By Laura Ann Tipps/Staff Writer
Merle Norman Cosmetics is set to return to Etowah County next Friday (Sept. 20) with a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at 1 p.m.
The store is located at 1515 Rainbow Drive, Suite 3, just down the street from Pruett’s Bar-B-Que and across the highway from Zaxby’s.
Store owner Towanna Robbins has an almost lifelong history with Merle Norman and is excited to be bringing the company and its products back to the Gadsden area.
“I’ve used their products since I was 12 years old, and the women in my family always did, too – mother, grandmother, aunts,” said Robbins.
Merle Norman is still a family affair for Robbins. She is thrilled to welcome her sister, Tommie Jolly, as the manager of the new Rainbow Drive location.
Robbins’ childhood involvement with the Merle Norman Cosmetics continued into her adult life. In 2003, she began to work at a Merle Norman salon in Oneonta. The owner of that studio was ready to retire, giving Robbins the opportunity to purchase the salon for a good price.
“I can’t believe it’s been that long, but I’ve been a studio owner for 10 years now,” she said.
While still operating the Oneonta location, Robbins jumped on the opportunity to purchase the Rainbow Drive studio from Merle Norman after it was closed earlier this year.
Merle Norman Cosmetics was established in 1931, and although it is most well known for its makeup products and tools, the salon offers a wide range of products and services to enhance both health and beauty.
“We give free facials to our customers in order to demonstrate our products, which help brighten and polish the skin, fade sun damage, and reduce the appearance of age spots,” said Robbins.
Also available is a line of wrinkle smoothing products for the face, eyes, and lips, as well as a clear complexion line that can be particularly effective for young people struggling with acne breakouts.
The salon also offers sun protection, self-tanner, fragrances, bath products, full-body creams, and, of course, hundreds of makeup products such as foundations and powders, eyeshadows, eyeliners and mascaras, eyebrow care tools, and lipsticks, glosses and liners.
More information about the products and services offered at the Merle Norman studio is available on the company’s website, merlenorman.com. Contact the staff of the new Gadsden store at (256) 546-7744 with questions or to schedule an appointment for a cosmetic service.