Although Ameenah Arnetta Abdulla has plenty on her plate as the owner of NuU Beauty Supply in Portage, she is also a real estate agent for Century 21 Alliance Group. While she is a devoted business owner and real estate agent, Abdulla is truly dedicated to her family and community.
Abdulla opened NuU Beauty Supply on March 20, 2021, however, the project began in 2016. Abdulla’s husband, Mohammed Abdulla, has been in the beauty industry for many years, and he began renting the space in 2016, later gifting the store to his wife.
Through her husband, Abdulla has been involved in the beauty industry for a long time and realized that there was a need for a style similar to hers in a beauty supply.
“What makes NuU different is the family, the level of commitment, and customer service. And, you always have to mention that it is African-American-owned, and you don’t run across very many beauty supplies that are black-owned,” Abdulla said.
Abdulla has never experienced scarcity in products made for her but is very glad to provide products for other people. Her store carries a wide variety of hair, makeup, and nail products as well as a growing collection of wigs. These wigs are often shown off on Wig Wednesday. NuU also carries men’s products including beard trimmers, oils, balms, and washes. NuU is clearly prepared to provide for anyone who walks in the door.
Carrying a wide variety of products is not the only way NuU cares for the community of Portage, Abdulla also finds it incredibly important to help her community. Most recently, NuU helped provide food to families in a food drive and giveaway for Easter.
Abdulla also works for Century 21 Alliance Group as a real estate agent in Schererville. She grew up watching her mother in real estate, and it was a natural transition for Abdulla to do the same. As a congenial woman, sales come naturally to her.
Abdulla spends the majority of her time with friends and family. She has nine children and a few grandchildren. Her grown children work at NuU Beauty Supply, which she considers to be a family business. One of her sons is the store’s manager, and one of her daughters works the register. More family comes in on a special day they call Family Fridays.
“With me, it’s always about family,” said Abdulla. “Even when people come in, I say, ‘We’re all family here.’ When you come in any day of the week you will see one of my children, me, or my mother. We are truly a family. When Family Fridays were introduced as an idea, a smile spread across my face because it was including the people I hold most dear.”
Her family often spends time outdoors outside of work hours. Abdulla is excited to begin riding bikes with her family again in the warm weather. She, her husband, some of her children, and her grandchildren plan to ride along Porter County’s bike trails as a group.
In Abdulla’s free time, she likes to write. She loves to write nonfiction and tales based on real stories. Due to how little alone time she has, Abdulla says she is only able to write about a page a month, but she would trade the time she spends with her family for nothing.