For example - my favorite large upholstered dining chairs are under $200. Nothing is left unchanged, Meghan notes. We've got the radar out for that," Tim Smithe says. 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 . 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.. My hope is to inspire people to slow down enough to talk with a designer and hopefully buy something.. Spoken like the daughter of a true "shop owner," as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. Feb 20, 2022 - The 4th generation of Walter E. Smithe family stops by to visit Bob and Marianne. 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. His signature line: "Linn Burton for certain!". Hope, once a Smithe designer and store manager, now lives in Colorado with her husband. I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. Chicagoans came to know and appreciate the three Smithe brothers who starred for years in quirky TV commercials touting their family-run furniture company. 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. What The Walter E. Smithe Daughters Do . Her sisters had fallen into their own specialties and were pursuing different paths at the time. Press J to jump to the feed. It also featured an appearance by Dutchie Caray, wife of the late Cubs announcer Harry Caray. The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. Our lives can be overrun with technology, commitments and schedules. "In a family business, everyone has to wear all hats at all times," Maureen said. 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. Primary Address. 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. While it may not be usable 365 days a year, the days that your outdoor space are in fact usable should be embraced. Timothy Smithe Jr. (m. 2013-2018) Kyla Lynn McCarthy (born October 8, 1986) is the daughter of politician and former Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy. There's a lot of blurred lines, and we have to learn when to defer to each other.". Shop the clearance. By last year, though, each had returned to the company their great-grandfather founded. The store, which has 10 locations in the Chicago area, has been open for nearly 75 years and has faced all the challenges of . Someone really needs a new marketing director/CMO/agency because they do not know what they are doing. Walter E. Smithe Jr. also earned a master's degree in Anthropology at Loyola University Chicago in 1980. The slogans "You dream it, we build it", or "That's Smithe, with an E" are commonly used. Whoever said brick-and-mortar is dead hasn't met the Smithe sisters. You want it to succeed and do well.". He began working in the . It stuck in your head. Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. Im stunned when people watch one of our makeovers and are surprised that Smithe carries so much of what they like, says Caitie. Walt and Tim mocked Mark's new haircut. Give yourself time to just be in a comfortable and beautiful outdoor space. The seven pieces featured in the Quincy Master Bedroom vignette below (chair, trunk . Edit: I have been informed that they are the daughters, not the wives. Three years later, she recruited Colleen to become advertising director -- a position she accepted without hesitation. So much misogyny in these comments, their commercials have always been cheesy and annoying. 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. Meghan was hired in 2013 and now serves as director of sales strategy. 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. "I think it's time for us to get out of these TV commercials," Walter said. "I said, `Let's get you guys on camera.'". This led to the development of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design. We dont always agree on things, Colleen says. Bloomingdale Plaza. Compare how recession-proof Walter E. Smithe Furniture is relative to the industry overall. Growing up, she and her sisters held various roles at the furniture and design firm, earning their first paychecks and gaining job experience and exploring interests that would later launch their careers. 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 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. "And there's 10 televisions, all tuned to the same station. 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. Since 1945, the company has established itself as a reliable family-run retailer, with the second- and third-generation Smithe men at the helm. 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.". That was the extent of his pitchman career. In fact, none of the sisters seriously considered having a career in the company, founded by their great-grandfather in 1945. Now, the Itasca-based furniture and interior design company wants you to get to know the Smithe sisters. Sibling revelry; Their offbeat commercials have made the Smithe brothers cult heroes. High School," Walter says. And youll see each of my sisters doing what they do best.. As the oldest sibling, Maureen was the first to officially join Walter E. Smithe in a professional capacity in 2004. 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. They've relaunched catalogs showcasing their furniture in fully designed spaces. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. '", "The business steadily increased since we started the commercials," Walt says. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, . My wife and I were just talking about this yesterday, we truly hate the Walter E Smithe commercials with the daughters. 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. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design. Their camaraderie is genuine, and they can easily share ideas and bounce between conversations. 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. Rocketreach finds email, phone & social media for 450M+ professionals. The Smithe brothers have been described as "Chicago's most recognizable furniture purveyors", due to their ubiquitous television commercials starring themselves. 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. We see this country chic trend currently happening as a design emergency, says Maureen. Now, a lot more people know about us than knew a few years ago.". Or "Hardrock, Coco and Joe." 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. "We're not your parents' furniture company," Caitie said. He attended the University of Notre Dame and earned a bachelor 's . Sisters Colleen, Meghan, Maureen and Caitie Smithe, from left, say three key words have helped them carry their family-run furniture company into a fourth generation: fresh, young and relevant. Also would somebody please feed them? Industry: Home Furniture & Housewares Stores. Walter E. Smithe Jr. died peacefully at age 86, his family said in a prepared statement. CHICAGO The founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design has died. "[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". CHICAGO (WLS) -- Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. No surprise why the quality is so crap. - 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. 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. It was founded by Walter Edward Smithe and Bill Shanahan in 1945. About. "It's a big responsibility. "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. This is useful in estimating the financial strength and credit risk of the company. [4], Many of Walter E. Smithe's commercials have been pop culture parodies. 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. The 3rd brother, Tim Smithe, retired in 2016. The Smithe brothers used good-natured humor on countless TV commercials selling furniture. Weird. Walter E. Smithe also is changing up its ads. 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. Meghan is director of marketing, Caitie is a designer and stylist and Colleen is director of advertising. But I never forget that these are my sisters and I completely respect them. What she does: I use both sides of my brain: left for all the analytical spreadsheet stuff and right for the creative vision. Visit Website (opens in new window) Walter E. Smithe. Who are the Walter E Smithe daughters? There is no rule book that says they all need to matchmetals always compliment one another. Lewis Lazare. 22 miles. You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe . Plus, they seem like nice guys. The company made its website easier to use and more modern-looking. 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. You could say that the Smithes are a bit obsessed with quality. 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. To make up for it, she woke up early to make heart-shaped pancakes. The brothers are recognized on the street, in grocery stores and coffee shops ("I got a free Starbucks latte once," Tim says). "Staying fresh, young . "We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Home & Garden, Interior Design. How could they ensure the 75-year-old brand would be sustainable for decades to come? Tim offered Walt brotherly support after a just-completed scene. 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. View info about Walter E. Smithe Furniture (smithe.com). 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. 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.". Were really excited about this program, explains Meghan. "It's been about reworking how we approach visually what we want to convey about the product that we're selling," Meghan said. Visit . 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. "With a strategy to continue Smithe parodies of relevant topics, really, the future is limitless," he says. "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. We don't take that lightly.". This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of Chicago Parent. Edited to add: Looked them up and gee, it's one of the daughters managing the marketing. Is she OK? Were not trying to portray an image that working mothers can pull off everything without something falling through, Maureen says candidly. His line was, `If you can talk you can breathe.'". 1251 West Thorndale Avenue. with Maureen Smithe Brusznicki and Caitie Smithe Jisa at Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design. 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. 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. (847) 933-1481. This is not how you attract a premium buyer or build a premium brand. walter e smithe furniture & design. 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. 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. 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. I was probably in elementary school when I would come in to work in the warehouse sweeping for a nickel Colleen says. For people who are in their 40s and have families, that's how brothers act around each other when they get together. You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe (smithe.com) siblings-on-a-couch commercials. "But these are guys who you'd go to dinner with, you know? Get 5 free searches. They pointed out how affordable the pieces are. He cites the U2 music video takeoff. Their advertising is creative, it's timely and it's interesting, so people remember it and they like it.". If you find the right furniture, it will last even through your kids, Colleen says. Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. There's a preconceived notion that furniture stores are stuffy and tired, run by men in suits and catering to older generations. While we still have traditional pieces, our showroom appeals to a number of different lifestyles. walter e smithe furniture inc. And now with the company's 75th anniversary approaching in August, they're ready to push forward plans to expand and evolve. I gave up sleep and TV, Maureen jokes. 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. The Smithe sisters, all in their thirties, worked in the family business as teens but pursued different career paths in adulthood. Find locations. Walter Smithe III and Mark Smithe (the Smithe Brothers) are the sons of Walter Jr, and serve as President and VP/Legal Counsel, respectively. 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. 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. Dont burden yourself with the boredom of a matching wood set. 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 Smithe sisters have heard it all before, and they've set out to dispel those misperceptions. 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. Sometimes its the only quiet I get.. formId: "acc781a7-d0b4-433d-bc7f-c5bac12f3766" Smithe's wife of 64 years was by his side when he passed, and he . Subscribe for free today! There are so many cool and unique materials being used to manufacture furniture these dayssuch as capiz shells, bone inlay, faux shagreen, concrete, rope and slate.