Empire Beauty School ,pittsburgh, EEG INC. EMPIRE BEAUTY "SCHOOL" FORMER EMPLOYEE SPEAKS ABOUT THE TRUTH! Internet, Pennsylvania

Dear Future Cosmetology Students:

As a former employee of Empire Beauty School, I strongly urge any prospective student to re-consider. This company is run on greed, money, incompetence, micro management, fraud, lies & above all employee turnover. Here's my understanding of how this so called "school" works: (By the way, I have worked for them for less than 5 years)

Cost: $16,000  The Owner of the company (and Major Dufus) was smart in the sense that he bought his way on the Cosmetology Board allowing students to receive financial aid to go to cosmetology school. He also sits on the board so any violations will be wiped clean, honestly who would turn themselves in? Most other Cosmetology schools cannot provide Cosmetology students Financial Aid- which usually makes Empire the only choice for low income/ bad credit students.

Students: This is by FAR the most scary part for a prospective student. The student body in most cases consist of 90% African Americans, many in which are prior criminals from prison on work release type of situations. I've seen everything from drug dealers, rapists, murderers, gangbangers, prostitutes, strippers & theives. Students bring all that into the school on a daily basis which leads to fights, guns, drug use, sexual activity and MAJOR THEFT. See Empire does not discriminate students because it means money to them!! Theres no rule of prior convicts coming to school, all are welcome.

Staff: Empire dumps all their hope and money into the Admissions staff. They have them take what is called a "Caliper exam" to make sure they are the right person to bring Empire money. They train reps to brain wash students on false hopes to get them in the door and usually within 2 weeks (after the grant check comes) students drop out. Now, as a prospective student- I ask you this: if Empire Beauty Schools were concerned about education first and profit second, wouldnt they put their TEACHERS through the caliper exam and not Admissions reps!? I mean come on! School Directors usually dont last too long, high turnover due to micro-management from RD's who are always looking to fire for anything and everything. In addition, none of the staff are drug tested or trained correctly.

Supplies: The tools they give students will NOT last through your education nor will you be able to use the CHEAP blow dryers, shears, etc in a salon. Most of it breaks within days of a students education & is mass produced making it very cheap. They dont give students a flat iron, tell me in 2010 who does not use a flat iron!? And this is a company who "stays on the cutting edge of the industry". Fact is providing a students with flat irons would cut into the $300 dollar kit sold to students for $1,500. The books are romper room, little kid books with stolen Milady material contents.

Instructors: Are usually former graduates with very little industry experience. Dont get too comfy with any single teacher for she will NOT be around within the year. You see, it isnt about education at Empire, it about attendance, and why is it about attendance you ask?? Because Empire gets paid & pulls down funding on students ONLY when they attend school (proprioatory schooling) so teachers are HEAVILY micro managed on making sure students come to school, weather they sleep in class or not, Empire is getting paid! Most instructors in the schools dont have a clue on what they are doing nor do they know the cirriculum. See at Empire, they have a way of thinking that every licensed cosmetologist MUST know how to teach cosmetology.

Company VP: The company Vice President is DATING the Human Resources director, they live together and yet there is a fraternization policy for employees... Double standard? The same Vice President has had numerous documented sexual affairs with school Directors when he visits cities, yet he writes emails of "Lessons in stupidity". This guy has the biggest ego on any Man on the planet, and for no reason. Here's a "Lesson", The schools were profiting very nicely and the genius had a bright idea to introduce this "Call Center" which has made the schools a virtual ghost town waiting for students to show up- costing the company millions. If it aint broke.. Dont fix it right?? This thing has failed miserably and every company official I have spoken to has admitted that. As a prospective student you will speak to several different people before you even enter the school, building no real lines of communication, all thanks to the VP.

THIS COMPANY HAS NO PLACEMENT PLAN IN PLACE, YOU WILL HAVE TO GET A JOB ON YOUR OWN! Fact is, only about 50% of students enrolled even graduate from the program, for all the factors above. And 93% of licensed cosmetologists dont even work in cosmetology so why waste $16,000.00?

I have been in the industry for over 15 years, I have worked for a few different Cosmetology schools. Empire is by far and away the biggest scum bag company there is. They manage their employees into early graves trying to boost student attendance so they can profit.

FACT: Empire knows exactly what they are doing in marketing- They use WPGH FOX53 during the day time (when Jerry Springer & Judge shows are on) to market to those who arent working or doing anything during the day IE: African American Females- it's actually direct marketing and genius on their part.

***You dont need to take my word for it, do yourself a favor and ask a current or former student if they had a good experience with Empire and if they think you should enroll there. I'd bet the results will be 90% or above will tell you NO WAY! In fact most students regret ever going.. Instead of refining and fixing current problems in current schools they have, they continue to buy and grow new schools, similar to Starbucks. Grow without merit, and have a GIANT problem. Go to a Paul Mitchell school, they have a few schools that are refined and well ran.

Good Luck!