Ads feature bagpipe band, contest to win $5K shopping spree
The Smithe brothers of Walter E. Smithe Furniture (www.smithe.com) fame get in touch with their Irish heritage, jamming with the world-famous Shannon Rovers Irish Bagpipe Band (www.shannonrovers.com) in new television ads airing throughout Chicagoland during March.
Longtime collaborator Bill O'Neil directed the spots, which were filmed at Emmit's Irish Pub (www.emmits.com) in Chicago's River West neighborhood. Kilt-wearing Smithes Walter, Tim and Mark tout their company's spring collection, and announce a $7 million “Pot ‘O Gold” furniture giveaway. Scratch-off entry cards (no purchase necessary) and free “Walter O'Smithe” St. Patrick's Day necklaces are available at all company showrooms throughout March, or while supplies last.
“Everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day, and everyone's a winner in our Pot O'Gold promotion,” explained Walter E. Smithe III. “One person will truly experience the luck of the Irish – even if they're not Irish – when they win the $5,000 Smithe Furniture shopping spree grand prize.”
“Our mother, Florence Flynn Smithe, traces her Irish roots to County Mayo,” added Tim Smithe. “We've visited family there and think it's the most beautiful place on earth -- and that's no blarney.”
After talking furniture, the Smithes join the Shannon Rovers, best known for leading the annual Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade, in a decidedly Celtic rendition of the company's “you dream it, we build it” jingle. Walter plays the bagpipes, Tim the drums, while Mark steps up as drum major, brandishing the mace.
The boys, whose past commercial antics ranged from rapping to coffee table ski jumping to lightsaber dueling, were thrilled to work with the Shannon Rovers, a cultural fixture in Chicago for more than 75 years that has performed at the White House and for several U.S. presidents.
“We had a blast,” said Tim LeFevour, Shannon Rovers bagpipe player who helped coordinate the gig, which marked the band's first appearance in a TV commercial. “Emmit's is the group's unofficial watering hole – blowing bagpipes makes you thirsty -- so we felt comfortable filming there, and the Smithes were great to work with.”
The worst part about filming the commercial? “Cold knees,” said Mark Smithe.
For more information, visit the company's web site, which also features the full video of the Smithes with the Shannon Rovers.