Biz Buzz Monday: Local beauty business goes brick-and-mortar

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Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from across the tri-state area. In addition to this update from Dubuque, we will share other developments in Tuesday’s edition.

An Asbury, Iowa, entrepreneur is taking her business to a new brick-and-mortar location in Dubuque’s Cable Car Square.

Elite Organix by Take Over Cosmetics held its soft opening Saturday at 347 Bluff St. in the former Fig Leaf boutique space. The shop sells a variety of organic beauty products with a focus on skin and hair care.

“This will never feel like work to me because I get to talk about hair care and skin care all the time,” said owner Nicole Harvey. “It’s like being at a forever sleepover, and I want other people to feel that too.”

Harvey started Take Over Cosmetics as a home-based business in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, but her experience with natural beauty products goes back much farther.

Harvey credits her interest in the field to her grandmother, who was known for making her own tinctures and ointments. Growing up with sensitive skin, Harvey said she has countless memories of sitting in her grandma’s kitchen to receive some of those home remedies.

Harvey began to make her own products as she grew up, and she eventually decided to launch a full-fledged business. She started the business out of her home and later traveled to regional vendor shows, but it soon became clear that she needed her own space.

“From the beginning, I’ve been doing everything out of my home, but as my sales increased I was running out of room to store all the different ingredients and products,” she said. “… Having a (physical) storefront means people will always know where to find me and that I have a space for all my products.”

Elite Organix will stock the full Take Over Cosmetics product line — which includes a variety of serums, scrubs, oils and other products — and the space can be reserved for pamper-focused parties or educational events

Harvey selected the Bluff Street space for its warm and inviting atmosphere, as well as its proximity to the Cable Car shopping district. She added that she will also use the space for customer consultations or to answer questions about her different products and services.

“The education piece is very important to me because if you don’t know what you’re doing wrong or how a product really works, then you can’t fix that problem,” she said. “My main goal is that everyone who comes to the store knows what they’re purchasing and how it works.”

Elite Organix is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A grand opening celebration is set for 11:30 a.m. Feb. 25 — Harvey’s birthday — and more information about the business can be found online at takeovercosmetics.com.