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Imagine walking into a store and receiving VIP treatment-being greeted by name, having someone comment on how much the children have grown and then leaning in to whisper, "I have a crystal chandelier I've been saving just for you."

Welcome to Sweet Treasures.

Owner Monique Johnson opened the first Sweet Treasures, a new and gently-used children's store, in 2002. After the success of the original store, Johnson decided to expand. Sweet Treasures Home specializes in shabby chic and vintage furniture.

In both stores, Johnson wants customers to feel as though they're at home. "I wanted to build a staff that our customers would know and recognize every time they walk in the store," she says. "With shoppers knowing our staff personally, it's almost like having a personal shopper."

Johnson is confident that the team she has selected will help her achieve her goal of creating relationships with the stores customers. "All of our girls are amazing in their own way," she says. "They each contribute a different element to the store."

Beth Giles works as the merchandiser for the two stores. "It's great to be fresh out of school and already have a job that I truly love doing," says Giles. The recent CSULB graduate has been busy coming up with a unique display that will adorn their windows during the upcoming season.

Louisa Hermann is another recent addition to the Sweet Treasures family. Hermann, a sales associate at the store, has aspirations of owning her own business someday and has thrown herself into learning from Johnson's success. "I got hired just as Monique was opening the second store," she says. "I just feel like I learned so much, and I still am."

Donna Orlando, a new Long Beach resident, found employment with Sweet Treasures after searching for a business that was still getting its feet off the ground. She uses her knowledge of retail procedures, operations and merchandising to contribute to the store. "With my buying and retail background, I wanted to find a new company that I could grow and expand with," says Orlando.

Johnson's commitment has also influenced her younger sister, Vanessa Camacho, who also works at the original Sweet Treasures. "I've been watching my sister work with the store since the very beginning," says Camacho, a student at California State Fullerton. "Now that I'm in school, I can use my knowledge to help her expand." As a project for school, Vanessa created an imaginary VIP rewards program for the store's frequent shoppers. The project was so impressive, her sister decided to implement it in the store.

With growth and expansion on her mind, Johnson rounds out her team with Tiara Henry, a public relations intern. "Sweet Treasures has a pretty good following in the Long Beach area, but with Tiara's help, we are hoping to get the word out around Los Angeles County," says Johnson. "We want to make Sweet Treasures a destination store that brings in customers from all over the city."

Sweet Treasures and Sweet Treasures Home are located, respectively, at 4226 Atlantic Avenue and 4224 in the Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach. For more information, call (562) 427-4077 or (562) 427-9200.