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While attending college, Jami
Hollingsworth worked at a Merle Norman franchise. Her early
experience in the beauty and skin care business lead her to know
exactly what she wanted to do upon graduation. At just 26 years old,
Hollingsworth opened her first Merle Norman store in the Mall of
Cortana. Two years later, she bought the Mall of Louisiana Merle
Norman and just two years after that she reopened the Coursey Blvd
location. "My father used to joke that he sent me to college to
learn how to put makeup on people but now I think he realizes that I
was able to turn something I love into a way to help women feel good
about themselves and run a business at the same time. How much
better could it get?" says Hollingsworth.
The Merle Norman Line includes hundreds of tried-and-true face
products, addressing the full spectrum of skin care and color needs
for all women. At the Mall of Louisiana and Coursey Blvd locations
all beauty consultants are trained to skin type a customer correctly
to help them achieve their individual skin care objectives. They
possess a wealth of information on product knowledge and application
tips. Merle Norman suggests that all customers, men and women,
cleanse, tone and moisturize daily using one of the skin type
specific regimens they offer. However there are also several other
special care products new to the line that target specific anti
aging needs such as Brilliant-C, a highly concentrated anti-aging
serum that promotes brighter, younger-looking complexion. It
contains a blend of Vitamin C and other brightening agents that help
diminish the appearance of spots and discoloration and improve skin
clarity. The Derma-Peel System an at-home alternative to a
professional glycolic-peel. It is formulated with 10% Glycolic Acid
to gently remove dead skin cells on the skin's surface to refine and
restore skin, uncovering a smoother, more radiant complexion for
younger-looking skin. As well as their best selling moisturizer,
Wrinkle Smoother, that helps to minimize the appearance of wrinkles
caused by facial movements. It is formulated with Argireline, a
hexapeptide, that helps smooth out and minimize lines and assist in
preventing the appearance of lines caused by smiling and frowning.
 Merle
Norman is also a leader in the foundation market; the company
designs products to satisfy the specific needs of its customers such
as the new top selling Mineral Makeup which is a loose powder
foundation made exclusively with pure minerals to provide flawless,
buildable coverage with a luminous finish. There is also a line of
mineral blushes to complement the foundation. They also recently
introduced a new Foundation Primer used to create a smooth and even
surface for flawless makeup application. Optical diffusers and
polymers help pores, fine lines and wrinkles appear less obvious,
creating a perfect canvas extending wear of foundations and
blushers.
Both locations specialize in weddings, homecomings and proms.
Appointments are taken seven days a week at the Mall of Louisiana
and Monday thru Saturday at the Coursey location. Special event
makeovers are only $25 or the purchase of two items. Educational
makeovers are offered at no charge and have recently set up a facial
bar at the Coursey location offering several facials for $25 as
well.
The Mall of Louisiana and Coursey Blvd stores are the only Merle
Norman locations in the Baton Rouge area that exclusively carry Vera
Bradley and Jessica Simpson Hair Extensions. Jessica Simpson Hair
Extensions are available in synthetic or human hair. The human hair
can be cut, colored, flat-ironed or curled to match your own. Choose
from several different lengths in straight or wavy, in an array of
hair colors. Extensions can also be special ordered to specifically
match your hair color, arriving in just 3 days.
 Vera
Bradley luggage and accessories include an extensive line of travel
bags, makeup cases and school backpacks. Their newly released
limited edition items include beach towels, cell phone cases, I-pod
Nano cases and umbrellas. Trapp Candles are also a customer favorite
at both stores. Trapp Candles are saturated with enough perfume to
ensure a room full of fragrance from the first time it is lit until
the wax is gone. Customers can select from a wide variety of scents
along with scented room sprays. There is a votive special running
now that has them priced at three for $10 so someone new to the line
can try more then one scent at a time.
While both stores carry the entire line of Merle Norman cosmetics
and skincare, Jessica Simpson Hair Extensions and Vera Bradley, each
store is unique in what else they merchandise. The Coursey Blvd
store has recently unveiled a new shoe boutique which specializes in
cute and comfortable shoes at low prices... anything from sky-high
heels to flip flops, flats and wedges. There is a $5 shoe sale going
on right now! Coursey also carries home decor, wine and martini
glasses and fun gifts for all ages. The Mall of Louisiana's best
sellers include flat wallets, fleur de lis luggage and rhinestone
jewelry.
Hollingsworth and her manager at the Mall of Louisiana, Heather Lee
will be attending the Merle Norman 77th Annual Convention this May
in Dallas, Texas. Where they will see the new 2008 products
revealed. Each month after that, the new products will be released
in the stores and starting May 1st. The 2008 summer color collection
will debut as well. The summer colors are typically the best selling
collection. This year they come in an assortment of colors ranging
from shimmering neutrals to radiant purples. Come by today see what
is new at Merle Norman and enjoy the free gift with any two item
purchase.
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