"It's always positive, and it's nice to be part of it. Revenue: $100 to $500 million (USD) Competitors: Linly Designs, Rieke Office Interiors, 57st Design. (847) 933-1481. Most recently, she was at . Itasca, IL 60143. 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. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune). For decades, the public faces of the privately owned company have been the sisters father, Walter E. Smithe IIIthe 59-year-old grandson of the businesss namesakeand the sisters uncles, Mark and Tim. [4], Many of Walter E. Smithe's commercials have been pop culture parodies. Trendwise, Caitie says the color gurus at Pantone were right on when they selected a bright shade of green as Color of the Year. walter e smithe furniture & design. As mothers, theyve learned its not only possible, but preferable, to have a functional yet beautiful home. Their interactions were zany, their dialogue lighthearted, their catchy jingle -- "you dream it, we build it" -- recognizable throughout the region. The daughters took over the company. The answer -- and the sisters' secret to success -- can be summed up in three key words: Fresh. Furniture Stores. I'm so annoyed that I won't buy anything from there. 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. [4][5] In 2008, they filmed and edited a takeoff of the Sex and the City franchise, with the brothers sipping "Smithe-o-politans". There's a preconceived notion that furniture stores are stuffy and tired, run by men in suits and catering to older generations. Walter E. Smithe III, is the President of family owned and operated Walter E. Smithe Furniture + Design. 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. "KFC dances to beat of familiar drummers". Edit: I have been informed that they are the daughters, not the wives. What she does: Come up with ideas that get people off their couch and into our storesand put my sisters in awkward positions (see our commercials)., What she does: Whether were working or just hanging out, my Type A personality keeps us organized and on track.. Primary Address. In family businesses, thats the only way to ensure a companys continued success. Today, Maureen is a buyer, Meghan is the director of marketing, Caitie is a designer and assists the merchandising team, and Colleen is the director of advertising. 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.. "It was kind of ingrained in us," Caitie Smithe said. Take dress up and glam up a notch with a self-care day at this luxurious spa for kids and tweens. Smithe says that doing everything in-house allows them to be quick on their feet. Relevant. It stuck in your head. Industry: Home Furniture & Housewares Stores. 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. Sometimes its the only quiet I get.. 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. He began working in the . 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. Tags: Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article, Home & Garden, Interior Design. Let's go Cubbies! 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 . "We're all rolling up our sleeves and getting dirty. While we still have traditional pieces, our showroom appeals to a number of different lifestyles. In the late '60s, the growing family -- there are also four sisters, Cindy, Margie and . "In a family business, everyone has to wear all hats at all times," Maureen said. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. "There was some physical violence between the brothers," Walt says with that satisfied look of a big brother who got to dish it out. She has a few ideas for how to add a little spring to your home. Walter e smithe daughters. 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. Edited to add: Looked them up and gee, it's one of the daughters managing the marketing. We not only respect this, we embrace it.. This has been our priority since we first began serving the Chicago area back in 1945. That's a galaxy away from the current "Star Wars" parody. Contents. I was probably in elementary school when I would come in to work in the warehouse, sweeping for a nickel, Colleen says of the brand, which first opened in 1945. 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. If you are ready to get grown-up furniture, this place has a very nice selection, with helpful staff who can guide you toward the proper colors, scale, and what looks nice together. I love the attention I get as a local celebrity," Mark says. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. 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. And Amy is a singer and songwriter. Regarded as top performer within the account and the Agency, as a result of consistent over-delivery, passion to grow the business . So I'm speaking, and they're half listening, you know. 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. His line was, `If you can talk you can breathe.'". Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Then he and Thorson meet with his brothers and throw ideas around. 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. For people who are in their 40s and have families, that's how brothers act around each other when they get together. Sisters Take Smithe Spotlight, More High-End Barware, and a Sofa Sale, 2020 Chicago magazine / A Chicago Tribune Media Group website, map of participating First Friday locations, Design Controls - Facebook Instant Article. 177 East Army Trail Road, Glendale Heights, IL 60139. That collective experience comes in handy ahead of any major decisions. Still, the Smithes have had to weather various challenges since joining the company, including the retirement of their uncle, Tim. '", "I was at a gym on a treadmill," Mark says of the first time he caught one of the commercials. "We wanted to entertain people first, so then when we wanted to inform them they'd already be paying attention," Tim says of their advertising philosophy. "And of course this summer's blockbuster is supposed to be `Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' 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. Three years later, she recruited Colleen to become advertising director -- a position she accepted without hesitation. Over the past 76 years, the company has grown to include 10 Chicago area showrooms. To make up for it, she woke up early to make heart-shaped pancakes. To the Smithe sisters, the company has always been a piece of their identity, an integral thread of their childhood. Only a year apart in age, the lively, fast-talking Smithe sisters consider one another best friends. Anyone got a link to the current commercial? Shop the Sofa Sale. The brothers spend most of their time in the company's Itasca headquarters, which also serves as a warehouse, customer service center and point of departure for the fleet of Smithe trucks. 22 miles. 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. "It almost feels like the business is, in a weird way, a member of the family. "But we've also gotten some really nice feedback from people who are happy to see four working women on their TV.". Press J to jump to the feed. portalId: "6766057", Courtesy of Walter E. Smithe Furniture and Design. Further confused by the commercials now. E. Smithe sisters Caitie, Colleen, Meghan and Maureen were introduced to the business at a young age. It took the mother of six children a few years to figure out how to juggle her demanding career and busy home life. It said he passed away peacef But one by one, they followed Maureen's lead and rejoined the family business. The Smithes stand out because they're doing silly things. Bob's proudly proclaims that it sells cheap garbage, Walter E looks like they're trying to sell you viagra and Penny Mustard radio commercials are justweird.. They decided on an ad campaign that would, simply, pitch their product. Walter was the first of the third generation to join the family business in 1981 . One of my friends used to live near Fullerton and Western, and she would always tell people she lived near Tile Outlet. For example - my favorite large upholstered dining chairs are under $200. [3], The company has become well known in the Chicago area for its television commercials, which for decades starred the three Smithe brothers, and now star the four Smithe sisters. "We were kind of like dorks, geeks, growing up," Mark says. Last year there aas a commercial where the puppet quickly moved to close his laptop when someone came in the office. 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. 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. "Smithes have fun at the old ballpark". Main Telephone (630) 285-8000. Along the way, they got married, had children (17 in all!) It's not included in a shorter version now airing on TV. I only hear them on the radio. 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 4th generation (the Smithe Sisters), all daughters of Walter III, are Maureen Smithe (buyer), Meghan Smithe (director of marketing), Caitie Smithe (designer, design coordinator and stylist) and Colleen Smithe (director of . Margie, who used to be a buyer for Smithe, moved to St. Louis with her husband, who worked for Anheuser-Busch's ad agency. 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." I presented my ideas for this two weeks ago and it will be out on the floor in three weeks. As mothers, all of us have cleaned up a childs spill, or even their vomit, from our furniture, Colleen jokes. Some ways to do this include mixing fabrics and leathers such as pairing linens with velvets, shag rugs, fur throws, organic elements such as rattan and bamboo even the reflective-ness of chrome can add texture to a room! "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. We strive to bring our clients the best in home furnishings for every style, budget, and stage of life. His sons, Walter, Tim, and Mark, joined the company in the 1970s and 1980s. We had no grand plan.. Walter has been known to take furniture for test drives, says Meghan. It's all a part of an effort to hang on to the company's loyal customers while persuading younger shoppers that Walter E. Smithe isn't just their parent's go-to store. Zajdel was a driver for Victory when he made the commercial a quarter-century ago. But now a new generationsisters Meghan, Colleen, Maureen, and Caitie Smitheis shaking things up in a big way. You may have noticed a change lately in those Walter E. Smithe . It couldn't have gone more perfectly, Maureen said. Ask how we can add diversity to your supply chain. He cites the U2 music video takeoff. Falling asleep. 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 sisters laughed at hearing this family adage, knowing that home furnishing has been woven into the tapestry of their lives. Mark admonished Walt to keep his feet off the furniture. Opening Day is March 30. 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. The Smithe boys started out in a tiny ranch house in Des Plaines, the children of Walter Jr. and Florence. We refer to Smithe.com as our 12th store, since many of our clients are doing their research online before coming to see us in person.. "We're kind of strategically positioned in different departments," Meghan said. The 4th generation (Walter III's daughters) join the business after careers in their respective fields; Maureen in 2002, Meghan in 2014, Caitie in 2015, and Colleen in 2016. It was like the empire jingle. Determine whether Walter E. Smithe Furniture grew or shrank during the last recession.