Sacramento – Assemblymember Betty Karnette (D-Long Beach) honored Romance Etc. today at the 2005 Small Business Day celebration at the Sheraton Grand, Ballroom in Sacramento. The event, which included over 70 legislators and small businesses from their districts, was sponsored by 31 small business organizations throughout the state. Romance Etc., which is owned and managed by two sisters, Deborah and Dawna Fay, was established in 1997 and is located in the Belmont Shore commercial district of Long Beach.

Stated Karnette, "Romance Etc. exemplifies the many contributions that small businesses make to our communities. Romance Etc. is a strong, stable independent small business that has grown with the Long Beach community over the past twenty years. Not only do they provide a valuable service and employ over ten full time employees, they are active in various charitable and business organizations in the area."

Featured in the July, 2004 issue of Sunset magazine and numerous other publications, Romance Etc. is known for their spectacular beauty and wide assortment of merchandise. Their store includes bath and beauty products, jewelry, clothing, furniture, home décor and furnishings, candy, books and cards, as well as a complete floral design studio that services many of the major hotels and restaurants in the Long Beach area.

The origins of Romance Etc. began in 1978, when then 17- year- old Deborah opened her first florist shop, All Occasions Flowers, in East Long Beach. After twenty years, and several locations later, Romance Etc. was opened in a small shop on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore. Extreme popularity and an opportunity to open a 2000 square foot store just up the block led to its relocation in 2000 to its current location at 5209 E. 2nd Street. The larger store was developed in order to take advantage of the popularity of the giftware and to co-locate the floral design studio into one location.

"Creativity and dedication to a dream is what has made Romance Etc. the thriving and successful small business it is today. The community of Long Beach is fortunate to have Romance Etc. and other entrepreneurs like them, providing the many services they do for people of California. I am honored to be able to recognize them today," said Karnette.

Lifetime residents of Long Beach, Dawna and Deborah Fay have created a small business that has gross sales in excess of $1 million dollars annually. In addition to Romance Etc., the sisters opened Maison Femme, a boutique immediately adjacent to Romance Etc. Maison Femme sells luxury merchandise that is of special interest to women and includes bridal jewelry and attire, children's clothing, home furnishings, and a wide selection of bath products and perfumes from France.