443 were here. Here, get to know this powerhouse quartet. 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. Nothing is left unchanged, Meghan notes. Create Comparison. "He'd come up from behind and drop in it on us," Tim says. It was founded by Walter Edward Smithe and Bill Shanahan in 1945. I love incorporating an unexpected element into a room. Holly Hunt (222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Ste. Rocketreach finds email, phone & social media for 450M+ professionals. Walter E. Smithe Furniture is a company located in Itasca, Illinois, United States. Shop the label. They're going to be the ones buying furniture for the next 50 years, so we have to be ready to serve them the way they want to be served," said Walter Smithe, 57. 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.". For instance, finding that perfect piece of decorative furniture that creatively doubles as a toy box for kids games, toys and video devices. Were a Chicago company that was given national exposure. Shop the clearance. They've relaunched catalogs showcasing their furniture in fully designed spaces. 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. Bloomingdale Plaza. Sometimes we present to our dad as a united front and other times we need him to be a tie breaker. Their grandfather, who is in his 80s, remains active in the company, frequently visiting showrooms and making connections with clients. "That is the top priority for the four of us," Meghan Smithe said. 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. Jeff Lewis's collection of vignettes is available at Walter E. Smithe's 11 showrooms in Chicago, and online. Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family said. That collective experience comes in handy ahead of any major decisions. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, specializing in custom upholstery, and operates ten showrooms throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Kneen & Co. (399 W. Fullerton Pkwy., Ste. Oct 2012 - Apr 20152 years 7 months. "It almost feels like the business is, in a weird way, a member of the family. We get that question all the time, and that was to be expected," Colleen said. 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. walter e smithe furniture inc. Walter E. Smithe is a furniture company based in Itasca, Illinois. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design (Old Orchard) 17 miles. As mothers, theyve learned its not only possible, but preferable, to have a functional yet beautiful home. The slogans "You dream it, we build it", or "That's Smithe, with an E" are commonly used. 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. 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. Three years later, she recruited Colleen to become advertising director -- a position she accepted without hesitation. Getting the Smithes in front of the camera wasn't easy. 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." She is a celebrity who is genuinely interested in how her furniture will do and be perceived, Maureen says. CHICAGO (CBS) -- Walter Edward Smithe Jr., the founder of Chicago's Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86. Now its only the wives and zero about the furniture. Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, - Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design, Paddock Publications, Inc. is an Employee-Owned Company. (He's now semi-retired, having turned the business over to his sons about 10 years ago.). "I was at Dulles Airport in Washington, waiting for a 9:30 flight at night," Mark says. The Smithes: (L-R) Colleen, Meghan, Walter III, Walter Jr., Mark, Caitie, and Maureen. 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 . Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up on the Northwest Side in Belmont Central. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN SUBAR, When Maureen Smithe returned from maternity leave after giving birth to identical twin daughters last August (children number five and six for those keeping count), she was puzzled by the pained looks she received from some of her colleagues. "By being so close and meeting so regularly, we're all in the loop with what's happening in each other's sphere. Itasca, IL 60143. "We're custom, so we can create everything, but we need to get the right mix out there to give people ideas," said Meghan Smithe, the company's director of marketing. And Amy is a singer and songwriter. Walter E. Smithe Jr. died peacefully at age 86, his family said in a prepared statement. 9615 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077. Sometimes you have to act fast. Take dress up and glam up a notch with a self-care day at this luxurious spa for kids and tweens. You may also light a candle in honor of Walter E. Smithe Jr. or send a beautiful flower arrangement to the funeral . They hammer out a script, call in O'Neil and start filming. The 3rd brother, Tim Smithe, retired in 2016. 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. Not as long as they keep the commercials clever and topical, O'Neil says. Opening Day is March 30. ("Did you notice he used the wide-angle lens when he shot your [rear end]?"). Find locations. 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. Is she OK? Industry: Home Furniture & Housewares Stores. 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. I dont think anyone in the furniture industry does advertising well. In some of the footage, youll see my dad installing a dimmer or my uncle driving a truck. We take inspiration from the world of interior design to curate customized . Their dad, the company's president, continued filming his signature ads with his brother, Mark, for a short period of time, Colleen said. - 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. Smithe's three sons the Smithe brothers Mark, Tim, and Walter III became executives in the business and were regularly featured in the commercials. So much misogyny in these comments, their commercials have always been cheesy and annoying. 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. "And I'd be yelling, `I can't breathe! "Staying fresh, young and relevant is how we're going to sustain the brand into the next 75 years," Meghan said. Regarded as top performer within the account and the Agency, as a result of consistent over-delivery, passion to grow the business . 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. "The brothers have no acting talent," Tim says. 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. 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. If you find the right furniture, it will last even through your kids, Colleen says. Its no longer that way.. 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 Smithe III and Mark Smithe (the Smithe Brothers) are the sons of Walter Jr, and serve as President and VP/Legal Counsel, respectively. No surprise why the quality is so crap. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_E._Smithe. It was like the empire jingle. There is no true balance for moms in our situation., We cant be everything all at once, Meghan says. 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. The original simple jingle and slogan was perfect. Relevant. The Itasca-based company has 10 locations across Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, where the sisters ply their fourth-generation talents. 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. It also featured an appearance by Dutchie Caray, wife of the late Cubs announcer Harry Caray. Newlyweds can now register for exclusive honeymoon stays and experiences at 23 of Auberge Resorts Collections luxury hotels and resorts worldwide More, With two movies out this winter, the actress and producer Salma Hayek Pinault is at the top of her game More, The star of A Beautiful Noise, which just opened at the Broadhurst Theatre, is a big Neil Diamond fan More, The writer and actor makes his Broadway debut in his just-opened play Aint No Mo More, After flying high in the hit sequel Top Gun: Maverick, Glen Powell stars in the new film Devotion, out now More, It's not enough to just be smart. That sentiment applies to their lively commercials, too, which frequently feature the sisters chatting on a stylish couch or gathering with family members in a beautifully staged home. High School," Walter says. Warehouse workers go over every piece of inventory awaiting delivery with a fine-tooth comb, looking for things an untrained eye would never see. [6], One of Walter E. Smithe's most discussed commercials aired in late March 2006. 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. Smithe says that doing everything in-house allows them to be quick on their feet. Tim recalls Walt trying to smother him -- repeatedly, apparently -- with a bean bag chair. They pointed out how affordable the pieces are. In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. Zajdel was a driver for Victory when he made the commercial a quarter-century ago. "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. Additional partnerships with the likes of Cynthia Rowley and Ellen Degeneres have exposed the company to a new customer base. Our dad always put an emphasis on hard work, and it stuck with us.. One by one, each sister began working in the family business. Their camaraderie is genuine, and they can easily share ideas and bounce between conversations. Instead, the Smithe sisters Colleen, director of advertising; Maureen, a buyer; Caitie, a designer; and Meghan, the marketing director help a Chicago couple with tastes that sometimes clash give their town home a new look before relatives show up for a visit. The best commercial -- at least the one viewers relished -- featured this grating kid getting hit in the face with a pie. "They were loved," said Colleen Smithe, the youngest daughter of Walter Smithe III. They were each only a year apart, at one point covering all four grade levels at Barrington High School. getting a penny or nickel for every clearance tag we pulled," says Meghanthe four daughters of Walter Smithe III have . There have been more than a thousand of them since, and thanks to the magic of cable TV he is now a national celebrity. They brought in real clients, worked with real designers and demonstrated each sister's essential role within the business. Walter E. Smithe is a furniture company based in Itasca, Illinois. (847) 933-1481. Caitie was a manufacturers' representative before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Sibling revelry; Their offbeat commercials have made the Smithe brothers cult heroes. The sisters laughed at hearing this family adage, knowing that home furnishing has been woven into the tapestry of their lives. While a new recession may strike a particular industry, measuring the industry and . "[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". To make up for it, she woke up early to make heart-shaped pancakes. Furniture Stores. Today, they help oversee 10 showrooms, the warehouse and headquarters, working together (generally) perfectly. The company gained national exposure from Lewis' collection, and each sister was able to shine in her own specialty. With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs, Walter E. Smithe is a local furniture icon. But the truth is, I love coming to the office. "There was some physical violence between the brothers," Walt says with that satisfied look of a big brother who got to dish it out. 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. Spoken like the daughter of a true shop owner, as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. It couldn't have gone more perfectly, Maureen said. 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. 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. This style is out there and we need to respond and get it on our floor. He received a Bachelor of Philosophy in Commerce from the University of Notre Dame in 1958. walter e smithe furniture & design. The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. 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. 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. Walter E. Smithe Jr. Obituary. "I think it's time for us to get out of these TV commercials," Walter said. When they get a topic, Smithe says, he tries to figure a way to blend it into an ad. "We had a common agreement that we had the best furniture in Chicago," Tim says, "but not enough people knew about it.". Its unjust to think that women can somehow balance it all, Colleen adds. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Walter E. Smithe, Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86, his family 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. [7], Chicagoans have had mixed reactions to the Walter E. Smithe commercials. The are the Smithe sisters, Meghan, Colleen, Maureen and Caitie. walter e smithe furniture - inc. walter e smithe furniture. But they do have a business. This initiative calls for all hands on deck. 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.
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