What is a Merle Norman Franchise?
Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio Franchise is a Best-Bet Investment
90 years ago, during the middle of the Great Depression, Merle Norman launched a brand that would change the beauty industry forever.
All these years later, Merle Norman is stronger than ever before. With incredible brand recognition across generations of fans, award-winning products that live up to their promises, and a business model that is simple to run and scale, Merle Norman continues to empower entrepreneurs to realize their dreams of business ownership.
If you’re looking for a career change and want to own a business that places you in the heart and soul of your community, Merle Norman is a business that you can be passionate about.
“Merle Norman’s stood the test of time, and we’re going to march headstrong with our arms wide open into the next 90 years,” says Travis Richards, Board of Directors and Executive with Merle Norman.
Famous for our “Try Before You Buy” slogan, we still believe customer satisfaction is number one. While some brands claim to be “all-natural” we truly make and test all of our brands at our headquarters in Los Angeles, and we never test on animals, only humans.
We have designed Merle Norman to be an affordable, easy to run, and easy to scale business – an amazing cosmetic franchise opportunity.
An iconic cosmetics studio that you can own
Becoming a Merle Norman franchisee means owning and operating a modern cosmetics studio with products from an iconic brand. Merle Norman is the only cosmetics brand a woman can be part of the business owner. Whether your studio is in a busy shopping center or a stand-alone in a small town, the business is easy to run and easy to scale. In addition to the affordability and flexibility of being a franchise owner, we assist you with best business practices, training, and marketing.
Retail or cosmetics experience is not necessary to be a Merle Norman franchisee. We will train you in every area to be an expert beauty consultant and business owner. With our comprehensive artistry training program, it’s easy to learn how to apply our products like a pro. While our studios are offering time-tested products, we have modernized them to evolve to the desires and demands of today’s customer. You’ll also learn valuable skills to ensure that your customers are satisfied with your service and expertise.
We offer a wide variety of studio options at different investment price points, starting at $31,049 with no franchise or royalty fee. We are also committed to ongoing franchise support and offer many free marketing and promotional tools, including free products for demonstration, and a 60% reimbursement program on select advertising. We set you up for success in every possible way.
“We work really hard behind the scenes, trying to make running a business easier for them, simpler for them, and ideally, something that’s fun for them. We hope our efforts allow them the time, the freedom and the ability to be on the sales floor sharing the products and conveying to their customers what would help them look and feel better, and why they became a Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio owner. We really want potential franchisees to know that you won’t be alone in this business,” says Beth Butler, Director of Franchise Development at Merle Norman Cosmetics. “We have an army of people at our corporate headquarters who are as invested in their success as they are, and we care very deeply for each of our studio owners and how well they perform.”
The Future of Merle Norman is Both Retail and Online Sales
For the first time in our history, Merle Norman customers can now buy both in a retail studio and online. In 2019, rolled out an e-commerce platform that allows customers to shop for their favorite Merle Norman products online – and as a result, drive customer traffic to their local or favorite studios.
Studies show that e-commerce strategies drive up brick-and-mortar sales more than 30 percent. While the platform is designed to drive sales and reinforce relationships, it is also a chance for our studio owners to improve the online customer experience. They can follow up with the online customer to consult on their latest purchase. Every package will include trial samples of exclusive Merle Norman products, with instructions for how to purchase the full-size product at the nearest studio.
In today’s digital age, having an e-commerce platform is a great way to build customer trust and grow brand recognition. As consumers continue to do more and more of their shopping online, having a platform that drives sales to the franchise owner, wins new customers and strengthens customer relationships is a win-win-win for Merle Norman.
“We’re so excited about this new development for Merle Norman Cosmetics,” said Travis Richards, Board of Directors and Executive at Merle Norman. “We’ve been working with our studio owners on creating just the right tool that will accomplish our goals. We believe our e-commerce system will help franchisees introduce Merle to a new customer and better serve all their customers. Investing in customer relationships is still primary for studio owners, and this is just another way to enhance that experience.”
Ready to bring Merle Norman cosmetics franchise to your community?
The initial investment to begin a Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio ranges from $31,049 – $204,461, depending on the floor plan and site where you choose to locate. We’re a unique cosmetic franchise offering and since we do not charge an initial franchise fee or ongoing royalty, which gives potential to increase your income as an owner. Fill out our inquiry form here to start your journey with Merle Norman!
We are eager to partner with first-time as well as experienced entrepreneurs who have a passion for business and our one-of-a-kind beauty products.