Eveline Charles was born and raised in the small French community of Falher, Alberta. Her strong work ethic and flare for fashion were apparent at  an early age, which lead to her enrollment in the Marvel Beauty School immediately after high school.  Equipped with skills to match her enthusiasm, Eveline began cutting hair professionally in 1974 and ten years later, opened her first salon Bianco Nero in Edmonton.

During the 1980s and early 90s, Eveline established Bianco Nero as Edmonton’s premier beauty salon. Seizing the opportunity to be at the forefront of the day spa movement, in 1995 Eveline expanded the location to include a full service day spa.

As one of Edmonton’s first spas, a major advertising campaign was required to educate potential customers. With virtually no marketing budget, Eveline took advantage of the Advertising Club of Edmonton’s annual fundraiser where advertising agencies offer new businesses advertising campaigns at reduced rates. As a result, Eveline’s eight thousand dollar investment yielded an award winning twenty five thousand dollar TV, newspaper, radio and billboard advertising campaign.

With great brand recognition in place, Eveline opened a second Bianco Nero salon and spa in the West Edmonton Mall in 1998.  During this period Eveline stepped out from behind the salon chair to focus entirely on developing her business.  Eager to expand further into Calgary and develop and trademark several product lines, Eveline changed the name of her company from Bianco Nero to EvelineCharles™Salons • Spas.

In 2001, two new locations opened in Calgary’s Southcentre Mall and Edmonton’s Southgate Centre. In 2002, EvelineCharles expanded beyond Alberta to open a fifth location in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2005, two more locations were opened in Calgary’s Market Mall and Chinook Centre, as well as a 26,000 square foot Academy of Cosmetology and Esthetics in Edmonton. In 2006 the company expanded again with a location in the new wing of Orchard Park Shopping Centre in Kelowna, BC.  With eight current locations, Eveline is still eager to expand her brand into new cities and markets.

Eveline Charles is one of the most recognized names in the Canadian salon and spa industry.  Driven by the words of her favorite poem, “Think big and your deeds will grow” (The Winner), Eveline Charles has grown her privately held business from a one woman operation to a multi-million dollar corporation bearing her name, EvelineCharles™Salons • Spas.

Ivey School of Business and Scotiabank Group, Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 2007
Global Salon Business Awards, Global Salon Entrepreneur of the Year 2006, 2004
Profit Magazine, Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs 2007 (26), 2006 (31), 2005 (36), 2004 (48)
Junior Achievement Alberta Business Hall of Fame, First Female Inductee, 2003 
Consumer’s Choice Awards, Business Woman of the Year 2002
Alberta Venture Magazine, Marketer of the Year 2001

Read Eveline's Fashion Forecast Column, Straight from the Top