Merle Norman Cosmetics marks 20 years in Milledgeville

Published 1:00 pm Friday, June 20, 2025

Teresa Bridges has lived in Georgia all her life, has taught third-grade Sunday School for the past 19 years at First Baptist Church and she loves being a grandma. By day, Bridges is the owner of two Merle Norman Cosmetics locations — in Sandersville and Milledgeville. She originally got into the world of cosmetics when her best friend tried to purchase a Merle Norman franchise but was denied. Her friend advised Bridges to make the purchase herself and the rest is history.

Bridges said that she always loved the previous owners, and frequently made visits just to talk to them when she was in Milledgeville. She remembers at 16 years old driving to the store to purchase makeup. Before buying the Milledgeville location, Bridges had just sold her store located in Thomson, Georgia. and wanted another one. 

Her Merle Norman location in Sandersville has been in business for 32 years. Merle Norman Milledgeville is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The business recently celebrated the  milestone with the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce and customers. 

Located inside the Milledgeville Mall at 2400 N. Columbia St. and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Merle Norman Milledgeville offers a variety of items and services. The inventory includes everything from Enewton Jewelry, Tyler Candle and Wash, Clothes, Bridgewater Candles (Sweet Grace), Capri Blue (Volcano Candles), Savannah Cheese Straws, shoes, Swig cups, Natural Life women’s brand and a lot more. All of the cosmetics and skincare products are made in the USA. Services include waxing, tux rentals, express facials, special occasion makeovers and ear piercing. The store also offers customers a try before they buy option with Merle Norman Cosmetics in addition to  free express facials, for which they use hot towels and steam with a certain gel on the face. 

Bridges said that business at Merle Norman Milledgeville has been great and she also cannot express enough how blessed she is to have such loyal customers. None of this would be possible in Bridges’ opinion without God. 

“I have made mistakes but I always pick myself up and go again,” she said, adding that her children and husband have also provided the best support system. 

These anniversaries have stirred up all sorts of emotions for Bridges, who said that while the past 20 years in Milledgeville have flown by, she has had a lot of fun. The biggest challenge she has faced is her desire to be at both the Milledgeville and Sandersville locations. She said she is thankful for her daughter, Leigh Anna Zaenglein, a licensed aesthetician who runs the studio in Sandersville. Having great staff at both locations also helps ease Bridges’ mind. 

It has also brought Bridges great joy that her granddaughter, 8, loves working at the studios. 

“I love watching her learn and share the love of the business like me and her mama,” she said. 

She said it means a lot to be able to run a Merle Norman Cosmetics in Milledgeville and she hopes people within the community understand how wonderful it is to have a small business like Merle Norman Milledgeville in the area.

“I love Milledgeville and am so honored to have a business here,” she said. “I bank in Milledgeville, buy groceries here and shop. I just love our town.”

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