When the 88th annual Academy Awards ceremony ends on February 28th, a handful of stars will be lucky enough to leave with the golden statuette, but the next day, all of the nominees in the major categories (Best Actor /Actress, Best Supporting Actor /Actress and Best Director) will feel like winners when “The Everyone Wins” Nominee Gift Bag arrives on their doorsteps.
For the 17th year, the marketing firm, Distinctive Assets, has assembled the ultimate celebrity swag bag. This year’s nominee gift bag is valued in excess of $220,000. Lash Fary, the founder of Distinctive Assets and a veritable pioneer in celebrity gifting, has some basic guidelines for determining what products or services will be included in the bag:
“First of all, they have to be able to meet all the participation requirements in terms of product giveaway quantities and fees. Second, I have to either personally like the product or feel it is interesting in some way . . . doesn’t mean it has to be expensive . . . just that it will either be fun, functional or fabulous!”
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| Silver Cars Audi A4 car rentals Value: $45,000 |
Celebrities like Matt Damon and Cate Blanchett will receive a collection of items ranging from protein bars to luxury vacation packages and Fary does have some favorites among the eclectic mix of goodies:
“I am always excited about the fabulous trips we give . . . and this year the trips are better than ever. I LOVE Silvercar’s gift . . . a year of free Audi A4 car rentals. And Halo, Purely for Pets’ 10,000 meal shelter donation in each nominee’s name is truly extraordinary. So honored to be including this for the third year now.”
Do Hollywood A-listers really appreciate this kind of swag? They absolutely do, according to Fary. Here is how some of last year’s recipients used their gifts:
“Rosamund Pike redeemed her Candy Vixen candy buffet gift certificate for an incredible candy extravaganza at her birthday party post Oscars!
Julianne Moore, Bennett Mill and Richard Linklater have been enjoying their Silvercar rentals this past year.
Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, Ethan Hawke and Rosamund Pike all opted to #feeditforward by choosing animal shelters to receive Halo, Purely for Pets’ 10,000 meal donation in their name.
Steve Carrell, Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore all ordered Martone Cycling bicycles. Ed Norton and his wife went on vacation to the Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como using their gift voucher.
Mark Ruffalo and his wife redeemed their free trip to the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento, Italy and had a blast.”
Of course, like everyone else, Fary has some predictions about the winners on Oscar night as well as some personal favorites:
“Leo and Brie are locks. My money is on Alicia Vikander and Christian Bale for supporting. Toss up for Best Director between Alejandro Inarritu and Tom McCarthy. I’m leaning towards Alejandro. Best Film will be Spotlight. … though for me personally the best films of the year were Room and The Big Short.”
Other items in “The Everyone Wins” Nominee Gift Bag include:
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| My M&M’S personalized candies…. $300.00 |
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| Walk Japan private walking tour…$54,000.00 |
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| Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria 3 night stay in Sorrento Italy…$5,000.00 |
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| Golden Door 3 day stay at the resort and spa…$4,800.00 |
Delovery one of a kind gift baskets…. $2,000.00
Fit Club TV “Ultimate Fitness Package”…. $6,250.00
A lifetime supply of Lizora Tea skin cream and cleansing bar…$31,200
ExploreIsrael.com VIP all inclusive 10 day trip to Israel… $55,000.00
10 personal-training sessions with celebrity trainer Alexis Seletzky… $900
– Rhonda Erb
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