Exploring Life & Business with Paige Caputo of Caputo’s Salon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Caputo. 

Hi Paige, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Paige! I was born and raised in Oakland county.  Ever since I was younger I always loved business and the entrepreneurial side of things (lemonade stands, making & selling hair accessories, etc.) I also really loved the salon environment- the loud music, trendy outfits, fun conversations, creative skillset, great smelling hair products and always leaving happier than when I came in! I decided in highschool that I wanted to attend cosmetology school, so I went to Douglas J Aveda in Royal Oak. Besides the environment, my Uncle Tony is who initially got me interested in cosmetology. He was a celebrity hair stylist and did hair for his clients at the grammys/ emmys while also owning his own salons in California & Detroit.  He unfortunately passed away when I was younger but I always loved hearing stories about him and seeing the impact he had within the community outside of his talent (he was the co-founder of the Aid’s walk in Detroit.) After graduating from Aveda, I worked at a salon for some time and realized I loved the business side of things so I ended up attending Grand Valley State University and double majored in business management and entrepreneurship with a minor in psychology. After GVSU, My first job offer was out of Chicago, so I moved there and that’s where I’ve been living the last 5 years, working in corporate technology sales. When Covid hit, I realized that life is so short and I always wanted to blend my college degree & cosmetology license so I took the jump to make it happen and looked for salons that were for sale. I left my life in Chicago behind to move back to Michigan where I didn’t know many people besides some family that’s still here and decided to live my childhood dream as a salon owner! I still work my corporate job (I converted one of the spa rooms into an office so I can be at the salon as much as possible with my team!) and am also slowly but surely getting back into offering more services and jumping in wherever i’m needed!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Owning a small business is so much fun but a lot of work and very expensive! Once you think you’re in a groove and nothing can bring you down, something happens! For example, a furnace breaking in the middle of winter or having full appointment books to see that everyone’s canceling around the same time due to illness that’s spreading like wildfire. I also bought an existing salon and immediately had to rebrand it and change the business model while renovating the space to ensure people knew it’s under new ownership. I also personally believe that the salon industry gets overlooked often when it comes to our costs and the value of our time- we are hurting just as much as other industries with inflation and we’re providing a service where time to us is everything therefore having last minute cancellations or no show/no calls really negatively impacts my team and the business overall. Regardless of the constant inflation, supply chain issues, challenges in finding staff and the constant unknowns of what’s going to happen next- I love owning a small business. I have a great and fun team that i’m so lucky to have, and my business is located in an amazing city (Oxford) it’s a very supportive and loving community -the families, our clients, and business neighbors are the absolute best.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Caputo’s Salon?
We are a full service salon in downtown Oxford- we offer hair, nails, waxing, makeup + more! We also have a large selection of retail products to ensure we’re your one-stop shop for all things beauty. Our team and environment sets us apart from other salons- I pride my business on our inclusive environment and ensuring all team members and clients feel welcomed, heard, and appreciated. We were voted “best hair salon” in 2021 by the community, and I really believe it’s due to our consistent customer service and the genuine care we have for our clients and each other as a team. Our team goes all out for special occasions (birthdays, weddings, homecoming, prom, etc- we will dress the salon for any event or occasion to make sure the experience is one to remember!) Outside of our services, we are also actively involved within the community and try to give back as much as possible! We donate our time to give out free services at events that the city puts on, we donate & sponsor community events as much as possible,  we adopted 10 families last Christmas to assist with gifts, we partnered with FISH and donated food for kids in need, we hosted a food drive then went as a team to volunteer at gleaners’ food bank in Detroit, we hosted a drive for a domestic violence shelter nearby + every September the salon donates a % of the sales to the AIDS walk Detroit that my uncle founded. We even started to offer classes/ events outside of business hours such as a daddy/daughter hair class where we taught braids, how to master the bun, how to detangle without hurting …the basics but essentials!

What do you think about happiness?
When I think of happiness, I think of traveling!! I studied abroad and lived in Florence, Italy for some time and have had the travel bug ever since! I recently got my dual citizenship (in Malta) and can’t wait to put it to use- I absolutely love going to different countries,experiencing different cultures & being immersed in new experiences (plus the amazing food is always a bonus!) I think traveling has really helped me get where I am today by being more open-minded , quick to think/ problem solve & be more understanding of others viewpoints outside my own- there is so much growth and comprehension that comes from travel.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @caputosalon
• Facebook: facebook.com/caputosalon