Primary Address. Nothing is left unchanged, Meghan notes. Chicago Furniture | Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design | Meet the Smithes 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. That's a galaxy away from the current "Star Wars" parody. 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. The brothers are recognized on the street, in grocery stores and coffee shops ("I got a free Starbucks latte once," Tim says). Caitie was a manufacturers' representative before becoming a stay-at-home mom. We strive to bring our clients the best in home furnishings for every style, budget, and stage of life. 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. "And I'd be yelling, `I can't breathe! When they get a topic, Smithe says, he tries to figure a way to blend it into an ad. Zajdel was a driver for Victory when he made the commercial a quarter-century ago. Were often building on what we see resonating in the market and what is interesting and beautiful at the moment., Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design is coming off a successful year of strategic partnerships with Bravo TVs Jeff Lewis and interior designer Cynthia Rowley. 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. "In a family business, everyone has to wear all hats at all times," Maureen said. Personally, I dont want to stare at ugly furniture for all those years, Meghan says. View a map of participating First Friday locations. The company offer of a free DVD generated a huge response, and more than 60,000 were given away.). Explore. Now, there are 12, a 115,000-square-foot headquarters in Itasca and more than 550 employees, and this year Walter E. Smithe Furniture will do $100 million in sales. walter e smithe furniture & design. Kyla McCarthy - EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki That cartoon of Bob has BDE and you can't deny it. You may also light a candle in honor of Walter E. Smithe Jr. or send a beautiful flower arrangement to the funeral . It was an organic transition for each of us, says Colleen, the youngest sister. 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. 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 furniture - inc. walter e smithe furniture. - 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. There is no rule book that says they all need to matchmetals always compliment one another. While a new recession may strike a particular industry, measuring the industry and . Main Telephone (630) 285-8000. Were really excited about this program, explains Meghan. Industry: Home Furniture & Housewares Stores. You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe . A family affair: How four sisters are bringing a 75-year-old store into Smithe guy Walt actually Walter Smithe III 45 is president and general manager of the. In some of the footage, youll see my dad installing a dimmer or my uncle driving a truck. In recent years, Smithe enjoyed his time with extended family. Through March 16, enjoy savings of up to 20 percent on select rugs (hopscotch, anyone?) With a 71-year history and 11 stores sprinkled throughout Chicago and the suburbs, Walter E. Smithe is a local furniture icon. "They're having a lot of fun. Walter E. SMITHE: Employee Directory | ZoomInfo.com I love the one where they are drinking what looks like Tang out of wine glasses. Our lives can be overrun with technology, commitments and schedules. Sisters Take Smithe Spotlight, More High-End Barware, and a Sofa Sale "We're not your parents' furniture company," Caitie said. Walter E. Smithe Furniture, Inc. Corporate Profile - Winmo getting a penny or nickel for every clearance tag we pulled," says Meghanthe four daughters of Walter Smithe III have . - 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. The Smithe brothers used good-natured humor on countless TV commercials selling furniture. Then he and Thorson meet with his brothers and throw ideas around. This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of Chicago Parent. They were each only a year apart, at one point covering all four grade levels at Barrington High School. Spoken like the daughter of a true shop owner, as her father Walter E. Smithe III, president of the eponymous furniture retailer calls himself. Walter E. Smithe Trade In Sale - YouTube Their advertising is creative, it's timely and it's interesting, so people remember it and they like it.". Walter E. Smithe Furniture is a company located in Itasca, Illinois, United States. Reaching a younger demographic and expanding their clientele has required some creativity, the sisters said. walter e smithe. Holly Hunt (222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Ste. Today, they help oversee 10 showrooms, the warehouse and headquarters, working together (generally) perfectly. In fact, none of the sisters seriously considered having a career in the company, founded by their great-grandfather in 1945. Dont burden yourself with the boredom of a matching wood set. Walter E. Smithe - Wikipedia 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. 'Flipping Out' Where To Get Jeff Lewis' Furniture Collection [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]. If you find the right furniture, it will last even through your kids, Colleen says. In 2002 they brought in director Bill O'Neil to help them. But I never forget that these are my sisters and I completely respect them. 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. Meghan Smithe was on maternity leave when she began working part time in the family business, long known for its infectious jingle: You dream it, we build it.. Visit . He attended the University of Notre Dame and earned a bachelor 's . 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. WALTER E. SMITHE FURNITURE Revenue, Growth & Competitor Profile "I think it's time for us to get out of these TV commercials," Walter said. The Smithe boys started out in a tiny ranch house in Des Plaines, the children of Walter Jr. and Florence. How, they wondered, would longtime customers respond to four new female faces on their television screens? Its unjust to think that women can somehow balance it all, Colleen adds. Reviews on Outlet Walter E Smithe in Glendale Heights, IL 60139 - Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, Toms Price Home, The Dump Furniture Outlet, Ashley HomeStore, The RoomPlace, Roy's Furniture, Domicile Whoever said brick-and-mortar is dead hasn't met the Smithe sisters. Most recently, she was at . "I said, `Let's get you guys on camera.'". Best Outlet Walter E Smithe near Glendale Heights, IL 60139 - Yelp "They go a long way with a limited budget through the use of creativity," he says. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design - Maureen Smithe and Caitie Smithe You could say that the Smithes are a bit obsessed with quality. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. Now its only the wives and zero about the furniture. Plus, they seem like nice guys. During a stint in the Army, Smithe attained the rank of captain and became an expert in the field of computers. At Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design, we are committed to helping our clients love their homes through expert design, quality furnishings, and exemplary service. The daughters took over the company. 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. Am I the only one who just thinks he looks like Louis CK? It was founded by Walter Edward Smithe and Bill Shanahan in 1945. But the truth is, I love coming to the office. Lewis Lazare. When the boys took over from their father, there were about a half-dozen stores. Draftfcb. Business Profile for Walter E. Smithe Furn-Itasca. "Case in point, I was just this morning sketching out my first ideas for The Three Tenors, featuring, of course, the Smithe brothers in a coliseum. Edited to add: Looked them up and gee, it's one of the daughters managing the marketing. Bloomingdale Plaza. Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design advertising has featured everything from parodies of "The Price Is Right" to a 2013 classic in which the Smithe brothers got into a wrestling ring with Billy Corgan. Walter E. Smithe III, is the President of family owned and operated Walter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. 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. And youll see each of my sisters doing what they do best.. However, Lewis Lazare, the Chicago Sun-Times' advertising critic, has defended the commercials. 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. This led to the development of Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design.