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. Read on to find out more about pelvic floor therapy and how it's growing in popularity among postpartum women. Walter E. Smithe Jr., head of family furniture dynasty, dead at 86 Over the last 13 years, one by one, Walters daughters have been hired on at Smithe as the jobs became available. Walter E. Smithe Jr. Obituary. officially retires, although he still enjoys visiting showrooms and meeting clients. They can really do great things. What happened to the Walter E Smithe guys? - Cowetaamerican.com Give yourself time to just be in a comfortable and beautiful outdoor space. And it's those commercials, always informative and usually silly, that have the Smithe brothers walking in the footsteps of Linn Burton and the Empire Carpet Guy as Chicago TV commercial icons. Luxury Hotels, Travel, Dining, Lifestyle - Haute Living No outside agency required. Meghan and Colleen spent several years working at advertising agencies in Chicago. 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. They got on each other's nerves and learned to talk quickly at the dinner table if they wanted to get a word in. Walter E. Smithe III, is the President of family owned and operated Walter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. The company gained national exposure from Lewis' collection, and each sister was able to shine in her own specialty. Mark admonished Walt to keep his feet off the furniture. There is no rule book that says they all need to matchmetals always compliment one another. 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. I love the one where they are drinking what looks like Tang out of wine glasses. The first order of business: ditch the longstanding, highly recognizable ad campaign featuring their father and two uncles. They hammer out a script, call in O'Neil and start filming. In recent years, Smithe enjoyed his time with extended family. But it wasn't long before he approached his youngest daughter with a proposition. We dont always agree on things, Colleen says. 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. Shop the Sofa Sale. The Smithe sisters now serve as the face . 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. Let's go Cubbies! Additional partnerships with the likes of Cynthia Rowley and Ellen Degeneres have exposed the company to a new customer base. They seem very pretentious I think. E. Smithe sisters Caitie, Colleen, Meghan and Maureen were introduced to the business at a young age. The sisters left for college with a few prized furnishings and a work ethic that became a permanent fixture in their lives. So I'm speaking, and they're half listening, you know. And youll see each of my sisters doing what they do best.. Shop now. Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Smithe Furniture, dies at 86 and runners at CB2 (800 W. North Ave., cb2.com). They're nice folks. We see this country chic trend currently happening as a design emergency, says Maureen. 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 they came to work here, says Walter of his daughters who have had careers ranging from merchandising to advertising. - 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. They decided on an ad campaign that would, simply, pitch their product. Bloomingdale Plaza. Smithe Parker leads Walter E. Smithe advertising "But these are guys who you'd go to dinner with, you know? 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. 177 East Army Trail Road, Glendale Heights, IL 60139. 20 White Bathroom Design Ideas | HGTV "If our specialties fit those needs, then we were invited to have a conversation and explore the opportunity, but it was never a demand placed on us.". "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 best commercial -- at least the one viewers relished -- featured this grating kid getting hit in the face with a pie. 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. "We were kind of like dorks, geeks, growing up," Mark says. It stuck in your head. Get Eric Clark's email address (e*****@smithe.com) and phone number at RocketReach. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. And they're not showbiz types. At that age, it was very exciting to come home and brag that we sold maybe hundreds or thousands of dollars in furniture, Meghan recalls. Its unjust to think that women can somehow balance it all, Colleen adds. Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture, dies at 86 They've transitioned into the spotlight. Walter E. Smithe Jr. died peacefully at age 86, his family said in a prepared statement. 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. Sibling revelry; Their offbeat commercials have made the Smithe brothers cult heroes. - Lynn Hauldren: Who? "They go a long way with a limited budget through the use of creativity," he says. 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. President - Walter E. Smithe Furniture + Design - LinkedIn His daughters were hesitant at first, questioning whether they were ready for such a responsibility. It's fun to be part of Chicago in that way.". You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe (smithe.com) siblings-on-a-couch commercials. Shop the clearance. It worked really well for a long time, but post-recession, we saw peoples sensibilities had changed, says Meghan. Watch. Lewis teamed up with Smithes merchandising team to create in-store vignettes, and also featured the store on his show. 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. Their dad, the company's president, continued filming his signature ads with his brother, Mark, for a short period of time, Colleen said. What are they up to?' Opening Day is March 30. 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 a penny or nickel for every clearance tag we pulled," says Meghanthe four daughters of Walter Smithe III have . You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe . "KFC dances to beat of familiar drummers". 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. Spoken like the daughter of a true "shop owner," as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. Best Outlet Walter E Smithe near Glendale Heights, IL 60139 - Yelp 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. 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. 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. One of the first opportunities to test their compatibility was through a partnership with interior designer and TV personality Jeff Lewis. 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. 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 always been close -- and growing up, it wasn't always by choice. It's pretty surprising they are still playing on these tired sexist tropes in this day and age. They're not egomaniacs. "An hour and a half. If you find the right furniture, it will last even through your kids, Colleen says. Is anyone else annoyed with the new generation of Walter E Smithe In some of the footage, youll see my dad installing a dimmer or my uncle driving a truck. 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. Her sisters had fallen into their own specialties and were pursuing different paths at the time. Still, she never dreamed of working full time for Walter E. Smithe Furniture, even while growing up in Barrington with her three sisters, Maureen, Caitie and Colleen. Revenue: $100 to $500 million (USD) Competitors: Linly Designs, Rieke Office Interiors, 57st Design. Most recently, she was at . But now a new generationsisters Meghan, Colleen, Maureen, and Caitie Smitheis shaking things up in a big way. Margie, who used to be a buyer for Smithe, moved to St. Louis with her husband, who worked for Anheuser-Busch's ad agency. That cartoon of Bob has BDE and you can't deny it. This style is out there and we need to respond and get it on our floor. Now, a lot more people know about us than knew a few years ago.". Its very much in line with our desire to offer the most beautiful pieces that are of the highest quality. I dont think anyone in the furniture industry does advertising well. 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.". Sibling revelry - Chicago Tribune Customers were more concerned with what we were selling versus the people who were selling it, she adds. They've relaunched catalogs showcasing their furniture in fully designed spaces. "Smithes have fun at the old ballpark". Now its only the wives and zero about the furniture. As the fourth generation to run their family-owned Chicago furniture store, Walter. Today, they help oversee 10 showrooms, the warehouse and headquarters, working together (generally) perfectly. WALTER E. SMITHE FURNITURE Revenue, Growth & Competitor Profile 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. As mothers, theyve learned its not only possible, but preferable, to have a functional yet beautiful home. Read the rest of the issue. How could they ensure the 75-year-old brand would be sustainable for decades to come? Further confused by the commercials now. My hope is to inspire people to slow down enough to talk with a designer and hopefully buy something.. CHICAGO The founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design has died. ("Did you notice he used the wide-angle lens when he shot your [rear end]?"). The answer -- and the sisters' secret to success -- can be summed up in three key words: Fresh. 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. walter e smithe furniture & design. Their camaraderie is genuine, and they can easily share ideas and bounce between conversations. But even as likable as the brothers are, do they run the risk of oversaturation or going to the well too often? In 2002 they brought in director Bill O'Neil to help them. Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up on the Northwest Side in Belmont Central. "In a family business, everyone has to wear all hats at all times," Maureen said. "What about you and your sisters?". Here, get to know this powerhouse quartet. "It's made us focus on what we do best, which is designing our clients' homes," he said. We all trickled back in, and it happened really organically, says Meghan of the industrious quartet, who collectively has 17 children. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design. Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design Reviews - Glassdoor Nah, I know a few of them. We learned so much from these relationships, Colleen says. Tim, 41, is the vice president of sales; he and his wife have four kids and live in Winnetka. Take dress up and glam up a notch with a self-care day at this luxurious spa for kids and tweens. October 12, 2022 / 3:27 PM The seven pieces featured in the Quincy Master Bedroom vignette below (chair, trunk . The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. For the most part, that relationship translates well in the business world, they say. 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. I was probably in elementary school when I would come in to work in the warehouse sweeping for a nickel Colleen says. The 3rd brother, Tim Smithe, retired in 2016. The campaign was inspired in part by a partnership with designer/house-flipper Jeff Lewis of the Bravo show Flipping Out. Over the past 76 years, the company has grown to include 10 Chicago area showrooms. We simply never had that conversation, Meghan says. Walter E. Smithe is a furniture company based in Itasca, Illinois. 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. McCarthy was married to grandson of Walter E. Smithe, Timothy Smithe Jr. in Paris, France in June of 2013. . There's a preconceived notion that furniture stores are stuffy and tired, run by men in suits and catering to older generations. The four women have been taking on bigger roles at the company and star in its new ad. 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. Favorite design style: Cozy and comfortableaka hygge ethos. "We're all rolling up our sleeves and getting dirty. Caitie Smithe, Designer and Stylist. The store, which has 10 locations in the Chicago area, has been open for nearly 75 years and has faced all the challenges of . Or "Hardrock, Coco and Joe." 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. "The brothers have no acting talent," Tim says. "But we've also gotten some really nice feedback from people who are happy to see four working women on their TV.". The Walter E. Smithe furniture jingle "you dream it, we build it" has been a longtime fixture in the firm's television ads, just as the Smithe brothers themselves have been. Walter E. Smithe Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design To the Smithe sisters, the company has always been a piece of their identity, an integral thread of their childhood. "[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". Determine whether Walter E. Smithe Furniture grew or shrank during the last recession. My sisters and I represent the viewpoint of our younger clientele, Meghan says.
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