walter e smithe daughters

Or using a new high-tech application to keep couch fabric truly worry free from childrens spills, everything from spaghetti sauce to Kool-Aid. 1428, hollyhunt.com) has expanded its Great Plains textile offering with the Foreign Affair collection, which has a mix of warm and cool neutrals. Postpartum bladder leaks are common but there's help. They pointed out how affordable the pieces are. Walt and Tim mocked Mark's new haircut. Trendwise, Caitie says the color gurus at Pantone were right on when they selected a bright shade of green as Color of the Year. His signature line: "Linn Burton for certain!". They hammer out a script, call in O'Neil and start filming. Pinterest. "And a woman was there with her daughter, and she nudged her and I heard her say, 'That's the Walter E. Smithe guy.' Be sure to visit Sawbridge Studios, which will showcase sustainably harvested, live-edge furniture by David Stine. There is no true balance for moms in our situation., We cant be everything all at once, Meghan says. Furniture Stores. The Smithe boys started out in a tiny ranch house in Des Plaines, the children of Walter Jr. and Florence. Oct 2012 - Apr 20152 years 7 months. 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. Now, a lot more people know about us than knew a few years ago.". 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. Sometimes its the only quiet I get.. The slogans "You dream it, we build it", or "That's Smithe, with an E" are commonly used. Walter E. Smithe Jr. Obituary (1936 - 2022) | Chicago, Illinois Unlike their brothers, they chose other careers. 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. The CBS Chicago team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on CBSChicago.com. They brought in real clients, worked with real designers and demonstrated each sister's essential role within the business. Walter E. Smithe Furniture, Inc. Marketing Contacts Contacts (5/9) Name Title State; Walter S. President & Chief Executive Officer . In 2002 they brought in director Bill O'Neil to help them. Visit Website (opens in new window) Walter E. Smithe. Ask how we can add diversity to your supply chain. 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. 9615 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077. "I was invited to speak to 300-some designers in Oak Brook," he says. In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. Plus, they seem like nice guys. The Smithe family announced that their patriarch died this past Sunday with his wife of 64 years, Florence Flynn Smithe, by his side. Woven Roman shades, a jute rug and a blonde wood vanity usher texture and warmth into the otherwise minimalist design. It was founded by Walter Edward Smithe and Bill Shanahan in 1945. "Case in point, I was just this morning sketching out my first ideas for The Three Tenors, featuring, of course, the Smithe brothers in a coliseum. "And of course this summer's blockbuster is supposed to be `Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' "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. "In a family business, everyone has to wear all hats at all times," Maureen said. Jamie Sotonoff. [6], One of Walter E. Smithe's most discussed commercials aired in late March 2006. Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Home & Garden, Interior Design. Walter Smithe III and Mark Smithe (the Smithe Brothers) are the sons of Walter Jr, and serve as President and VP/Legal Counsel, respectively. Colleen Smithe, Director of Advertising Kyla McCarthy - EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki Nah, I know a few of them. Our dad always put an emphasis on hard work, and it stuck with us.. Ellen is very serious about design and had a definite voice in what this modern-rustic-meets-farmhouse collection would be. As the oldest sibling, Maureen was the first to officially join Walter E. Smithe in a professional capacity in 2004. We don't take that lightly.". Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. 177 East Army Trail Road, Glendale Heights, IL 60139. I only hear them on the radio. That was the extent of his pitchman career. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, specializing in custom upholstery, and operates ten showrooms throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. "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. Walter E. Smithe Jr. also earned a master's degree in Anthropology at Loyola University Chicago in 1980. We connect families with the best local resources, advice, stories, things to do with kids and much more. 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 . "It's always positive, and it's nice to be part of it. Last year there aas a commercial where the puppet quickly moved to close his laptop when someone came in the office. Chicago's Best Furniture and Expert Design. So, somewhat reluctantly, they let themselves become the public face of Walter E. Smithe Furniture. The four women have been taking on bigger roles at the company and star in its new ad. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Walter E. Smithe wants to create a series of similar videos to give customers a behind-the-scenes look at their services and the company. 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. As their father, the company president, has told customers for decades, Life is too short to sit on uncomfortable furniture.. "We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years. Give yourself time to just be in a comfortable and beautiful outdoor space. For instance, finding that perfect piece of decorative furniture that creatively doubles as a toy box for kids games, toys and video devices. "Smithes have fun at the old ballpark". Read the rest of the issue. Their advertising is creative, it's timely and it's interesting, so people remember it and they like it.". "I was at Dulles Airport in Washington, waiting for a 9:30 flight at night," Mark says. The Bob's puppet is a far better actor than the Smithe girls though. "There was some physical violence between the brothers," Walt says with that satisfied look of a big brother who got to dish it out. Meghan was hired in 2013 and now serves as director of sales strategy. 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 company has become known over the years in particular for its quirky TV commercials Chicago TV viewers have long known the jingle, "Walter E. Smithe, you dream it we build it." Regarded as top performer within the account and the Agency, as a result of consistent over-delivery, passion to grow the business . A few bucks later, the clunker is off to Victory's Bensenville lot. Compare how recession-proof Walter E. Smithe Furniture is relative to the industry overall. As they grew into their teens, there were the usual summer jobs -- caddying, yard work, selling ice cream from a motorized three-wheeler. One by one, each sister began working in the family business. There is no rule book that says they all need to matchmetals always compliment one another. The journey from Point A to Point B started with an all-blooper and outtakes reel that O'Neil and Tim Smithe put together as a birthday gift for mom Florence. Relevant. It was a natural fit, she said. }); Chicago Parent is Chicagolands trusted parenting hub since 1984. Like their brothers, the four Smithe sisters were all in the business when they were in high school. Kneen & Co. (399 W. Fullerton Pkwy., Ste. 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.". Lewis teamed up with Smithes merchandising team to create in-store vignettes, and also featured the store on his show. Bloomingdale Plaza. 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. Smithe Parker leads Walter E. Smithe advertising 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. Haute Living is a network of luxury publications with bimonthly regional editions in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco. 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. 'Flipping Out' Where To Get Jeff Lewis' Furniture Collection And Amy is a singer and songwriter. walter e smithe. 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. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design - Chicago's Furniture Store and 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. We've got the radar out for that," Tim Smithe says. "They took different career paths," Tim says. 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. Then the commercial came on. 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. "If we'd done that with a large agency, it would have been flying people in from New York and storyboards and approvals along the way," he says. Hauldren -- an advertising copywriter who created the character -- first appeared in the ads in 1973. And they wanted a way to build the brand. As teens, the four sisters worked only part time in their fathers showroom or outlet store, selling furniture and earning their first paychecks along with other eager, cash-strapped teens. We not only respect this, we embrace it.. But he soon returned to the family furniture business that his father first started in 1945, and pioneered the concept of custom-order furniture in the Chicago area. - 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. "It was kind of ingrained in us," Caitie Smithe said. They decided on an ad campaign that would, simply, pitch their product. Today. "They've done a wonderful job building a distinctive brand," says Tim Calkins, a professor of marketing at Northwestern University. Shop now. Building upon the Smithe family legacy is a big responsibility, the sisters said, one they've embraced with fervor. "As needs within the business grew, positions opened up organically," Maureen said. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. They look hungry. But even as likable as the brothers are, do they run the risk of oversaturation or going to the well too often? Take dress up and glam up a notch with a self-care day at this luxurious spa for kids and tweens. 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. Falling asleep. When they get a topic, Smithe says, he tries to figure a way to blend it into an ad. 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. If you grew up in Chicago, you can probably hum it. 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 company offer of a free DVD generated a huge response, and more than 60,000 were given away.). "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. The Chicago native attended Fenwick High School and the University of Notre Dame. 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. Then when I plugged it in, the place went up for grabs. To the Smithe sisters, the company has always been a piece of their identity, an integral thread of their childhood. He also hosted telethons. Anyone got a link to the current commercial? This rating has improved by 10% over the last 12 months. In recent years, Smithe enjoyed his time with extended family. We take inspiration from the world of interior design to curate customized . Hope, once a Smithe designer and store manager, now lives in Colorado with her husband. 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. Over the last 13 years, one by one, Walters daughters have been hired on at Smithe as the jobs became available. Billy Corgan and Walter E. Smithe Wrestling. "They're having a lot of fun. For example - my favorite large upholstered dining chairs are under $200. Meghan is director of marketing, Caitie is a designer and stylist and Colleen is director of advertising. The implication was that he was doing/looking at something inappropriate. It took the mother of six children a few years to figure out how to juggle her demanding career and busy home life. [4], In March, 2017, daughters of Walter E. Smithe III became the fourth generation of the Smithe family to be featured in the commercials.[8]. 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. - Lynn Hauldren: Who? between Scott Ave. and Tower Rd., Winnetka, shophwdd.com) hosts a First Friday event on the North Shore. The 86-year-old patriarch of the Smithe family, Walter Edward Smithe Jr., "died . This led to the development of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design. The seven pieces featured in the Quincy Master Bedroom vignette below (chair, trunk . Smithe's wife of 64 years was by his side when he passed, and he . Walter E Smithe Daughters - Aniya Hendrix Trends 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. Then they tie in pop culture it shows that they're sort of a with-it furniture company. As mothers, all of us have cleaned up a childs spill, or even their vomit, from our furniture, Colleen jokes. Caitie Smithe is aDesigner, Design Coordinator + Stylist atWalter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. Walter E. Smithe, Jr. joined the business in the 1960s with his brothers Gary and Tomm, and began phasing out appliances to focus on custom upholstery. "That was the best part," she said. 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. She also sees more demand for curation: Rather than walking into a store and getting an entire matching bedroom or dining set, people are mixing and matching and getting a look thats uniquely theirs., The new ED Ellen DeGeneres furniture collection (now available at all 11 Walter E. Smithe showrooms) allows for just thatand it includes versatile pieces that transcend their typical use. However, Lewis Lazare, the Chicago Sun-Times' advertising critic, has defended the commercials. Edit: I have been informed that they are the daughters, not the wives. Shop the clearance. I gave up sleep and TV, Maureen jokes. They're not egomaniacs. Happy Hour With Jeff Lewis + Walter E. Smithe - fountainof30.com McCarthy was married to grandson of Walter E. Smithe, Timothy Smithe Jr. in Paris, France in June of 2013. . The Walter E. Smithe + Jeff Lewis showcase certainly fits the bill. He cites the U2 music video takeoff. 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. 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! Opening Day is March 30. 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. This began a long series of lighthearted television commercials, which became increasingly elaborate over the next few years. "That is the top priority for the four of us," Meghan Smithe said. Warehouse workers go over every piece of inventory awaiting delivery with a fine-tooth comb, looking for things an untrained eye would never see. In the late '60s, the growing family -- there are also four sisters, Cindy, Margie and . There's a lot of blurred lines, and we have to learn when to defer to each other.". That can help Walter E. Smithe differentiate itself from the growing number of lower-priced furniture retailers that have moved into the Chicago area in the past couple of years, Walter Smithe said. The 4th generation (Walter III's daughters) join the business after careers in their respective fields; Maureen in 2002, Meghan in 2014, Caitie in 2015, and Colleen in 2016. This is not how you attract a premium buyer or build a premium brand. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. The daughters took over the company. Walter E. Smithe Furniture founder, Walter E. Smithe Jr., dies at 86 Multi Location Business. One of the first opportunities to test their compatibility was through a partnership with interior designer and TV personality Jeff Lewis. It's pretty surprising they are still playing on these tired sexist tropes in this day and age. It was like the empire jingle. - Timmy: Dressed as an old-time newspaper boy, 10-year-old Timmy appeared in dozens of commercials in the '70s for his uncle's Long Chevrolet dealership in Elmhurst. How could the Itasca-based company break the mold and reach a new audience while still carrying its message into a fourth generation? It worked really well for a long time, but post-recession, we saw peoples sensibilities had changed, says Meghan. My hope is to inspire people to slow down enough to talk with a designer and hopefully buy something.. Walt (actually Walter Smithe III), 45, is president and general manager of the company; he and his wife have five kids and live in Barrington Hills. 2023 Zoe Communications Group | 332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite #LL-M974, Chicago, IL 60604 | 708.386.5555 | Website by Web Publisher PRO, ParentEd Talks: Free Virtual Speaker Series, A Concerned Parents Guide to Gun Violence and Gun Safety. The brothers are recognized on the street, in grocery stores and coffee shops ("I got a free Starbucks latte once," Tim says). Chicago, IL. They've relaunched catalogs showcasing their furniture in fully designed spaces. "We're not your parents' furniture company," Caitie said. Were really excited about this program, explains Meghan. I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. He received a Bachelor of Philosophy in Commerce from the University of Notre Dame in 1958. "It almost feels like the business is, in a weird way, a member of the family. What happened to the Walter E Smithe guys? - Cowetaamerican.com 74% of employees would recommend working at Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design to a friend and 70% have a positive outlook for the business. This has been our priority since we first began serving the Chicago area back in 1945. We had no grand plan.. Colleen loved being able to point out that her dad and uncles, Mark and Tim, brainstormed and executed the ideas themselves. "And they've been able to personalize a retail chain through the use of the brothers. "Some dabbled and moved on and others just weren't interested.". Walter E. Smithe and Bill Shanahan founded the store anticipating a booming economy in the wake of World War II. Start shopping. Walter E. Smithe Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design First there were the brothers. Now the Walter E. Smithe - Pinterest 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. If you find the right furniture, it will last even through your kids, Colleen says. We are a 4th generation family-owned business, and our employees are an integral part of . Over the past 76 years, the company has grown to include 10 Chicago area showrooms. First published on October 12, 2022 / 3:27 PM. We see this country chic trend currently happening as a design emergency, says Maureen. My sisters and I loved being a part of it.. One of my friends used to live near Fullerton and Western, and she would always tell people she lived near Tile Outlet. Am I the only one who just thinks he looks like Louis CK? Updating your home theater? Lewis Lazare. And then fate gently tapped them on their shoulder. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. The girls got the bedrooms; the three boys shared a room in the basement. That's a galaxy away from the current "Star Wars" parody. 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. For example, Meghan had to miss her sons Valentines Day party at school this year, due to work responsibilities. But they do have a business. The Smithe sisters are working to expose the brand to a new customer base Photo credit: Robin Subar. Business Profile for Walter E. Smithe Furn-Itasca. Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up on the Northwest Side in Belmont Central. walter e smithe furniture & design. 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 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. Chicago magazine newsletters have you covered. Further confused by the commercials now. '", "I was at a gym on a treadmill," Mark says of the first time he caught one of the commercials. "I think it's time for us to get out of these TV commercials," Walter said. Now, the Itasca-based furniture and interior design company wants you to get to know the Smithe sisters. Smithe then went into the computer industry working for General Electric and IBM in 1967, according to his obit. Let's go Cubbies! Most recently, she was at . [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). It also featured an appearance by Dutchie Caray, wife of the late Cubs announcer Harry Caray. Eric Clark email address & phone number | Walter E. Smithe Furniture Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up in the Northwest Side's Belmont Central neighborhood. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. Getting the Smithes in front of the camera wasn't easy. As Caitie puts it, Theres no reason you cant use an entertainment console as a buffet in the dining room.. . 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. 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. Home Cities Chicago Meet the Smithe Sisters, The new generation is shaking things up at furniture icon Walter E. Smithe. Sip A Negroni While Exploring This Stunning New Home Boutique, Peruse Artisan-Crafted Collections At This Chicago Boutique, Fresh And Feminine Vibes Rule This Winnetka Boutique, Whats In Store At Chicagos New Must-See Surface Destination, 3 Things To Know About The Latest RH Gallery, Do Not Sell Or Share My Personal Information. 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. Through March 16, enjoy savings of up to 20 percent on select rugs (hopscotch, anyone?)

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