Sharon Markowitz loves to give presents for every occasion—holidays, birthdays, graduations, births, weddings and every other milestone imaginable.
And sometimes she gives just because she wants to celebrate the joy of the everyday.
Her biggest gift, The Rebecca Collection, has been a Bernardsville mainstay for the last quarter of a century.
The retail shop—it, of course, sells gifts—has something for everyone from babies to their doting grandparents because Markowitz never likes to leave anyone or anything out.
That’s why The Rebecca Collection includes a selection of artworks produced locally and from around the country and a big custom gift area that is stocked with, but not limited to, pillows, coasters, T-shirts, college items and signs.
“I’m a giver,” the New Jersey native and local resident says. “I’d rather give everything to the world than take anything for myself.”
She’s certainly made it her business to do that. The high school drama club, the football team, the cheerleader squad, the local library and public and private schools. They’ve all been recipients of gift cards, merchandise and gift baskets from The Rebecca Collection.
The shop is named for Markowitz’s mother, Rebecca, who had opened an interior design studio in the area decades ago.
“She was well liked and well known in the community, and people still remember her,” Markowitz says. “She was there for a very long time.”
Markowitz, who describes herself as a “self-taught businesswoman,” decided to open a retail shop shortly after she quit college.
“I didn’t know anything about business when I started out. And I am still learning every day,” she says. “When it comes to retail, you never stop learning.”
Markowitz started from nothing, and she prides herself on only buying what she loves for the store.
Markowitz has kept things all in the family.
Five years ago, Markowitz’s daughter, Bari Marder, became a full-time employee, joining Markowitz’s her niece, Jessie.
“I’ve always been very close to Bari, so having her here with me is a perfect situation,” Markowitz says. “All three of us work well together. Bari handles social media, my niece is really good at computers, and all of us work as salespeople.”
Visit The Rebecca Collection, and you’ll always see Markowitz behind the counter seven days a week.
To me, it’s not work,” she says. “My store is my happy place. It has also become everyone else’s happy place. I always have a smile on my face because I love being here and seeing my customers so much.”
It’s the kind of shop where people drop in not only to buy but to say hi.
“Our customers become our friends,” Markowitz says. “Many have thanked me for being here and have told me that coming here makes them feel good.”
At some point in the future, there may very well be a second The Rebecca Collection.
“We love the town and the community that we are a part of,” she says.
“Our customers become our friends. Many have thanked me for being here and have told me that coming here makes them feel good.”
The Rebecca Collection
Unique gifts and chic accessories.
Browse the offerings at 2 Mine Brook Rd., Bernardsville or at TheRebeccaCollection.com.