There's a preconceived notion that furniture stores are stuffy and tired, run by men in suits and catering to older generations. "I was invited to speak to 300-some designers in Oak Brook," he says. "With a strategy to continue Smithe parodies of relevant topics, really, the future is limitless," he says. The process starts with Tim Smithe, Pam Thorson (the company's director of advertising) and director/editor Bill O'Neil of O'Neil Productions of Wilmette. The Smithe sisters have heard it all before, and they've set out to dispel those misperceptions. Draftfcb. Walter was the first of the third generation to join the family business in 1981 . [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]. The Feldco guy creeps me out more. Were now getting calls from all over the world., Under Colleen and Meghans direction, Smithe now has a beautiful new lookbook in its marketing toolbox and a stable full of breathtaking photography, as they become the exclusive distributor for Ellen DeGeneres new furniture collection from Thomasville. 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. We had no grand plan.. "By being so close and meeting so regularly, we're all in the loop with what's happening in each other's sphere. Walter E. Smithe Jr. also earned a master's degree in Anthropology at Loyola University Chicago in 1980. We all trickled back in, and it happened really organically, says Meghan of the industrious quartet, who collectively has 17 children. In the late '60s, the growing family -- there are also four sisters, Cindy, Margie and . They brought in real clients, worked with real designers and demonstrated each sister's essential role within the business. 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. This led to the development of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design. 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. This initiative calls for all hands on deck. Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Home & Garden, Interior Design. 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. First published on October 12, 2022 / 3:27 PM. Its unjust to think that women can somehow balance it all, Colleen adds. 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. Find locations. "They go a long way with a limited budget through the use of creativity," he says. The Smithe sisters have always been close -- and growing up, it wasn't always by choice. One of the first opportunities to test their compatibility was through a partnership with interior designer and TV personality Jeff Lewis. walter e smithe furniture inc. "We're all rolling up our sleeves and getting dirty. From 5 to 8 p.m., select retailers will offer refreshments while highlighting unique designers. They've transitioned into the spotlight. Spoken like the daughter of a true shop owner, as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. Trendwise, Caitie says the color gurus at Pantone were right on when they selected a bright shade of green as Color of the Year. Explore. Walter E. Smithe is a family business in every sense of the word, the sisters say. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, . They've spruced up their styles, selling more contemporary pieces among their traditional designs. 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. '", "I was at a gym on a treadmill," Mark says of the first time he caught one of the commercials. 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. The are the Smithe sisters, Meghan, Colleen, Maureen and Caitie. 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. 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. Billy Corgan and Walter E. Smithe Wrestling. Walter e smithe is a high end furniture store, no surprise their ads are geared towards middle aged women from high income households aka suburban moms. They were each only a year apart, at one point covering all four grade levels at Barrington High School. "Staying fresh, young . Like their brothers, the four Smithe sisters were all in the business when they were in high school. The answer -- and the sisters' secret to success -- can be summed up in three key words: Fresh. I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. "And I'd be yelling, `I can't breathe! I only hear them on the radio. Were really excited about this program, explains Meghan. Getting the Smithes in front of the camera wasn't easy. Chicago Parent, as a Zoe Communications Group company, is certified as a Womens Business Enterprise by the Womens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nations largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women. Hell stand on things, jump on them, do his best to break dining chairs. Nearby is a mangled lamp that will never find its way to a Smithe showroom floor. As they grew into their teens, there were the usual summer jobs -- caddying, yard work, selling ice cream from a motorized three-wheeler. The new generation of Smithes are featured in the company's new advertising. Our lives can be overrun with technology, commitments and schedules. 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. They look hungry. So I'm speaking, and they're half listening, you know. 9615 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077. formId: "acc781a7-d0b4-433d-bc7f-c5bac12f3766" 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. ". 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. walter e smithe. College was a turning point for the sisters, who now call one another their best friends. 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 . My sisters and I loved being a part of it.. Feb 20, 2022 - The 4th generation of Walter E. Smithe family stops by to visit Bob and Marianne. Regarded as top performer within the account and the Agency, as a result of consistent over-delivery, passion to grow the business . "If you think of furniture commercials, it's always just panning a showroom with obnoxious graphics," says O'Neil, who has directed all the Smithe commercials. But the sisters also know they can always turn to the leaders who came before them. Jamie Sotonoff. While they took breaks from the biz to make their own way after college, each came back when the right positions opened up. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, specializing in custom upholstery, and operates ten showrooms throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. 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. Meghan is director of marketing, Caitie is a designer and stylist and Colleen is director of advertising. CHICAGO (CBS) -- Walter Edward Smithe Jr., the founder of Chicago's Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, has died at the age of 86. Then he and Thorson meet with his brothers and throw ideas around. View info about Walter E. Smithe Furniture (smithe.com). Falling asleep. The new campaign, dubbed Smithe Family Makeovers, showcases Smithe furniture in the homes of actual clients, revealing the handiwork of the companys designers in HGTV-esque episodes. getting a penny or nickel for every clearance tag we pulled," says Meghanthe four daughters of Walter Smithe III have . Please enter valid email address to continue. Thats fast, but it shows what we can do. It's fun to be part of Chicago in that way.". 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 . So is there a `Wally and the Sofa Factory' in our future?". "What about you and your sisters?". Postpartum bladder leaks are common but there's help. We learned so much from these relationships, Colleen says. His line was, `If you can talk you can breathe.'". (He's now semi-retired, having turned the business over to his sons about 10 years ago.). But even as likable as the brothers are, do they run the risk of oversaturation or going to the well too often? Updating your home theater? 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. However, Lewis Lazare, the Chicago Sun-Times' advertising critic, has defended the commercials. The chemistry among this familial foursome is something parents can only hope for from their children. Be sure to visit Sawbridge Studios, which will showcase sustainably harvested, live-edge furniture by David Stine. 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. They've relaunched catalogs showcasing their furniture in fully designed spaces. 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. What The Walter E. Smithe Daughters Do . The girls got the bedrooms; the three boys shared a room in the basement. "[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. Their dad, the company's president, continued filming his signature ads with his brother, Mark, for a short period of time, Colleen said. Edited to add: Looked them up and gee, it's one of the daughters managing the marketing. Shop the clearance. Today. Sibling revelry; Their offbeat commercials have made the Smithe brothers cult heroes. Walter E. SMITHE corporate office is located in 1775 W Rand Rd, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004, United States and has 382 employees. An added factor in the commercials' success are the brothers, who come across as regular guys. At-a-glance. portalId: "6766057", Ellen is very serious about design and had a definite voice in what this modern-rustic-meets-farmhouse collection would be. [2] Today, the company has ten showrooms in Illinois and Indiana and is listed by Furniture Today as one of the top one hundred furniture retailers in the United States. The Chicago native attended Fenwick High School and the University of Notre Dame. "Pam, Bill and I are always on the watch for pop culture. Furniture Stores. "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. Over the last 13 years, one by one, Walters daughters have been hired on at Smithe as the jobs became available. Watch. As the fourth generation to run their family-owned Chicago furniture store, Walter.

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