Amidst all the glitz and glamour of the 2019 Academy Awards was a Leduc local business. The Alberta town’s Sage Stone Malas and Meditations was part of a pre-show celebrity gift suite.
Sage Stone offers necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry with an eye to meditation and mindfulness. Owner Annie Hunting has stated that her goal is to find customers an accessory that:
“Speaks to your soul, nourishes your spirit and compliments your meditation practice.”
Several of Sage Stone’s meditation necklaces – or malas – were on offer to famous guests and tastemakers at the Academy Awards. These gifts were made with the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli and are advertised as helping with meditation.
The gift suite is a common practice in Hollywood, where an appearance on a celebrity’s wrist or neck is coveted by brands large and small. For such a widely viewed event as the Oscars, even getting into the room is a challenge.
While Hunting’s malas haven’t yet shown up on any red carpets, her presence at the Oscars has already increased the business’s profile. Sage Stone’s involvement in the gift suite was noted by local news and hailed by Alberta Premier Rachel Notley.
Publicity is vital for small businesses to succeed, as seen by the continued popularity of poster printing and flyer printing along with new techniques like social media. So Hunting might have a busy schedule when she gets back from Hollywood.