89 Questions
What business model owes a great deal to Martha Matilda Harper?
Franchising
What was Martha Matilda Harper's occupation at the age of seven?
Domestic servant
Where did Martha Matilda Harper move to at the age of 25?
Rochester, New York
What was the name of the hair care product that Martha Matilda Harper used to dress her employer's hair?
Moscano Tonique
How much money did Martha Matilda Harper use to open her beauty salon?
$360
What was unique about Martha Matilda Harper's beauty salon?
It was a novelty
Who did Martha Matilda Harper claim gave her the formula for Moscano Tonique?
A German-born physician
What was the name of Martha Matilda Harper's hair salons?
Harper Shops
What religious faith did Martha Matilda Harper credit with healing her and sustaining her through her decades in business?
Christian Science
Who was Martha Matilda Harper's African American counterpart?
Madam C.J. Walker
What was the primary socio-economic background of Martha Harper's clientele?
Upscale
What drove Martha Harper to seek help from Christian Science practitioner Helen Pine Smith?
She became ill and unable to work
What was unique about Martha Harper's approach to beauty?
It focused on bringing out natural beauty
What did Martha Harper's training school offer to facilitate the use of her products?
A complete course for operators of new stores
What was the name of the church that Martha Harper joined in 1897?
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Rochester
What was the primary goal of Martha Harper's business expansion in 1891?
To introduce the franchising of Harper Method Shops
Who wrote the book 'Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures'?
Mary Baker Eddy
What was the duration of the courses for neophytes at Martha Harper's training school?
Six months
What was the name of Martha Harper's biographer?
Jane Plitt
What did Martha Harper attribute her business success to?
The influence of Christian Science
In which decade did Harper Shops reach approximately 500 locations in the United States, Canada, England, France, and Germany?
1930s
What is Martha Matilda Harper credited with inventing?
The reclining shampoo chair and shampoo basin
Who took over the management of Harper's organization in the 1930s?
Martha Matilda Harper's husband, Robert McBain
What did Robert McBain's management team introduce to the Harper Method?
Hair coloring and permanent waves
What was a characteristic of Harper's relationship with her franchisees?
A family feeling with periodic gatherings
What happened to the company after Robert McBain sold it in 1956?
It operated under several names until 1972
What did Niagara Mist Marketing, Ltd. retain after purchasing the company's assets in 1972?
The formulas for Martha Matilda Harper's original products
What was the reason for Martha Matilda Harper's withdrawal from the Christian Science church in 1941?
Unknown reasons
What did Robert McBain's management team deemphasize in the Harper Method?
The family feeling with franchisees
When did the original Harper Shop finally cease operations?
Not long after the year 2000
What was the primary innovation of Martha Matilda Harper's beauty salon?
It was a public space where women could receive hair care services
How did Martha Matilda Harper's career as an entrepreneur intersect with her faith?
She credited her faith with healing her and sustaining her in business
What was the significance of Moscano Tonique in Martha Matilda Harper's career?
It was a hair care product she used to dress her employer's hair
What was the nature of Martha Matilda Harper's early life?
She was born into poverty and worked as a domestic servant
What was Martha Matilda Harper's business model innovation?
She introduced the franchise business model
What was the significance of Rochester, New York, in Martha Matilda Harper's life?
It was where she moved at the age of 25
What was the context in which Martha Matilda Harper received the formula for Moscano Tonique?
She received it from a German-born physician on his deathbed
What was the nature of Martha Matilda Harper's entrepreneurial spirit?
She was driven by a passion to innovate in the beauty industry
What was the significance of Martha Matilda Harper's relationship with her employer?
She used a product on her employer's hair that launched her career
What was the impact of Martha Matilda Harper's innovation in the beauty industry?
It changed the way women cared for their hair
What was the primary focus of Martha Harper's approach to beauty?
Bringing out the natural beauty of customers
Why did Martha Harper seek help from Christian Science practitioner Helen Pine Smith?
To overcome her illness and inability to work
What was unique about Martha Harper's beauty salon?
It offered unusual incentives to customers
What did Martha Harper's training school offer to facilitate the use of her products?
A complete course for operators of new stores
Who wrote the book that resonated with Martha Harper's values?
Mary Baker Eddy
What did Martha Harper attribute her business success to?
Her Christian Science faith
What was the primary goal of Martha Harper's business expansion in 1891?
To franchise her business model
What was the name of the church that Martha Harper joined in 1897?
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Rochester
What was the duration of the courses for experienced beauty operators at Martha Harper's training school?
Several weeks
What did Martha Harper's biographer attribute her emphasis on natural beauty to?
Her Christian Science faith
What was the primary motivation behind Robert McBain's management team introducing hair coloring and permanent waves to the Harper Method?
To make the business more competitive
What was the impact of Robert McBain's management team on the Harper Method's distinctiveness?
It made the Harper Method less distinctive
What was the fate of the Harper Shops after Robert McBain sold the company in 1956?
The company operated under several names until 1972
What was the significance of Niagara Mist Marketing, Ltd. retaining the formulas for Martha Matilda Harper's original products?
It allowed the company to continue producing Harper's products
What was the primary reason for Martha Matilda Harper's withdrawal from the Christian Science church in 1941?
Due to unknown reasons
What was the characteristic of Martha Matilda Harper's relationship with her franchisees that was deemphasized by Robert McBain's management team?
A sense of community and family
What was the outcome of Martha Matilda Harper's decision to increasingly turn over management of the organization to her husband, Robert McBain, in the 1930s?
The company lost its unique identity
What was the significance of the periodic gatherings at headquarters in Rochester and elsewhere?
They were social events for franchisees and their families
What was the impact of Martha Matilda Harper's declining health on her involvement in the business?
She was not actively involved in the business for the remainder of her life
What was the fate of the original Harper Shop?
It finally ceased operations not long after the year 2000
Where were the Harper Shops located by the 1930s?
United States, Canada, England, France, and Germany
What is Martha Matilda Harper credited with inventing?
The reclining shampoo chair and shampoo basin
What happened to the company after Robert McBain sold it in 1956?
It continued to operate under several names
What did Robert McBain's management team introduce to the Harper Method?
Hair coloring and permanent waves
What did Niagara Mist Marketing, Ltd. retain after purchasing the company's assets in 1972?
The formulas for Martha Matilda Harper's original products
What was a characteristic of Harper's relationship with her franchisees?
A family feeling
When did the original Harper Shop finally cease operations?
Not long after the year 2000
Why did Robert McBain take over the management of Harper's organization?
Because Harper was approaching age 80
What did Robert McBain's management team deemphasize in the Harper Method?
The family feeling
What was the result of Robert McBain's management team's changes to the Harper Method?
The company became less distinctive
What was the primary focus of Martha Harper's approach to beauty?
Bringing out the natural beauty of customers
What did Martha Harper's training school offer to facilitate the use of her products?
A complete course for operators of new stores
What was the significance of Christian Science in Martha Harper's life?
It healed her from an illness and sustained her through her business
What did Martha Harper attribute her business success to?
Her Christian Science faith
Who wrote the book that resonated with Martha Harper's values?
Mary Baker Eddy
What was the primary goal of Martha Harper's business expansion in 1891?
To franchise Harper Method Shops
What was the name of the church that Martha Harper joined in 1897?
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Rochester
What did Martha Harper's biographer attribute her emphasis on natural beauty to?
Her Christian Science faith
How long did the courses for neophytes last at Martha Harper's training school?
Six months
What was unique about Martha Harper's clientele?
They were primarily upscale
What was Martha Matilda Harper's occupation before opening her beauty salon?
Domestic worker
In which city did Martha Matilda Harper open her first beauty salon?
Rochester, New York
What was unique about Martha Matilda Harper's business model?
She had a franchise model
What did Martha Matilda Harper publicly credit with healing her and sustaining her?
Christian Science
What was the name of the hair care product that Martha Matilda Harper used to dress her employer's hair?
Moscano Tonique
Where was Martha Matilda Harper born?
Munn's Corners, Ontario, Canada
What was the significance of Martha Matilda Harper's beauty salon?
It was a place where women could care for their hair publicly
Who was Martha Matilda Harper's African American counterpart?
Madam C.J. Walker
At what age did Martha Matilda Harper start working as a domestic servant?
7 years old
Study Notes
Martha Matilda Harper: A Pioneering Entrepreneur
- Martha Matilda Harper (1857-1950) was a Canadian-American entrepreneur who revolutionized the beauty industry with her innovative approach to hair care.
- Born in poverty in Ontario, Canada, Harper began working as a domestic servant at the age of seven and later moved to Rochester, New York, where she opened her first beauty salon in 1888.
The Harper Method
- Harper's approach to beauty emphasized bringing out natural beauty without hair coloring or permanent waves.
- She developed a unique formula, Moscano Tonique, which she claimed was given to her by a German-born physician on his deathbed.
- Her salons offered facial, neck, and shoulder massages, and her training school provided a comprehensive course for operators, including lessons in anatomy and techniques.
Franchising and Expansion
- In 1891, Harper introduced the concept of franchising, which allowed her to expand her business rapidly.
- She trained hundreds of women, mostly from modest backgrounds, to operate Harper Method Shops across the US, Canada, England, France, and Germany.
- By the 1930s, there were over 500 Harper Shops, making her a pioneer in the franchise business model.
Christian Science and Inspiration
- Harper credited Christian Science with healing her and sustaining her through her business ventures.
- She was influenced by Mary Baker Eddy's teachings, which emphasized a higher and more practical form of Christianity that demonstrated justice and met the needs of mortals in sickness and health.
- Harper's approach to beauty was partly shaped by Christian Science principles, such as the emphasis on natural beauty and the importance of mental and spiritual well-being.
Legacy and Impact
- Harper invented the reclining shampoo chair and shampoo basin, which are still used in hair salons and barber shops today.
- She was a role model for women entrepreneurs, particularly those from modest backgrounds, and paved the way for future generations of female business leaders.
- Harper's business continued to operate under various names until 1972, when the original formulas were retained by Niagara Mist Marketing, Ltd.
Martha Matilda Harper: A Pioneering Entrepreneur
- Martha Matilda Harper (1857-1950) was a Canadian-American entrepreneur who revolutionized the beauty industry with her innovative approach to hair care.
- Born in poverty in Ontario, Canada, Harper began working as a domestic servant at the age of seven and later moved to Rochester, New York, where she opened her first beauty salon in 1888.
The Harper Method
- Harper's approach to beauty emphasized bringing out natural beauty without hair coloring or permanent waves.
- She developed a unique formula, Moscano Tonique, which she claimed was given to her by a German-born physician on his deathbed.
- Her salons offered facial, neck, and shoulder massages, and her training school provided a comprehensive course for operators, including lessons in anatomy and techniques.
Franchising and Expansion
- In 1891, Harper introduced the concept of franchising, which allowed her to expand her business rapidly.
- She trained hundreds of women, mostly from modest backgrounds, to operate Harper Method Shops across the US, Canada, England, France, and Germany.
- By the 1930s, there were over 500 Harper Shops, making her a pioneer in the franchise business model.
Christian Science and Inspiration
- Harper credited Christian Science with healing her and sustaining her through her business ventures.
- She was influenced by Mary Baker Eddy's teachings, which emphasized a higher and more practical form of Christianity that demonstrated justice and met the needs of mortals in sickness and health.
- Harper's approach to beauty was partly shaped by Christian Science principles, such as the emphasis on natural beauty and the importance of mental and spiritual well-being.
Legacy and Impact
- Harper invented the reclining shampoo chair and shampoo basin, which are still used in hair salons and barber shops today.
- She was a role model for women entrepreneurs, particularly those from modest backgrounds, and paved the way for future generations of female business leaders.
- Harper's business continued to operate under various names until 1972, when the original formulas were retained by Niagara Mist Marketing, Ltd.
Martha Matilda Harper: A Pioneering Entrepreneur
- Martha Matilda Harper (1857-1950) was a Canadian-American entrepreneur who revolutionized the beauty industry with her innovative approach to hair care.
- Born in poverty in Ontario, Canada, Harper began working as a domestic servant at the age of seven and later moved to Rochester, New York, where she opened her first beauty salon in 1888.
The Harper Method
- Harper's approach to beauty emphasized bringing out natural beauty without hair coloring or permanent waves.
- She developed a unique formula, Moscano Tonique, which she claimed was given to her by a German-born physician on his deathbed.
- Her salons offered facial, neck, and shoulder massages, and her training school provided a comprehensive course for operators, including lessons in anatomy and techniques.
Franchising and Expansion
- In 1891, Harper introduced the concept of franchising, which allowed her to expand her business rapidly.
- She trained hundreds of women, mostly from modest backgrounds, to operate Harper Method Shops across the US, Canada, England, France, and Germany.
- By the 1930s, there were over 500 Harper Shops, making her a pioneer in the franchise business model.
Christian Science and Inspiration
- Harper credited Christian Science with healing her and sustaining her through her business ventures.
- She was influenced by Mary Baker Eddy's teachings, which emphasized a higher and more practical form of Christianity that demonstrated justice and met the needs of mortals in sickness and health.
- Harper's approach to beauty was partly shaped by Christian Science principles, such as the emphasis on natural beauty and the importance of mental and spiritual well-being.
Legacy and Impact
- Harper invented the reclining shampoo chair and shampoo basin, which are still used in hair salons and barber shops today.
- She was a role model for women entrepreneurs, particularly those from modest backgrounds, and paved the way for future generations of female business leaders.
- Harper's business continued to operate under various names until 1972, when the original formulas were retained by Niagara Mist Marketing, Ltd.
Learn about Martha Matilda Harper, a Canadian-American entrepreneur who pioneered the business franchise model. Discover how her hair salons, known as Harper Method shops, paved the way for modern franchising. Take this quiz to explore her innovative business strategies and impact on American commerce.
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