Annabelle Chavez is an ongoing success story. An ongoing SBDC Tulare Kings client since 2004, she expanded her business and in May 2009 celebrated a ribbon cutting at new larger facility on Main Street in Visalia. In 2010 she had another profitable year. Sales increased 5% over prior year. Staff increased from two to four. She has a designer, Jose Mendoza, who has done some specialty designs and is preparing designs for upcoming events: Cinco de Mayo, high school winter formal etc. She does a little quincineras but her main line is wedding dresses. She has a couple shows coming up in the next few weeks in Visalia and Fresno. SBDC has discussed with her promoting the work of Jose Mendoza with press releases and photos of his work. When asked about her success, even through this slow economy, she stated, “I guess love prevails, even in difficult times.