Merle Norman Cosmetics

File:GENERAL VIEW, TAKEN FROM SOUTHWEST - Merle Norman Building, 2525 Main Street, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA HABS CAL,19-LOSAN,50-1.tif in the 1930s]]

Merle Norman, with her education in chemistry, started making makeshift cosmetic products in her home kitchen to sell to her neighbors while her nephew, J.B. Nethercutt, worked as the delivery peddler.{{Cite web|last=Beale|first=Lauren|date=2015-11-11|title=Home built for cosmetics magnate Merle Norman is for sale in Santa Monica|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/hot-property/la-fi-hotprop-merle-norman-20151110-story.html|access-date=2020-09-05|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} Growing in local popularity, in 1931, she opened her first official cosmetics studio in Santa Monica for $150 during the Great Depression.{{Cite web|title=Merle Norman Building {{!}} Santa Monica Conservancy|url=https://www.smconservancy.org/property/merle-norman-building/|access-date=2020-07-21|website=www.smconservancy.org}} By 1934, the company had expanded to dozens of independently owned studios across the contiguous United States which were predominately owned by women.{{Cite news |date=1981-03-31 |title=Makeup Chain Seeks Wider Awareness |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/31/business/makeup-chain-seeks-wider-awareness.html |access-date=2020-04-09 |issn=0362-4331}} In 1936, the company moved to its headquarters to the Merle Norman Building on Main Street. By the 1940s the company expanded overseas to Asia, marketing in Thailand.{{Cite web|last=Lichterman|first=Courtney|title=Bangkok's forgotten shopping centre|url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20180524-bangkoks-forgotten-shopping-centre|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.bbc.com|date=25 May 2018 |language=en}} During the American involvement in World War II, the company produced gun oil and camouflage.{{Cite web|last=Kragen|first=Aubrey|date=April 6, 2020|title=USC Alum's Company Changes Course During Crisis|url=https://usctrojans.com/news/2020/4/6/trojan-athletic-fund-merle-norman-changes-course-during-crisis.aspx|access-date=2020-04-08|website=USC Athletics|language=en}}

In 1963, Norman stepped down as chairman and passed down the company to J.B. Nethercutt. In 1969, the company changed to be publicly traded on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX).{{Cite web |last=Data |first=Bryan Taylor, Chief Economist, Global Financial |title=A New Index of the American Stock Exchange |url=https://globalfinancialdata.com/a-new-index-of-the-american-stock-exchange |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Global Financial Data |date=5 November 2020 |language=en-gb}} The company sold 400,000 shares at $25.[https://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6305&context=ylj Going Private] The Yale Law Journal. Vol. 84: 903, 1975. The company opened secondary factory in Sylmar, Los Angeles in 1971, and a forward distribution center in Memphis, Tennessee for its East Coast studios in 1973.{{Cite web|last1=Baker|first1=Katheryn|date=1993-09-24|title=Hidden Treasures in Sylmar : * Facilities housing vintage cars, musical instruments and guide dogs are tucked into the suburban landscape.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-09-24-va-38435-story.html|access-date=2020-08-01|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} In 1974, the family bought back all the public stock due to a lack of demanded trading interest, and the company reverted to being privately held.{{Cite journal|date=1975|title=Going Private|url=https://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6305&context=ylj|journal=Yale University|volume=84|pages=3–18}}

In the 1980s, Merle Norman was named one of the ten largest American cosmetic companies by People magazine.{{Cite web|last=Kalter|first=Suzy|date=July 20, 1981|title=As a Merchant of Beauty, Merle Norman's J.B. Nethercutt Has Grown Handsomely Rich|url=https://people.com/archive/as-a-merchant-of-beauty-merle-normans-j-b-nethercutt-has-grown-handsomely-rich-vol-16-no-3/|access-date=2020-04-23|website=PEOPLE.com|language=EN}} The company started its first national advertising campaign, having previously only used word-of-mouth marketing regionally, including being the primary sponsor of the 1981 Met Gala. The company experimentally expanded to Europe in 3 countries, but would leave the continent by the next decade. In 1999, the company redesigned its studios to have a common interior.{{Cite web|last=Thomas|first=Barbara|date=1999-09-24|title=Merle Norman Gets a Make-Over : Aiming for a youthful glow, the once-fusty L.A. chain is modernizing its stores and expanding its offerings.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-sep-24-cl-13746-story.html|access-date=2020-09-05|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}

In 2004, Nethercutt passed the company down to his son, Jack Nethercutt II.{{Cite web|title=Most Influential Family Owned Businesses 2019: MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS {{!}} Los Angeles Business Journal|url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2019/oct/28/most-influential-family-owned-businesses-2019-merl/|access-date=2020-09-05|website=labusinessjournal.com|date=28 October 2019 }} In 2007, the company was ranked No. 21 in Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500.{{Cite web|title=2007 Franchise 500 Ranking|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/500/2007|access-date=2020-09-03|website=Entrepreneur|language=en}} Merle Norman expanded to the Middle East by 2011.{{Cite web|date=August 16, 2011|title=Merle Norman Cosmetics opens first studio in Abu Dhabi|url=https://www.albawaba.com/merle-norman-cosmetics-opens-first-studio-abu-dhabi-388502|access-date=2020-08-05|website=Al Bawaba|language=en}} Later in the year, the company unveiled a new separate logo emblem with an updated wordmark along with a redesign of product packaging.{{Cite web|date=2011-05-03|title=Venerable cosmetics company Merle Norman gets a makeover|url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2011/05/merle-norman-gets-a-makeover.html|access-date=2020-07-25|website=LA Times Blogs - All The Rage|language=en-US}} From 2012 to 2019, the company had a decline of 269 studio units.{{Cite web|title=Merle Norman Locations (Units)|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/merlenormancosmeticsinc/282576|access-date=2020-08-08|website=Entrepreneur|language=en}} In 2018, the company announced its beginning of day spa services to select studio outlets in the United States and Canada.{{Cite web|title=Beauty and Spa Franchises - Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio- Spa Franchise|url=https://merlenormanfranchise.com/research/future-merle-norman-spa-services/|access-date=2021-11-10|website=merlenormanfranchise.com|date=20 November 2017 }}

In 2019, Merle Norman's products were available for purchase online through e-commerce.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-17|title=Merle Norman {{!}} BORN Group|url=https://www.borngroup.com/work/merle-norman/|access-date=2021-11-10|website=www.borngroup.com|language=en-US}} The company produced WHO hand sanitizer during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|last=Westine|first=Lezlee|date=2020|title=Caring for Our Communities: The Beauty and Personal Care Industry's Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic|url=https://www.personalcarecouncil.org/newsroom/caring-for-our-communities-the-beauty-and-personal-care-industrys-response-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic/|access-date=2020-05-20|website=Personal Care Products Council|language=en-US}}

Merle Norman is a privately held family owned company by the Nethercutt–Richards family. The corporate headquarters is located in Los Angeles, California.{{Cite web |title=Most Influential Family Owned Businesses 2019: MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS {{!}} Los Angeles Business Journal |url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2019/oct/28/most-influential-family-owned-businesses-2019-merl/ |access-date=2020-04-09 |website=labusinessjournal.com|date=28 October 2019 }} The company is a member of the Personal Care Products Council.{{Cite web |title=Member Companies |url=https://www.personalcarecouncil.org/about-us/member-companies/ |access-date=2020-05-20 |website=Personal Care Products Council |language=en-US}}

The company sells its products online and through its own retail franchise studios, nearly all of which are independently owned. The primary manufacturing plant and distribution center is located in Westchester, Los Angeles and is connected to the corporate headquarters. In 1971, a secondary plant was opened in Sylmar, Los Angeles which produces the containers and packaging for its products.

Merle Norman is certified by PETA as cruelty-free.{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Suzana |title=Is Merle Norman Cruelty-Free? • Latest Cruelty-Free Kitty Update |url=https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/brands/merle-norman/ |access-date=2020-05-14 |website=Cruelty-Free Kitty |language=en-US}} The company uses non-vegan ingredients.{{Cite web |title=Merle Norman is cruelty-free but not 100% vegan. |url=http://www.stylishlyvegan.com/beautybrands/merle-norman-is-cruelty-free-but-not-100-vegan/ |access-date=2020-05-13 |website=Stylishly Vegan}}

File:Merle Norman Day Spa Chinook Calgary.png in Calgary]]

Merle Norman Spas are select specialized outlets throughout the United States and Canada that offer day spa services, including facial treatments and massages from trained estheticians.

File:Merle Norman Crabtree.png in Raleigh]]

File:Merle Norman Colorado Springs.png]]

Below is a list of current domestic and international studio outlets as of 2021, with there being 955 throughout 49 U.S. states and 52 locations throughout 8 Canadian Provinces and 5 countries abroad totaling 1,007.

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• Alabama
• Alaska
• Alberta{{cite web | url=https://www.shopping-canada.com/stores-brands/merle-norman/alberta | title=Merle Norman locations in Alberta (Canada) - online brands }}
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• British Columbia
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Manitoba
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada{{cite web | url=https://www.yellowpages.com/las-vegas-nv/merle-norman-cosmetics | title=Merle Norman Cosmetics Locations & Hours Near Las Vegas, NV }}
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Nova Scotia
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Ontario{{cite web | url=https://www.shopping-canada.com/stores-brands/merle-norman/ontario | title=Merle Norman locations in Ontario (Canada) - online brands }}
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Saskatchewan
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas{{cite web | url=https://www.cantontexaschamber.com/list/member/merle-norman-586 | title=Business Directory Search - Canton Texas Chamber of Commerce, TX }}
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

• Guatemala
• United Arab Emirates{{cite web | url=https://www.albawaba.com/merle-norman-cosmetics-opens-first-studio-abu-dhabi-388502 | title=Merle Norman Cosmetics opens first studio in Abu Dhabi }}
• Bahrain
• Taiwan{{cite web|url=https://www.mystore411.com/store/view/3933945/Taiwan/Merle-Norman-Cosmetic-Studio-Taipei-City|title=Merle Norman - TAIWAN in Taipei City (Cosmetics Beauty)|website=www.mystore411.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105222006/https://www.mystore411.com/store/view/3933945/Taiwan/Merle-Norman-Cosmetic-Studio-Taipei-City|archive-date=5 January 2023|url-status=live}}
• Hong Kong{{Div col end}}

Merle Norman was the primary sponsor of the 1981 Met Gala with the event's theme of The Eighteenth-Century Woman.{{Cite news|last=Morris|first=Bernadine|date=1981-12-08|title=18TH CENTURY SPARKS GALA FASHION NIGHT|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/08/style/18th-century-sparks-gala-fashion-night.html|access-date=2021-07-29|issn=0362-4331}}

The company sponsors the USC Trojans and in 2012 funded Merle Norman Stadium for the school's new USC Trojans women's beach volleyball program.{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Michael|date=November 17, 2014|title=Sponsors join effort to boost USC women's athletic programs|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com:443/en/Journal/Issues/2014/11/17/Colleges/USC.aspx|access-date=2020-08-08|website=www.sportsbusinessdaily.com|language=en}} The company sponsors the Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders in the NFL.{{Cite web|date=December 12, 2020|title=Merle Norman Partners With Cardinal Cheerleaders|url=https://www.happi.com/contents/view_breaking-news/2020-12-02/merle-norman-partners-with-the-cardinal-cheerleaders/|access-date=2020-12-04|website=HAPPI}}

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• {{official website|https://www.merlenorman.com}}

{{Nethercutt-Richards family}}

{{Cosmetics}}

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Category:20th-century establishments in California

Category:1931 establishments in California

Category:Cosmetics companies of the United States

Category:American companies established in 1931

Category:Franchises

Category:Cosmetics brands

Category:Nethercutt–Richards family

Category:Family-owned companies of the United States

Category:Beauty stores