Walter E. Smithe

Walter E. Smithe is a furniture company based in Itasca, Illinois. The company makes, sells, and repairs furniture, specializing in custom upholstery, and operates ten showrooms throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. It was founded by Walter Edward Smithe and Bill Shanahan in 1945. Walter Edward Smithe Jr. remained active with the company until his passing in 2022.

Walter E. Smithe
TypePrivately held company
IndustryFurniture & Design
Founded1945
Headquarters
Itasca, Illinois
Number of locations
10 Locations
Websitehttps://Smithe.com
Footnotes / references
https://incfact.com/company/walteresmithefurniture-itasca-il/

Today, there are 2 generations involved in the business: 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 3rd brother, Tim Smithe, retired in 2016. 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 advertising).

History

The company began in 1945 as Tone Appliances and Furniture, a single store on Belmont Avenue in Chicago. Walter E. Smithe and Bill Shanahan founded the store anticipating a booming economy in the wake of World War II. The two renamed the store Smithe and Shanahan, but Bill Shanahan eventually sold his share to Smithe's brother Charlie.

Walter E. Smithe, Jr. joined the business in the 1960s with his brothers Gary and Tomm, and began phasing out appliances to focus on custom upholstery. In the 1970’s Walter left Smithe and Shanahan (His brothers remained with the original company) to start his own company - Walter E. Smithe. His sons, Walter, Tim, and Mark, joined the company in the 1970s and 1980s.[1] 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.[2]

Commercials

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. The slogans "You dream it, we build it", or "That's Smithe, with an E" are commonly used.

Family

In March, 2017, daughters of Walter E. Smithe III became the fourth generation of the Smithe family to be featured in the commercials.[3]

Notes
  1. History. smithe.com. Retrieved on June 24, 2008.
  2. Gary James. "Walter E. Smithe gives royal treatment to Royal Manner. Furniture Today. September 5, 2007.
  3. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Smithe Family Makeovers. YouTube.
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