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. But I never forget that these are my sisters and I completely respect them. You can still be a fun premium brand (Virgin, for example) but this is Family Dollar-type schtick. 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. The first change I noticed was it became all about the sons. Then the commercial came on. You want it to succeed and do well.". High School," Walter 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. And Amy is a singer and songwriter. I only hear them on the radio. Explore. In one of their most memorable ads, the four women get into a food fight -- spaghetti and red wine included -- and seemingly destroy a bright white couch, which is then scrubbed clean. Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Home & Garden, Interior Design. 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. Meghan is director of marketing, Caitie is a designer and stylist and Colleen is director of advertising. Warehouse workers go over every piece of inventory awaiting delivery with a fine-tooth comb, looking for things an untrained eye would never see. But they do have a business. Getting the Smithes in front of the camera wasn't easy. Regarded as top performer within the account and the Agency, as a result of consistent over-delivery, passion to grow the business . The four women have been taking on bigger roles at the company and star in its new ad. 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.". getting a penny or nickel for every clearance tag we pulled," says Meghanthe four daughters of Walter Smithe III have . Currently, there are 3 generations involved in the business: Walter Smithe Jr is retired, but regularly visits the showrooms. The sisters can measure the span of their careers by their childrens ages and development, so they clearly understand what its like to worry about furniture at the mercy of young, messy children. 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. No outside agency required. Postpartum bladder leaks are common but there's help. Edited to add: Looked them up and gee, it's one of the daughters managing the marketing. 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. 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. Nothing is left unchanged, Meghan notes. We take that very seriously, and we have so much passion for it.". The inky accents create a sleek statement against the white walls and lend a streamlined look to the space. Explore more of the publications in our portfolio here. Additional partnerships with the likes of Cynthia Rowley and Ellen Degeneres have exposed the company to a new customer base. It was like the empire jingle. But the truth is, I love coming to the office. Even with little ones underfoot, the Smithe sisters make balancing their family furniture business and their growing broods look effortless. One by one, each sister began working in the family business. The spot showed the brothers at a news conference announcing that they had purchased Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, with plans to rename it Walter E. Smithe Field. I love the one where they are drinking what looks like Tang out of wine glasses. First published on October 12, 2022 / 3:27 PM. Walter E. Smithe is a family business in every sense of the word, the sisters say. 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. 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. William Hageman and Tribune staff reporter. They can really do great things. Opening Day is March 30. 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. 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. Smithe then went into the computer industry working for General Electric and IBM in 1967, according to his obit. "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. 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. To the Smithe sisters, the company has always been a piece of their identity, an integral thread of their childhood. This is useful in estimating the financial strength and credit risk of the company. Their camaraderie is genuine, and they can easily share ideas and bounce between conversations. 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. Then he and Thorson meet with his brothers and throw ideas around. 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. Over the last 13 years, one by one, Walters daughters have been hired on at Smithe as the jobs became available. Maureen Smithe and Caitie Smithe had the pleasure of working with Chicago's own Mr. FixIt, Lou Manfredini.Such a nice guy and a true Chicagoan! "Still hard for me to imagine.") Over the last 12 years, one by one, Walter's daughters have been hired on at Smithe in an official capacity. I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. Home Cities Chicago Meet the Smithe Sisters, The new generation is shaking things up at furniture icon Walter E. Smithe. ("Did you notice he used the wide-angle lens when he shot your [rear end]?"). Lewis teamed up with Smithes merchandising team to create in-store vignettes, and also featured the store on his show. - 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. This is not how you attract a premium buyer or build a premium brand. (Last year, Walter E. Smithe resurrected the 1950s-era cartoon that was a holiday staple on WGN-Ch. 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 . Building upon the Smithe family legacy is a big responsibility, the sisters said, one they've embraced with fervor. "You think a huge corporation is going to have pencil pushers and button touchers," says Lynn Hamilton, vice president of the Shirley Hamilton Agency, a Chicago talent agency. Pinterest. Those early Smithe commercials were straight-forward affairs, with each brother talking about his area of expertise -- Walt discussed the merchandise, Tim the company's designers, and Mark Smithe's delivery system and customer satisfaction -- and, of course, the furniture. with Maureen Smithe Brusznicki and Caitie Smithe Jisa at Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design. Im stunned when people watch one of our makeovers and are surprised that Smithe carries so much of what they like, says Caitie. They're not egomaniacs. A matte black bathtub, vanity mirrors and hardware pop against the airy walls in this modern primary bathroom. He NEVER blinks. "Pam, Bill and I are always on the watch for pop culture. The company gained national exposure from Lewis' collection, and each sister was able to shine in her own specialty. Get Eric Clark's email address (e*****@smithe.com) and phone number at RocketReach. Born in the heart of Chicago, we're a family owned and operated local business since 1945, now four generations strong. To their delight, the reaction to that initial campaign was primarily positive, as has been the case for every commercial they've produced since. We don't take that lightly.". The brothers are recognized on the street, in grocery stores and coffee shops ("I got a free Starbucks latte once," Tim says). We connect families with the best local resources, advice, stories, things to do with kids and much more. He also hosted telethons. 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. "I said, `Let's get you guys on camera.'". There is no true balance for moms in our situation., We cant be everything all at once, Meghan says. Then when I plugged it in, the place went up for grabs. "Instead we did it on the turn of a dime. There is no rule book that says they all need to matchmetals always compliment one another. Please enter valid email address to continue. Chicagoans came to know and appreciate the three Smithe brothers who starred for years in quirky TV commercials touting their family-run furniture company. Through March 16, enjoy savings of up to 20 percent on select rugs (hopscotch, anyone?) hbspt.forms.create({ And in between the entertainment were his folksy commercials for Courtesy Motors -- his cars were "honeys" and "sweeties" -- which at one point was the world's largest Ford dealer. The company's commercials were originally straightforward descriptions of their products and services, but in 2003, the brothers decided to include outtakes from past filmings, which showed the brothers stumbling over words and laughing at each other. Nothing will be worse than the commercials they ran the last time the Cicadas were in season. Spoken like the daughter of a true shop owner, as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. Were really excited about this program, explains Meghan. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design is a family-owned furniture retailer, founded right here in Chicago, back in 1945. Furniture Stores. Walter E. Smithe Furniture, Inc. Marketing Contacts Contacts (5/9) Name Title State; Walter S. President & Chief Executive Officer . Walter Smithe III and Mark Smithe (the Smithe Brothers) are the sons of Walter Jr, and serve as President and VP/Legal Counsel, respectively. /r/Chicago is the place to discuss and stay updated on the daily happenings of Chicago, Illinois, USA. Last edited on 17 December 2022, at 02:33, https://incfact.com/company/walteresmithefurniture-itasca-il/, Walter E. Smithe gives royal treatment to Royal Manner. 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. Walter E. Smithe Jr. Obituary. - 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. "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 then fate gently tapped them on their shoulder. But now a new generationsisters Meghan, Colleen, Maureen, and Caitie . Walter E. Smithe and Bill Shanahan founded the store anticipating a booming economy in the wake of World War II. "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. [4][5] In 2008, they filmed and edited a takeoff of the Sex and the City franchise, with the brothers sipping "Smithe-o-politans". 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. My hope is to inspire people to slow down enough to talk with a designer and hopefully buy something.. 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. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "We were kind of like dorks, geeks, growing up," Mark says. It also featured an appearance by Dutchie Caray, wife of the late Cubs announcer Harry Caray. Their grandfather, who is in his 80s, remains active in the company, frequently visiting showrooms and making connections with clients. Industry: Home Furniture & Housewares Stores. Feb 20, 2022 - The 4th generation of Walter E. Smithe family stops by to visit Bob and Marianne. Who are these guys? After college, all three gravitated back to the family business, which was founded by their father. "The brothers have no acting talent," Tim says. "I was at Dulles Airport in Washington, waiting for a 9:30 flight at night," Mark says. 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. We strive to bring our clients the best in home furnishings for every style, budget, and. And I thought, `makeup and lighting. Further confused by the commercials now. 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. Its unnerving. The Feldco guy creeps me out more. Falling asleep. Smithe's wife of 64 years was by his side when he passed, and he . Instead of starring third-generation brothers Walter III, Tim, and Mark, the new ones put the spotlight on fourth-generation sisters Caitie, Meghan, Maureen, and Colleen. Rocketreach finds email, phone & social media for 450M+ professionals. I havent seen the Tile Outlet lady in a while!! Start shopping. You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe . Visit Website (opens in new window) Walter E. Smithe. Nah, I know a few of them. walter e smithe. 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. Billy Corgan and Walter E. Smithe Wrestling. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. 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. They look hungry. 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. Like most mothers, whether theyre working or staying at home, we do what we can, she says. 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. Around the same time, Caitie was ready to return to the workforce as a designer and stylist, a skill she had honed early in her career.