When it comes to looking your best, the ladies at Merle Norman have got you covered.
The cosmetic retailer, which is located in downtown Elizabethton, recently won a Reader’s Choice Award. Each year, the Elizabethton Star holds a Reader’s Choice Awards contest which allows readers to vote for their favorite local businesses, restaurants and professionals.
For 2014, Merle Norman won the award for Best Cosmetic Retailer.
“We’re very honored,” Michelle Taylor, one of the owners, said of the award. “We want to thank all of our loyal customers, our friends and family.”
But don’t let Merle Norman’s classification as a cosmetics retailer fool you. The store offers so much more than cosmetics. Owners Taylor and Andrea Edmondson provide a variety of services to not only keep you looking good, but your home as well.
The store offers a full line of Merle Norman cosmetics as well as accessories, jewelry, home decor and even some salon services.
“One of the newest things Merle Norman is offering is a salon-grade steam facial and it is complimentary,” Taylor said. “It’s absolutely free. We also incorporate in that a full makeover.”
The Merle Norman store has been part of Elizabethton’s historic downtown for 26 years. Taylor and Edmondson worked at the store for the previous owner. A year and a half ago when the previous owner decided to sell the store, Taylor and Edmondson purchased it.
Taylor said two of the things which have made the business so successful over the years are the quality of the products they sell and the dedication they have to serving their customers.
“We’ve been here for 26 years without a turn over,” she said. “Our customers know us and know we will go that extra mile.”
The key to great customer service, Taylor said, is not looking at shoppers who come in the store as just a customer. “They’re our friends, not just our customers,” she said. “We feel like they are our family.”
Taylor said Merle Norman has been blessed with many loyal customers — whom she refers to as their “Merle Girls.”
The quality of the Merle Norman product helps keep the Merle Girls coming back for more. “Absolutely our best seller is our skin care line,” Taylor said, adding the anti-aging line of products are especially popular.
The new line of fall colors is in stock and Taylor said the line has been popular as well.
Coming up soon are some of the Merle Norman line’s most popular promotions, Taylor said.
“Our new gift with purchase will start in November and our holiday gift sets will be arriving,” she said. But, she added, the holiday sets are very popular and only available in a limited number so to make sure you get yours come by the store early.
Makeovers are just one of the services Merle Norman offers, Taylor said, adding makeovers are available for special occasions such as weddings and formal events, or also just because you want to pamper yourself. For special events, Taylor said the Merle Norman team will even come to you to help make your day more special. “We have even gone out of state,” she said.
The store also offers home decor items as well as providing a decorating service, which Edmondson oversees.
“We try to use a lot of the stuff they already have,” Edmondson said, adding she helps the customers coordinate their items to pull the look together for their home.
Taylor is quick to brag on her partner’s decorating ability.
“Andrea gives them a lot of bang for their buck,” she said, adding Edmondson has several projects she is currently working on. “Andrea has a really good eye.”
Merle Norman also has its own salon, which is located in the back of the store. The salon is home to stylist Jennifer Whitehead, whom Taylor describes as specializing in coloring and special occasion hair styles.
Taylor said they are looking to expand their salon service offering. “We are currently looking for stylists and nail technicians,” she said.