Bucyrus entrepreneur Katie Butler has followed a familiar career path
Katie was not new to the “hair world” because her mother, Teresa, was also a hairdresser. She worked at Lady Fair Salon until 1983 and County House Salon from 1994 to 1997. Katie began working at Creative Options in 2006 until 2010 where she worked with the editor’s granddaughter, Mary Ciechanovich Hatfield. Katie continued to work at Styling Dean until 2013, which is owned by Linda Ziegler, which taught her a lot about the business.
Katie gained her family’s support when in 2012 she purchased Shorty Nigh’s Colonial Barber and Beauty Shop, which Katie called “Salon Ooh La-La,” at 116 W. Warren St. She said Shorty reminded her of Colonel Sanders with his little mustache. She was able to use his original barber pole for her own brand.
Katie had great family support in planning her new business. Her stepfather, Darryl, is a retired accountant. He helped Katie create a business plan and proposal for a loan from the bank. Her father, Steve, helped remodel and modernize the salon. Judy Enders was huge in the remodeling process as well as helping to build and paint Katie’s office.
On opening day, May 7, 2013, she received her first dollar(s) from her first client – Dr. Glenn McMurray. Katie enjoys decorating, and updates her work with paint and paper about every two years. Many of her clients have grown up on “day one” or firsts together. She thinks of them as second families. Some of them are Katie’s “grandmother’s daughters”; They send her cards, share recipes, and prepare food. They have become very attached to each other. It is a rewarding career, celebrating weddings and all special occasions. The saddest part is losing one of these dear ladies, but the memories and sharing are there forever.
Katie went to Hawaii in 2017 to Paul Mitchell’s Awapuhi Ranch when he was still alive. She saw how the Awapuhi flower is used in their products. The trip was a great experience for Katie to see and learn all about the Paul Mitchell products she uses in her salon. Joy Gledhill, who worked at Creative Options and taught Katie many tricks of the trade, works for them.
Katie married Trinity Butler in 2020 during the coronavirus crisis, a happy event amid her three-month business closure due to the pandemic. Trinity is also a graduate of Colonel Crawford and commander of the Norfolk and Southern Railway. They have two children – Kimberlynn and Barrett – who go to school in Winford.
Katie met Trinity because of his mother, Sue Butler, a fashion designer at Styling Dean next to the post office on Poplar Street. I have worked in “hair repair” for 46 years – 41 of them in styling. Owner, Linda Ziegler, and Sue are often asked, “Are you retiring?” and they say, “Are you kidding? We’re cosmetologists, we never retire.”
Trinity’s father, Chuck, delivered propane and also owned a dog food business called “DogGone Shack,” where he sold high-quality dog food and was based in the Terro area.
Katie is a volunteer. She was part of the Young Professionals Group, a group of young people in the area. They met and received people of similar age locally to exchange ideas. Katie has been honored twice by the Chamber of Commerce – receiving the Bucyrus Young Professional Award in 2017 and the Chamber Entrepreneur Award in 2022. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Bratwurst Festival for two years. She started the mustache competition and continued the braid hair competition until 2016.
Katie listens to others to gain wisdom. Lately, Pastor Ray LaSalle’s message has been about things we “borrow” like our talents, our lives, etc. I felt led to point out here that her career and talents as a small business owner and hairstylist are simply borrowed, and at any time, those could be taken away.
“Until then, I hope I can continue to spread kindness, knowledge and love to as many people as I have the pleasure of meeting,” Katie said. Bring each other out, build each other up.”
She also feels that it shows her children that when you work hard and have goals that you can achieve and succeed at.
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