InterviewsPop Style TV Channel

GBK CEO Gavin Keilly Welcomes Oscar Nominees

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 26: Gavin Keilly and Viola Davis attend the eBay & GBK Brand Bar Pre-Oscar Luxury Lounge at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on March 26, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for GBK Brand Bar)

Tommy Geraci had a chance to visit GBK’s Oscars luxury, gifting lounge and speak to GBK CEO Gavin Keilly

 

Tommy Geraci: I’m here with Gavin Keilly from the GBK gifting lounge for the Oscars. I wanted to know from you, what was the motivation behind starting the first one that you ever did?

Gavin Keilly : The first one actually we were producing charity events and we did a big event with the Osborne family for colon cancer and Bomb RCA gave us watches to give out to the celebrities and Ozzy Osborne put a watch in his mouth. And then we got that photo placed in US  Weekly, In touch, People Magazine, and a little light bulb went off. I said, I could be helping brands grow and really take their business to the next level. And so that’s how we created all these gift lounges and really giving the brands the opportunity to be here, get photos with celebrities and meet great press like you.

Tommy Geraci: I’m here with POP Style TV, so I am on the entertainment end of it. So it’s kind of a way that you honor the actors that were nominated or performers that were nominated, it’s a way of giving them their kudos.

Gavin Keilly: Yeah. I mean, really at the end of the day, you know, they worked so hard, you know, some of these films take 2, 3, 4 years to make and people think, oh, it just happened overnight. You know? So it really is a matter of honoring them today with over a hundred thousand dollars in gifts, you know, but also, you know, helping the brands, if you think the process and there’s always a charity aspect. So, you know, we have Red Cross here today. Um, and then we also have Save the Children, you know, there’s great need right now in the Ukraine. So we’re really focusing on that right now.

Tommy Geraci: And how did it feel those few years that we had the pause where we weren’t able to do live events? Was that difficult for you to deal with? Or did you pivot a little bit?

Gavin Keilly: I went to The Bahamas for two years and took a break. No, no, no, no, no. Yeah. I mean, of course it was difficult. Yeah. It was difficult. You know, we opened up GBK Brand Bar, which is a store over at The Kimpton hotel. Uh, really giving not only the travelers the opportunity to see all these great products, but celebrities on a one-on-one basis to come to our store and get some great things, too.

Tommy Geraci: What’s your favorite part about these gifting suites for you personally?

Gavin Keilly: Seeing the smiles on everyones faces. You know, and, and frankly, a lot of the celebrities coming by. Seeing their friends, giving them a hug, you know, and saying, oh, it’s so good to see you. I haven’t seen you in the last year. You know? So that’s really great.

Tommy Geraci: It’s an amazing event, it is my first time being here, and I’m really impressed with it. And I give you much kudos as well for that. And I noticed that everybody coming in is smiling and happy and that’s because of you. So we have to give you your props, right?

Gavin Keilly: Well, they’re very excited to see eBay luxury as well. You know, I mean, when you’re, when you’re giving out luxury handbags and watches, not a bad thing.

Tommy Geraci: Thank you. I thank you so much for taking time with us. Thank you for having us here. Hope to see you again in the future.

Gavin Keilly: Thank you so much. 

More about the event 

About author

Articles

As an entertainment, social media and pop culture expert whose clients include celebrities, television shows, film producers and mainstream media,Tommy Geraci has provided social media coverage for the BAFTAS, Britannias, Emmys, Oscars, Golden Globes, Erase MS, and more. He has worked on the red carpet for movie premiers, including Transformers, White Rabbit, and the One Direction Movie as well as the BAFTAS, Erase MS, and the Golden Globes. Tommy also provided social media coverage for the convention circuit, including EyeCon and DragonCon. In addition, he writes for Addicted Magazine. Tommy's blog, Teeco71.com, highlights his interviews with celebrities, indie filmmakers and musicians, and the events he attends. He is Associate Producer on the Emmy nominated season 3 of Eastsiders and Season 4, Executive Producer for 2nd Hour's What I See ( David Hernandez and Effie Passero), Producer on the film Sins Unveiled and Aris Ziagos' Music video for Love, as well as the documentary Growing Up in Hollywood. In 2012 he received a nomination for a Shorty Award for both Blogging and PR. Tommy also has a podcast called Tommy Talks and a brand new project Prelude to Positivity.
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