PAGE ONE
If you want to see sisterhood in action, skip the group chat and head straight to The Zap Group—where collaboration isn’t just a buzzword, it’s practically a sport (and yes, they’d win).
Led by Scotch Plains local Rachel Schwartz, this all-female marketing powerhouse has built something rare: a team that manages to be both wildly effective and genuinely supportive. Think less “cutthroat agency energy” and more “we’ve got your back—but also your brand voice, social strategy, and last-minute campaign panic.” It’s the kind of place where humor is celebrated, deadlines are met, and no one hoards the good snacks or the good ideas. The creative force behind the sassy and highly recognizable Shovlin Mattress Factory campaign works with an equally supportive client base. “We have a strict “no jerk policy” says Rachel.
What makes The Zap Group such a standout example of sisterhood isn’t just that it’s women-led—it’s how those women show up for one another. They celebrate both professional and personal wins loudly, troubleshoot challenges together, and somehow turn high-pressure client demands into moments of collective creativity instead of collective chaos. (Okay, maybe a little chaos—but the fun kind that ends with Cosmopolitans at the local pub.)
And while their clients benefit from sharp strategy and standout results, the real story is behind the scenes: a group of women building each other up while building a business. In an industry that doesn’t easily offer seats at the boardroom table, The Zap Group is busy pulling up extra chairs.
Proof that when women work together, they don’t just succeed—they multiply the success. And make it a lot more fun along the way.
PAGE TWO
If sisterhood had a flavor, it would clearly be chocolate - specifically, the kind you might find in a Jersey Girl Chocolate bar - selling at retail stores across the Garden State.
When Nicole Edelson, a born-and-raised New Jersey native, purchased the beloved brand in 2024, she didn’t just take over a chocolate company—she adopted a legacy rooted in local pride and community connection. But in true Jersey Girl fashion, she set out to elevate the offering. This included a complete brand refresh, the addition of new products like chocolate covered pretzels and non-pereils, a custom built Jersey Girl bike for special occasions and events - and most notably, a new storefront located in Basking Ridge.
While there is plenty of chocolate at the shop, there is also a wide variety of Jersey girl merchandise like sweatshirts, key chains, hats and beanies. But what makes Nicole’s space so special is what else is on offer. Products made by other women-owned businesses, alongside her own. She promotes the businesses - and the women that own them - with sincerity and passion. It’s retail—born from sisterhood.
Nicole herself brings heart to the mission. A former educator and mom of five, she stepped into entrepreneurship with a desire to build something meaningful while staying rooted in family and community. And that intention shows. The store isn’t just curated—it’s thoughtful. Each product feels like a nod to another woman’s dream, another late night, another leap of faith.
There’s something quietly powerful about that. In a world where business can feel competitive, Nicole’s approach is collaborative: more “come stand with me” than “watch me succeed.” It’s the kind of place where buying a gift also feels like casting a vote—for creativity, for local talent, and for women who choose to lift as they climb.
And yes, the chocolate is excellent. But the real sweetness? That’s the sisterhood.
Page THREE
Scotch Plains Fanwood is full of amazing real-life sisters (ahem). But few stand out as much as the Drivas sisters from Scotch Plains: Stefini (21), Zoe (18), and Sophia (16). Whether you’ve seen them in the neighborhood, or in the halls of Mount Saint Mary Academy, or on a sports field / stage - you can’t help but see the quiet strength that can only come from knowing there is someone that will always have your back.
The Drivas girls describe themselves as bonded. The kind of bond that comes from nightly sleepovers, inside jokes, and endless posed photoshoots. Time at home together inevitably spent making music videos and dances choreographed by eldest sister Stefini - later performed in grand fashion for their parents and family.
The bond between the girls is so tight that they all cried for hours every day leading up to Stefini’s departure for college. “While it obviously changed the day-to-day of our lives, we have honestly never been closer. We are constantly using our group chat and FaceTime to update each other on even the most insignificant things,” says Stefini. And while she admits they still get teary eyed when she returns to school after a visit, they have full confidence in the bond she calls unbreakable.
Middle sister Zoe calls her sisters her built-in best friends. “People joke about how the middle is “forgotten child,” but the truth is I have it the absolute best. Having both an older sister and a younger sister has shaped me into becoming a more flexible and understanding person. The close relationship we have is my greatest blessing,” says Zoe
Youngest sister Sophia shares how being the youngest of three sisters has shaped the way she has carried herself throughout her life. “My sisters have always been my biggest role models, walking the path before me so I can find my own way. I often find myself copying them, whether it's clothes, food, or even mannerisms. Their support and love have not only taught me confidence, resilience, and the importance of lifting others up, but have also given me the foundation that helps me approach situations and grow into the best version of myself.
Wow.
Like most sisters, the Drivas girls share a few unspoken rules. “You have no choice but to laugh at yourself. We love to tease each other, so there is no other choice than to accept it and know that it comes with the most love possible says Stefini.
Once again baby sister Sophia brings it home when she says, “At the end of the day, it is us against the world. We will always be there for each other”.
“At the end of the day, it is us against the world. We will always be there for each other.”