Empire Education Group: Family Business with a National Footprint

In the beauty school biz, Empire Education Group is the biggest name out there. As the largest centrally owned and operated beauty school system in the country, Empire operates 110 schools in 21 states from the east coast to as far west as Arizona. But at the company’s corporate headquarters in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, Empire is still a hometown brand. The family owned and operated business has a nearly 80 year history in Northeast Pennsylvania, and is one of the largest employers in Schuylkill County. The Schoeneman family is well known for its philanthropic support of community events and causes.

Empire Chairman and CEO Frank Schoeneman, the third generation to head the company, says it’s the culture that keeps Empire successful. “We are a family. We operate under a system of values that my family adopted years ago. Integrity, customer service, commitment, all of these things are important. It doesn’t matter how big you are.”

Excerpt from: Business Weekly, Reading Eagle

“…The Empire chain of beauty schools started with sites throughout upstate Pennsylvania. Frank wanted to expand to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and beyond. By 2000, the company took the first of several bold steps. That year, Empire had 21 schools and expanded into the South with the purchase of Capelli Learning Institute in suburban Atlanta and several schools in the Charlotte, N.C., area….”

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At the time of print, Empire was about to sign the deal on its latest property, which would bring its total number of schools to 112 nationwide. The company operates schools under the brand names of Empire Beauty School and Hair Design School.