Canadian entrepreneur gifting swimwear to celebs in 2019 Oscar swag

Feb 21 2019, 7:28 am

People around the world are already anticipating the results of the 91st Academy Awards, happening on Sunday, February 24. Which movie will win the Oscar for best picture? Best actress? Best actor? Best original song?

Hollywood style wins (and failures) will be taking over the red carpet, and at the end of it all, win or lose, the 2019 Oscar nominees will be going home with one heck of a gift bag, or two. Back in 2013, Entrepreneur reported that gift bags were valued at more than $62,000 — including an elephant safari worth $15,000.

Needless to say, celebrities are accustomed to perks. And when brands can get their product before the eyes of a celebrity in an Oscars gift bag, it’s a huge accomplishment. This is the case for Maple Ridge local Chelsea Smith, who splits her time between Vancouver and LA.

Smith is the owner of a ladies swimwear startup, Sandy Swim, and she will be gifting Oscar nominees and celebrity attendees staying at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills with Aisha bathing suits.

Chelsea Smith/Simon Rochfort Photography

Along with her all-female team, Smith produces affordable, stylish swimwear, and her self-funded company has propelled to new heights in less than six months. She explains how she began searching for a position that would give her digital marketing experience, and this idea transformed into a “fully-fledged company with five strong women working together.”

 

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The entrepreneur describes the process of gifting Oscar nominees and celebrities a “whirlwind experience.” Sandy Swim’s publicist found out the news the first week in February. “We didn’t want to miss the opportunity so we rallied around the clock together to get 25 suits and 25 gift cards ready and packaged, just in time to ship to Los Angeles,” says Smith.

She feels the venture has really brought her team together in a positive way, and that the “feedback has been extremely encouraging” from Vancouver.

Chelsea Smith/Simon Rochfort Photography

The Aisha bikini celebrities will be receiving this weekend is Sandy Swim’s best selling product.

“Everyone from influencers to worldwide customers love it. So we wanted to make sure that Hollywood’s biggest stars got the chance to make the most of it. We sent it out in all four colours: black, red, yellow, blue,” Smith tells Daily Hive.

To have your brand’s product included in the Oscars gift bag doesn’t come cheap. In 2018, Forbes reported that companies have to pay “a promotional fee of at least $4,000 to have their products included.”

 

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Smith’s brand is currently accepting ambassador applications, and if selected, you can earn free swimsuits, get discounts on purchases, and be featured on the Sandy Swim Instagram account.

 

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