BY JODI CHARNAS

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T

he best kept secret" is
what Jackie Sandweiss
calls her new company,
JEM Gifts. JEM Gifts
carries vintage, hip and very
unique accessories for the baby's
room, such as Shabby Chic chan-
deliers, vintage diaper bags, and
decoupage vintage-inspired
shelves.
"I'm always looking for new
things that no one else has," says
Sandweiss, who handpicks her
items from trade shows all over the
country to ensure that her prod-
ucts can't be found anywhere else
in the area.
Sandweiss, 37, grew up in
Brooklyn, but lived in Ft.
Lauderdale, Fla., for many years.
She moved to Birmingham last
October with her now 15-month-
old daughter, and husband,
Michael, who recently accepted

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGIE BAAN

the position as athletic director at
the Jewish Academy of
Metropolitan Detroit.
Although Sandweiss is new to
Michigan, she's a veteran of the
retail business. "My whole family
was in retail growing up," she says.
"To me, it's just second nature."
Sandweiss also worked in retail for
15 years in Ft. Lauderdale at two
women's clothing boutiques.
Working with so many young
mothers at these boutiques gave
Sandweiss her inspiration to begin
selling children's accessories.
Last February, Sandweiss
opened JEM gifts out of her new
Birmingham home. "When I got
pregnant I knew I wanted to do
something in my home. It's a great
way to be home with my daughter
and still be able to do something
that I love," she says.
Displayed in one room, the

merchandise mix includes burp
cloths, bibs, vintage diaper bags,
back-to-school lunch boxes, "brag
books" for grandparents, one-of-a-
kind children's ponchos, unique
baby-room decor, along with cus-
tom-made crib bedding from
Elizabeth Allen. Sandweiss also
puts together gift baskets made
from tin buckets with decoupage
collages in any theme, and filled
with baby accessories such as baby
oils, diapers, bibs and baby toys.
Sandweiss says her products are
"for the moms who want some-
thing a little different."

JEM gifts are available by appointment
at (248) 835-4217, or email
JEMGifi@yahoo.com. They also will be
available at Marian High School September
30-October 2, and at the Kingswood
Giftorama November 12-14.

PLATINUM • AUGUST 2(1(14

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