Madison Merle Norman store prepping for the holidays

Nicolet Bell has been in Merle Norman stores since she was four years old. Growing up, her mother, Sonja Hopper, owned the one in Petal and later the one in Hattiesburg.

Twenty-one years later she is getting into the business herself after she took over the Madison location in the Colony Crossing Shopping Center.

"We are a locally-owned cosmetic studio offering a full range of products as well as jewelry and boutique clothing as well as ear piercings," Bell said.

She purchased the store in January, which moved to Colony Crossing Shopping Center the previous April. She said she and her mom became interested because this was one of the best markets in the state.

Hopper said it is exciting to see her daughter carry on the family business. "It is special," Hopper said. "She is a natural. She has been in this store since she was four."

They are transitioning to their Christmas decorations and out of their fall line of products. Bell said that coming up on a year in this location she has come to enjoy working with customers and offering them personalized service and connecting them to products that make them happy.

"I really like getting to meet people and help them feel better about themselves. We hope people leave here confident and encouraged. I like to say we are in the encouragement business. We all know true beauty is on the inside but that doesn't mean it doesn't put a smile on people's faces when you help them improve how they feel about the way they look outside," Bell said.

They have four employees.

To experience their personalized service and top of the line products, many of which customers are encouraged to try before they buy, visit Merle Norman at 111 Colony Crossing Suite 320 in Madison or call 601-427-5920.