Pioneering the modern-day franchise to Beauty School re-evolution -
The Valdez family's roots in the cosmetology industry go back to 1928, when 17-year-old Cuban immigrant Evelio Valdez was offering 10-cent haircuts to workers on the docks of downtown Tampa. In 1943, Evelio and his new wife, Zoila, owned and managed two downtown Tampa salons. Zoila attended beauty school at night and managed the salons during the day. Upon completing the program, her professor encouraged her to open a cosmetology school based on substance of education and not merely trends. Their first school, American Beauty School, opened in 1951 and was an overnight success. In order to supply their salons with newly graduated hairstylists, Evelio and Zoila decided to open a second school, Valdez School of Hair Design, in 1952 in downtown Tampa.
From there, the business model was easy to duplicate. Wherever Evelio opened salons (many in department stores such as Habers, Faulks and Maas Brothers), Zoila would open a school to provide students with training and graduates with employment. Thus began the modern-day salon chain, franchise school and the currently duplicated business model that is seen today in the beauty sector.
The business grew from two schools and two salons in 1952 to 13 schools and 44 salons throughout the state of Florida. Manhattan Beauty School, Inc. opened in South Tampa in 1960 (see complete timeline at bottom).
Evelio and Zoila's son, Robert Valdez, was naturally inclined toward the family business. He became exposed at an early age and traveled often alongside his parents during site visits and meetings. In 1973, after graduating from H.B. Plant High School, Robert married Yvonne Roberts and they officially joined the business. He and Yvonne both earned their cosmetology license in 1973 and began managing and operating five locations.
In the mid-1970s, the demand for licensed stylists increased dramatically and a plan was put in place to add additional programs and locations. Each school became accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS) in 1980 and also became elligible to particpate in federal financial aid programs. This standard of accreditation allowed Manhattan the opportunity to improve the quality of education, staff and facilities.
Zoila began to rely heavily on Robert and Yvonne's new approach to learning, called "Universal Hairstyling Principals" and "Critical Thinking." The focus now
