2. Want To Peek Inside Those $200,000 Oscars Gift Bags? For the 23rd year, Los Angeles-based marketing company Distinctive Assets offered Oscar nominees a coveted “Everybody Wins” gift bag. This year’s bag, valued at nearly $200,000, was filled with more than 60 gifts ranging from cannabis pre-rolls and THC-infused drinks to a four-night stay worth $23,000 at a Maldives resort to AncestryDNA’s $25,000 VIP Family History Experience for a complete family tree. • The gift package is delivered to nominees in luggage from high-end bag brand Nomatic. “My goal when I’m building this bag,” Distinctive Assets founder Lash Fary told CNBC, “is that I go, ‘There’s some cool s*** here that I would love to get if I were a celebrity.’ I don’t think you’re ever too rich or famous to get past that, especially when it’s so much fun stuff.” Here are just a few of the goodies in this year’s Everybody Wins bag: • A $240 John Boos cutting board. • $305 worth of skincare products from Swiss brand INSTYTUTUM. • A $400 collection of film-inspired merch from Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. • Cannabis products from select brands like Dogwalkers ($194), Beboe ($160), Senorita ($80) and RYTHM ($231). • Luxury pocket squares valued at $1,570 from fashion house Daniel Ashley. • An invite to a $3,500 virtual wellness retreat from 3d Wellness Retreat. • A $5,200 stay at the five-star Cotton House Hotel in Barcelona. • An in-depth look at their family’s past through AncestryDNA’s $25,000 VIP Family History Experience, where a genealogist will build the nominee’s family tree back several generations and walk them through the findings. In addition, considering the horrific Los Angeles wildfires, Fary included a one-year membership to Bright Harbor personalized disaster recovery support and 10 memberships to share with family and friends. Recipients could also take advantage of $50,000 worth of project management services from Maison Construction. “[They made] their gift completely transferable,” Fary said. “The nominees can give it to a friend or family member or neighbor, whoever might need it.” These high-end gift bags went to host Conan O’Brien and nominees in five acting and directing categories. While every nominee can receive a bag, not all accept. And if you’ve ever wondered about the taxes on an Oscars gift bag, the recipient only pays taxes on the physical goods in their Nomatic suitcase. Vacation and retreat invites only carry a tax if a nominee redeems them. 3. Aldi Releases Spring Gear Collection, Including First Line For Kids Aldi isn’t just a discount grocer with gourmet foods from all over the world – it has also built a cult following among its customers. What better way to connect with them than by bringing back its sell-out-in-a-hot-minute Aldi Gear line of apparel, which hit stores on March 19? The Batavia, Illinois-based retailer created its new merchandise assortment in response to shoppers’ requests for athleisure clothing for the entire family. Aldi also introduced children’s products for the first time. The kids’ line includes colorful pullovers and Aldi-themed keychains to accessorize backpacks and sports bags. The budget-friendly 2025 Aldi Spring Gear Collection includes quilted vests, joggers, sweatpants, pullovers, T-shirts, totes and more. All items are priced under $20. Fans can even grab eye-catching Aldi-branded sneakers for just $12.99. Photo Credit: aldi.us/products/aldi-gear/ Olya Che / Shutterstock.com PPAI • MAY 2025 • 71 Buzzworthy | Community
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