Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Home & Garden, Interior Design. 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., founder of Smithe Furniture, dies at 86 Plus, they seem like nice guys. 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. This has been our priority since we first began serving the Chicago area back in 1945. There is nothing like a day spent soaking up the sun and a good book or an evening with friends and good food and drinks under the stars. Their interactions were zany, their dialogue lighthearted, their catchy jingle -- "you dream it, we build it" -- recognizable throughout the region. 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.
Caitie Smithe is aDesigner, Design Coordinator + Stylist atWalter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. Find locations. Chicago's Best Furniture and Expert Design. Born in the heart of Chicago, we're a family owned and operated local business since 1945, now four generations strong. 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.
Walter E. Smithe Furn-Itasca | Better Business Bureau Profile You may also light a candle in honor of Walter E. Smithe Jr. or send a beautiful flower arrangement to the funeral . Their advertising is creative, it's timely and it's interesting, so people remember it and they like it.". This led to the development of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design. Is she OK?
Walter E. Smithe ads, famous for their jingle, now featuring next 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. "[7] Maria Coons, a marketing teacher at Harper College, has also defended the advertisements, telling a Daily Herald reporter, "Some people who aren't in that [30 to 60 year old] demographic might consider them dorky, but for their target market, they're not. Who are these guys? "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. As the fourth generation to run their family-owned Chicago furniture store, Walter. Revenue: $100 to $500 million (USD) Competitors: Linly Designs, Rieke Office Interiors, 57st Design. 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. Business Profile for Walter E. Smithe Furn-Itasca. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, . Jamie Sotonoff. He cites the U2 music video takeoff. Over the past 76 years, the company has grown to include 10 Chicago area showrooms. We connect families with the best local resources, advice, stories, things to do with kids and much more. But now a new generationsisters Meghan, Colleen, Maureen, and Caitie Smitheis shaking things up in a big way. 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. Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up on the Northwest Side in Belmont Central. And it's not uncommon for their kids to make cameo appearances in advertisements or to help sort through fabric samples, "which would technically make it a five-generation business," Maureen says. Its a constant toggle between work and family talk, notes Colleen, but at the end of the day theyre focused on creating a furniture company that helps clients truly curate a home. Multi Location Business. "But these are guys who you'd go to dinner with, you know? Additional partnerships with the likes of Cynthia Rowley and Ellen Degeneres have exposed the company to a new customer base. 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 first change I noticed was it became all about the sons. Walter E. Smithe is a furniture company based in Itasca, Illinois. 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. 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. The commercial included the tagline "Change the Name, Change the Luck", a reference to the Cubs' decades-long struggle to reach the World Series. The commercials were being shot at a studio in Northfield and would result in enough footage for dozens of TV ads to appear over the next six months. I love incorporating an unexpected element into a room. They can really do great things. My sisters and I represent the viewpoint of our younger clientele, Meghan says. Like most mothers, whether theyre working or staying at home, we do what we can, she says. "They go a long way with a limited budget through the use of creativity," he says. He received a Bachelor of Philosophy in Commerce from the University of Notre Dame in 1958. That's a galaxy away from the current "Star Wars" parody. with Maureen Smithe Brusznicki and Caitie Smithe Jisa at Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design. 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 . With 10 years of advertising industry experience, Smithe Parker, daughter of President Walter E. Smithe III, has worked with high-profile advertising agencies in Chicago. 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.
And I thought, `makeup and lighting. Anyone got a link to the current commercial? 1251 W. Thorndale Ave. Itasca, IL 60143-1149.
Best Outlet Walter E Smithe near Glendale Heights, IL 60139 - Yelp 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. [7], Chicagoans have had mixed reactions to the Walter E. Smithe commercials. I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. The Smithes had been encouraged to air their outtakes on television after Tim Smithe screened them at an interior design seminar and received a positive reaction from the crowd. In the 1970s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. Someone really needs a new marketing director/CMO/agency because they do not know what they are doing. He attended the University of Notre Dame and earned a bachelor 's . But one by one, they followed Maureen's lead and rejoined the family business. They look hungry. The company offer of a free DVD generated a huge response, and more than 60,000 were given away.). A few bucks later, the clunker is off to Victory's Bensenville lot. You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe . Smithe's wife of 64 years was by his side when he passed, and he . A new book offers a primer on how to spot, seize, and exploit and create lucky breaks More, Two new must-visit hotels from Austin to Houston More, Shop Patek Philippe timepieces, Oiya bracelets and a Miami-based skincare brand More, Plan a day of relaxation at Pressed Roots and The Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas More, Raise a glass to our favorite new French-inspired bistros, charming piano bars and bold Italian eateries in Manhattan More, From shoes to handbags, here are the new boutiques to visit in New York City More, The best-selling author, entrepreneur and global philanthropist continues a push with Feeding America to provide 1 billion meals More, Were Over The Moon About This New Travel Registry, 2022 Holiday Gift Guide: The Best Edible Presents, Room Request! While it may not be usable 365 days a year, the days that your outdoor space are in fact usable should be embraced. hbspt.forms.create({ Its unjust to think that women can somehow balance it all, Colleen adds.
177 East Army Trail Road, Glendale Heights, IL 60139. Walter Smithe III and Mark Smithe (the Smithe Brothers) are the sons of Walter Jr, and serve as President and VP/Legal Counsel, respectively. 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. 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. Others have been parodies of reality television shows, such as The Apprentice and The Bachelor. The Smithe brothers used good-natured humor on countless TV commercials selling furniture. The best commercial -- at least the one viewers relished -- featured this grating kid getting hit in the face with a pie. Tim recalls Walt trying to smother him -- repeatedly, apparently -- with a bean bag chair. Not as long as they keep the commercials clever and topical, O'Neil says. His signature line: "Linn Burton for certain!". The Smithes: (L-R) Colleen, Meghan, Walter III, Walter Jr., Mark, Caitie, and Maureen. The Smithe sisters have heard it all before, and they've set out to dispel those misperceptions. So much misogyny in these comments, their commercials have always been cheesy and annoying. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. Her sisters had fallen into their own specialties and were pursuing different paths at the time. walter e smithe furniture inc. This rating has improved by 10% over the last 12 months. 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. For the most part, that relationship translates well in the business world, they say.
However, Lewis Lazare, the Chicago Sun-Times' advertising critic, has defended the commercials. 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. "So that drove us, I think, to be successes.". Even with little ones underfoot, the Smithe sisters make balancing their family furniture business and their growing broods look effortless. Postpartum bladder leaks are common but there's help. Check out the new collection. 9615 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077. "And of course this summer's blockbuster is supposed to be `Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' - 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.
Kyla McCarthy - EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki 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. We dont always agree on things, Colleen says. 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. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune). Colleen loved being able to point out that her dad and uncles, Mark and Tim, brainstormed and executed the ideas themselves. Then they tie in pop culture it shows that they're sort of a with-it furniture company. He NEVER blinks. "By being so close and meeting so regularly, we're all in the loop with what's happening in each other's sphere. His daughters were hesitant at first, questioning whether they were ready for such a responsibility. Sometimes we present to our dad as a united front and other times we need him to be a tie breaker. "And I'd be yelling, `I can't breathe! I'm a brand manager and their commercials make the brand seem like a discount bin. You can still be a fun premium brand (Virgin, for example) but this is Family Dollar-type schtick.
A family affair: How four sisters are bringing a 75-year-old store into Now, the Itasca-based furniture and interior design company wants you to get to know the Smithe sisters. 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 dont think anyone in the furniture industry does advertising well. 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. 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. We've got the radar out for that," Tim Smithe says. [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]. Smithe then went into the computer industry working for General Electric and IBM in 1967, according to his obit. Then when I plugged it in, the place went up for grabs. Kneen & Co. (399 W. Fullerton Pkwy., Ste. The 86-year-old patriarch of the Smithe family, Walter Edward Smithe Jr., "died . I always suggest going with whatever color or colors are most pleasing to you, but some big color trends this spring are oranges, pinks, sage green and pastel blue. Margie, who used to be a buyer for Smithe, moved to St. Louis with her husband, who worked for Anheuser-Busch's ad agency.
Smithe Parker leads Walter E. Smithe advertising Walter E. Smithe Jr. died peacefully at age 86, his family said in a prepared statement. Over the last 13 years, one by one, Walters daughters have been hired on at Smithe as the jobs became available. 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. "What about you and your sisters?". Please enter valid email address to continue. Or "Hardrock, Coco and Joe."
Walter E. Smithe Jr., founder of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design 1 Early life; 2 Television; 3 Personal Life; 4 References; . Smithe was born in 1936 to Margaret Slifka and Walter E. Smithe Sr., and grew up in the Northwest Side's Belmont Central neighborhood. "That is the top priority for the four of us," Meghan Smithe said. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "Some dabbled and moved on and others just weren't interested.". You have this sense of passion and responsibility for it. This initiative calls for all hands on deck. 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 take inspiration from the world of interior design to curate customized . Three years later, she recruited Colleen to become advertising director -- a position she accepted without hesitation. 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. '", "I was at a gym on a treadmill," Mark says of the first time he caught one of the commercials.