Jewelry brand founder is SLAMMED over ‘bougie white elephant’ gift exchange for her staff that saw some presented with HERMES and CHANEL designs – while others got skincare
A jewelery brand founder's 'bougie white elephant' gift exchange has made waves after she gifted some of her employees with Chanel and Hermes products, while others walked away with skincare.
Alexis Russo is the CEO and founder of jewelry brand Local Eclectic and regularly documents her lavish life unpacking Fendi wallets and Hermes shoes TikTok channel, where she has more than 171,000 followers.
And while her sparkling jewelry is often the focus of her videos, Alexis recently came under fire after sharing footage of the white elephant exchange she did for her coworkers.
In the viral clip, which has been viewed more than 1.9 million times to date, Alexis showed off the gifts she gifted her team members, but it drew fierce criticism after she gifted some of her colleagues with lavish goods, while others received skin care products.
Alexis Russo is the CEO and founder of jewelry brand Local Eclectic and recently came under fire for her white elephant gift exchange
She gifted some of her employees with Chanel and Hermes products, while others walked away with skin care
One team member received a $600 Dyson Airwrap as a gift
She captioned the clip, “New holiday tradition.”
At the beginning of the video, Alexis mentioned that one of her coworkers opened a $395 Diptyque candle.
However, the generous gift was soon 'stolen' by another colleague.
Alexis documented how all her team members opened their hugely expensive gifts, as many of them had to receive other items after their colleagues brought their first product.
'Ooos' and 'ahhs' filled the room as the team members opened their expensive designer products.
One person received a baby blue Chanel card holder worth $500, while someone else received a Dyson Airwrap, which retails for $600.
Another colleague was amazed when she received a $510 Hermes scarf decorated with astrological symbols.
And while some lucky ones received such luxurious gifts, others walked away with envy, taking home skincare products.
Another colleague was amazed when she received a $510 Hermes scarf decorated with astrological symbols
And while a lucky few received such luxurious gifts, others walked away with envy, taking home skincare products
Some employees received serums from Dr. Barbara Sturm, which may be expensive, but certainly cannot be compared to a Chanel wallet or Dyson Airwrap
Some employees received serums from Dr. Barbara Sturm, which may be expensive, but certainly cannot be compared to a Chanel wallet or Dyson Airwrap.
The hyaluronic acid the team member received costs a whopping $320, and is said to “improve the skin matrix” and “reduce wrinkles,” according to the brand's website.
And even though it was an expensive purchase, Alexis still received backlash for not giving everyone designer products.
One person said: 'I would be so upset if I left with a serum while someone got a Chanel wallet.'
Another user added: 'It's a crime to take a Hermes scarf or a Chanel wallet and leave with a serum.'
Someone else wrote: 'It seems so wrong to be given hyaluron serum when someone has a Dyson and a Chanel wallet.'
Alexis continued to receive strong backlash for not giving everyone designer products
She then tried to justify the serum, adding, “Dr. Barbara Sturm is the Chanel or Hermes of skin care. If you love skin care then you know this is one of the top brands'
“Justice for the facial serum girls,” another person commented.
One user added: 'A serum? I'm sure it's great, but looking for a Chanel wallet? LOL.'
One person commented: 'Skincare serious? Even if it's high-end, read the room.”
In response to the criticism, Alexis posted a video explaining the gift exchange.
“So I want to clarify a few things about the white elephant gift exchange I organized. This is clearly not a normal white elephant,” she said.
She then noted that “everyone went home with a great gift.”
“I bought all the presents, so there wasn't really a set budget,” she added.
She noted that prior to the gift exchange, she gave all her team members stockings filled with the same thing, but she did not reveal what was in the stockings.
She then tried to justify the serum, adding, “Dr. Barbara Sturm is the Chanel or Hermes of skin care. If you love skin care, you know it's one of the top brands.'