The Antwerp Gift Suite: “Giving is the new Taking”

Marketing is all about winning consumers’ hearts. And if you win the hearts of your consumers’ prescribers (the people they listen to), you’ve scored an even bigger point. Then it’s safe to say that the Antwerp Gift Suite was the equivalent of a Cupid’s arrow shot straight to the hearts of celebs & socialites.

The first Belgian edition of the Gift Suite was organised by the Friends of the Brands, a Dutch PR and communications company in partnership with Land Rover, Belmodo and Veuve Clicquot. FOTB launched this concept a few years back in Amsterdam putting ‘celebrity endorsement’ at the center of their marketing move. Sooooo Hollywood.

The event took place at De Witte Lelie Boutique Hotel, where its rooms were transformed by the participating brands to showcase their products and make the celebs’ hearts leap. They all got generous goodie bags full of new exciting products and in return, they each brought a gift to the kids in the Oncology Service in the Antwerp University Hospital. Because “giving is the new taking” -dixit gorgeous and clever Virginie Claes.

Among the attending celebs and socialites, there was Matteo Simoni and Louis Talpe, the cute Flemish actors, Joy Anna Thielemans the actress and tv show host, Diana Huisman, from the K3 band, the multi-talented Astrid Bryan: model, singer, actress, television personality, writer, and television producer (!) and finally Natalia and Kevin Janssens, singer and actor, respectively.

Oh, you wonder what was in the goodie bags prepared by Friends of the Brands? You nosy little you! Well, the amazing Ultimate Ears wireless speaker for instance, products from Dermalogica, & Benefit, a piece form the Rodenstock by Claudia Schiffer collection, Chi and Biosilk treatments, Porsche Design items and superfoods from Albert Heijn. Jealous much?

All in all, a tremendous success for the first edition of the Belgian Gift Suite. And here’s a little personal note: I bet much of the fabulousness of the event is due to the planning and PR skills of Nans Schonkeren & her crew. But maybe it’s just the fan talking!

Fingers crossed for many Gift Suites to come! And till then, why don’t you visit the Gift Suite Antwerpen page on the Friends of the Brands website. They reserve plenty of discounts on many brands for you!

Anita