Swag in a Time of Recession

Here’s a problem you probably haven’t been thinking about: How do you make swag recession-proof? Variety reports that as the Golden Globes approach, Hollywood is rethinking its approach to “gifting suites”—the sites where celebrities typically show up during awards season and are photographed getting bags of free stuff. Naturally, “in hard times, a photo of a star holding up a free pair of jeans in People magazine may rub some consumers, especially those recently laid off, the wrong way,” the paper notes. One creative solution: When the stars shows up at the gifting suite, write a check to charity. That’s swag we can believe in.