by Emily Schilling
Editor
If you’re dreaming of an extravagant Christmas, Neiman Marcus is undoubtedly on your mind. For years, I’ve looked forward to finding out what “fantasy gifts” are included in the upscale department store’s Christmas Book. Since 1952 — when then-CEO Stanley Marcus started the tradition with a live Black Angus bull and a sterling silver barbecue cart — the catalog has included unusual and over-the-top gift selections for the hard-to-buy-for gift recipient. Of course, the gift giver must have a generous heart — and an inflated bank account.
For instance, a custom fountain that moves to music, like the fountains in front of Las Vegas’ Bellagio hotel, built on the recipient’s property, costs $1 million. Consider this a gift that keeps on giving: $10,000 of the gift’s proceeds will be donated to a nonprofit group which will provide safe drinking water and sanitation in developing countries. This year, eight of the nine fantasy gifts include that charitable component.
Gifts through the years range from silly to historically relevant to “yeah, sure.” In 1970, $10 live oak trees were sold “for optimists.” Meanwhile, “pessimists” were offered a Noah’s ark with all the endangered species aboard for $588,247. Apparently, the pessimists were apathetic. No arks were purchased, but 1,000 trees were sold.
Neiman-Marcus catered to Disney princess fanatics in 2003 with this “under the sea” package: a mermaid suit complete with a mermaid tail, faux pearl top and swimming lessons all for $10,000. If that gift seems ridiculous, though, consider a pre-1972 offering: a truckload of pink air!
In 1974, not only were bronze spearheads from the Persian Wars offered for a mere $35 — so was a nickel-plated penguin ice bucket for $450. What really made the ice bucket special was the optional add-on “to make the bird feel at home”: custom-chipped Antarctic ice, hand carried from the South Pole. Cost for the ice (which included courier service, row boat and ice pick): $3,450.
Over the past seven years, “fantasy gifts” have included a Virgin Galactic Charter to Space, jewels from the last three centuries and a modern Zeppelin. But the only $1 million-plus gift which actually sold was a private concert by Sir Elton John which listed at $1.5 million in the 2005 catalog. Obviously, when you wish upon the Neiman-Marcus Christmas Book, your dreams won’t likely come true.
Meanwhile, while I can’t realistically wish you a private Elton John Christmas, I can sincerely wish you a happy Christmas filled with everything that truly matters.