over words and laughing at each other. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. between Scott Ave. and Tower Rd., Winnetka, shophwdd.com) hosts a First Friday event on the North Shore. 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. Who are these guys? Walter E. SMITHE corporate office is located in 1775 W Rand Rd, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004, United States and has 382 employees. 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. Our learning curve has been steep and long, with a lot of challenges, says Colleen, flanked by her sisters at the familys Lincoln Park location, a 10,000-square-foot boutique store. formId: "acc781a7-d0b4-433d-bc7f-c5bac12f3766" Lewis Lazare. As mothers, all of us have cleaned up a childs spill, or even their vomit, from our furniture, Colleen jokes. This is useful in estimating the financial strength and credit risk of the company. 9's "Garfield Goose" and "Ray Rayner" shows. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. 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. They've been able to weather the unexpected storm of the coronavirus pandemic. The Chicago native attended Fenwick High School and the University of Notre Dame. Caitie Smithe is aDesigner, Design Coordinator + Stylist atWalter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. My sisters and I loved being a part of it.. Reaching a younger demographic and expanding their clientele has required some creativity, the sisters said. They've transitioned into the spotlight. It also featured an appearance by Dutchie Caray, wife of the late Cubs announcer Harry Caray. The first order of business: ditch the longstanding, highly recognizable ad campaign featuring their father and two uncles. A matte black bathtub, vanity mirrors and hardware pop against the airy walls in this modern primary bathroom. Then there's their father, a hardworking industry expert who leads by example and walks into any work setting saying, "We check our egos at the door.". He was still spending weekends at Smithe furniture showrooms until recently and he volunteered for many years for Habitat for Humanity, building houses in the U.S. and Central America. 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. I dont think anyone in the furniture industry does advertising well. However, Lewis Lazare, the Chicago Sun-Times' advertising critic, has defended the commercials. In fact, none of the sisters seriously considered having a career in the company, founded by their great-grandfather in 1945. Sibling revelry; Their offbeat commercials have made the Smithe brothers cult heroes. At-a-glance. Meghan was hired in 2013 and now serves as director of sales strategy. This began a long series of lighthearted television commercials, which became increasingly elaborate over the next few years. "We were kind of like dorks, geeks, growing up," Mark says. 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. 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. 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. I also think, coming from a family business myself, to see how they interact with each other just gives you the feeling that they're good people, that you'd want to do business with those people.". - 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. Tim, 41, is the vice president of sales; he and his wife have four kids and live in Winnetka. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, specializing in custom upholstery, and operates ten showrooms throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Smithe then went into the computer industry working for General Electric and IBM in 1967, according to his obit. Last year there aas a commercial where the puppet quickly moved to close his laptop when someone came in the office. Spoken like the daughter of a true "shop owner," as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. Darvin is always yelling about discounts. 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. But they do have a business. We dont always agree on things, Colleen says. So I'm speaking, and they're half listening, you know. The chemistry among this familial foursome is something parents can only hope for from their children. "We're not your parents' furniture company," Caitie said. Am I the only one who just thinks he looks like Louis CK? About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . "KFC dances to beat of familiar drummers". The girls have all worked elsewhere before they came to work here, says Walter of his daughters who have had careers ranging from merchandising to advertising. 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.. "We have wonderful clients who are my generation or older, but we have to figure out how we cater to this new generation that's setting up households now. - Nick Celozzi and Maury Ettleson: Starting in the early '70s, they waved fistfuls of cash at TV viewers and reminded everyone that Celozzi-Ettleson Chevrolet in Elmhurst was "Where you always save more money!". She has a few ideas for how to add a little spring to your home. Holly Hunt (222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Ste. But the sisters also know they can always turn to the leaders who came before them. Currently, there are 3 generations involved in the business: Walter Smithe Jr is retired, but regularly visits the showrooms. 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! This rating has improved by 10% over the last 12 months. While their father and grandfather are still actively involved in the day-to-day, the women have taken over the companys marketing, design, advertising and buying effortsand immediately went about altering brand perceptions. We connect families with the best local resources, advice, stories, things to do with kids and much more. I'm a brand manager and their commercials make the brand seem like a discount bin. This has been our priority since we first began serving the Chicago area back in 1945. As mothers, theyve learned its not only possible, but preferable, to have a functional yet beautiful home.
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