Cindy's Hair Place

“I was looking for a part-time job and I ended up with a business.” This may not be the typical route for a successful business owner, but it's how things worked out for Heather Pirinen, owner of Paris Hair and Beauty on 17th Avenue. The business has been around since 1967, but Heather didn't come on board until she took it over from a friend in 2011. She had just taken a waxing course and was looking to pursue waxing part-time when her friend's impending retirement led to Heather buying the salon.

Since then Heather has continued to grow the business despite the intense competition in the Calgary market. “The most challenging thing is attracting new clientele,” says Heather. “There are more than 550 registered salons in Calgary, not to mention those that work out of their basement. But I love being a small business owner. I love the people I get to meet.”