It Happened in Crawford County: Katie Butler's business is about more than just hair
Katie Butler and Hillary Suter are the daughters of Steve Suter and Teresa and Daryl Wenner. Katie started school at Colonel Crawford, saying, “I liked everything about school, including being a social butterfly.” She played softball and basketball and then in her junior and senior year she studied cosmetology at Pioneer Career & Technology Center. It was a good place to learn a skill; it was hands on and all about her career.
Katie wasn’t new to the "hair biz" since her mom Teresa was also a hair stylist. She worked at the Lady Fair Salon until 1983 and the county home salon from 1994-1997. Katie began working at Creative Options in 2006 until 2010 where she worked with the editor’s granddaughter, Marie Cichanowicz Hatfield. Katie went on to work at the Styling Den until 2013, owned by Linda Zeigler, who taught her a lot about the business.
Katie had the support of her family when in 2012 she bought Shorty Nigh’s Colonial Barber and Beauty Shop which Katie named “Salon Ooh La-La” at 116 W. Warren St. She said that Shorty reminded her of Colonel Sanders with his little moustache. She was able to use his original barber pole for her own sign.
Katie had great family support planning her new business. Her stepdad Daryl is a retired accountant. He helped Katie create a business plan and proposal for a loan from the bank. Her dad Steve helped remodel and update the salon; and Judy Enders was huge in the remodel as well as helping build Katie’s desk and painting.
On opening day, May 7, 2013, she earned her first dollar(s) from her first client — Dr. Glen McMurray. Katie enjoys decorating, and about every other year she updates with paint and paper. Many of her “first day” or early customers have grown up together. She thinks of them as second families. Some are Katie’s “grandma gals”; they send her cards, share recipes and bring in food. They've become very attached to one another. It’s a rewarding career, celebrating weddings and all the special occasions. The saddest part is losing one of those dear ladies, but memories and sharing are there forever.
Katie went to Hawaii in 2017 to the Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Farm when he was still living. She saw how the Awapuhi flower is used in their products. The trip was a cool experience for Katie to see and learn all about Paul Mitchell products which she uses in her salon. Joy Gledhill, who worked at Creative Options and taught Katie many tricks of the trade, works for her.
Katie married Trinity Butler in 2020 during COVID — a happy event in the midst of having her business shut down for three months due to the pandemic. Trinity is also a graduate of Colonel Crawford and a conductor for the Norfolk and Southern Railroad. They have two children — KimberLinn and Barrett — who attend school at Wynford.
Katie met Trinity because of his mom, Sue Butler, a stylist at the Styling Den beside the post office on Poplar Street. She has worked 46 years "fixing hair" — 41 of them at the Styling Den. The owner, Linda Zeigler, and Sue are often asked “Are you going to retire?" — to which they answer “Are you kidding? We are cosmetologists, we never retire.”
Trinity’s dad Chuck delivered propane and also owned a dog food business named the “DogGone Shack,” selling Hi-Standard Dog Food based in the Tiro area.
Katie is a volunteer. She was a part of the Young Professionals, a group of young people in the area. They met and greeted people of the same age locally to share ideas. Katie was honored twice by the Chamber of Commerce — receiving their Bucyrus Young Professional award in 2017 and the Chamber’s Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2022. She also served on the Bratwurst Festival Board for a couple years. She started the moustache contest and continued the pigtail hair contest until 2016.
Katie listens to others to gain wisdom. Recently, Pastor Ray LaSalle’s message was on things being “borrowed” such as our talents, life, etc. She felt led to mention here that her career and talents as a small business owner and hairstylist are simply borrowed and, at any time, those can be taken away.
“Until then, I hope I can continue to spread kindness, knowledge, and love to as many people I am blessed enough to meet," said Katie. "I’m truly proud to be from our small town, stick together, help each other out, and build each other up."
She also feels showing her kids when you work hard and have goals you can achieve and succeed in them.
Go online for more of Mary Fox’s stories and photos on bucyrustelegraphforum.com. If you are interested in sharing a story, write Mary Fox, 931 Marion Road, Bucyrus, OH 44820 or email littlefoxfactory@columbus.rr.com.
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Bucyrus entrepreneur Katie Butler followed a familiar career path
