Hair products and much more are in stock at Linda’s Hair Hut & Gifts.
Although the hair salon is the bulk of Linda Caltrider’s business, the gift shop items have grown in popularity.
By Rich Wicks | Guthrie Center Times, October 2025
Art, knicknacks, décor and more can be found in Linda’s gift area, including team logo items.
Linda Caltrider, owner of Linda’s Hair Hut & Gifts in Casey, has a simple business plan: treat customers well and listen to what they want. That plan has worked well for decades, so don’t expect major changes anytime soon.
Caltrider explained how she came to own a hair salon in Casey.
“When I graduated from high school, I was either going to be a dental assistant or a hairdresser, and I decided that this is me,” she said. “I graduated at Creston from their Hair Tech in September of 1985. Then I got my first job in Anita, at the Rusty Razor, and worked there for about eight months.”
Unexpectedly, an opportunity arose to run her own business, and Caltrider jumped at the chance.
“There was an elderly lady who had been in the business in Casey for 50 years and she was retiring, and she said I should come to Casey,” Caltrider said. “So in July of 1986, I rented a little building from her for three months, then bought a small building of my own. I was there for 36 years, then bought this building three years ago so I could have a gift shop. I bought it from my brother, and my husband and I remodeled it.”
Caltrider’s business is located at 607 McPherson St. in Casey.
“It used to be a post office, and years before that it had been a doctor’s office,” she said.
As soon as the building was remodeled, Caltrider began making use of the addition space by offering an eclectic array of gift shop items.
“What really got the gift shop started was, I had a friend encourage me to start making gift baskets. I used to make them just as gifts, so I started making more,” Caltrider said.
Although the hair salon is the bulk of her business, the gift shop items have grown in popularity. Currently, Caltrider estimates that about one-fourth of her business is the gift shop. Beauty services offered include haircuts, styling, perms, hair coloring, highlights and waxing.
Describing the variety of items for sale is a challenge; it is much easier to simply stop in and see. There are JR Watkins items (spices, seasonings, lotions, etc.), memorial stones, home décor, kitchen items, health and beauty items, garden stones/yard art, local honey, greeting cards, and much more. Caltrider also keeps an inventory of her homemade and seasonally themed gift baskets. Some items are offered on consignment.
“I have a lady who makes tea towels. I have a guy who paints pictures,” Caltrider said. “I also have consignment clothing. I have hair products for sale as well. Sometimes people come in and ask for a certain thing, and then I’ll see if I can get it in here.”
The shop is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and Caltrider puts in long hours on those days.
“I’m here usually from 8 in the morning until 6 or 7 o’clock at night,” she said. Appointments can be made by calling Caltrider’s business phone at 641-746-3375.
Linda Caltrider welcomes everyone to stop in.
“I’ve had a lot of customers where I gave them their first haircut, and then they’ve graduated and gone off to college, and then they come back to Casey for a haircut. There are generations that have come through,” she said. “I like being here and being around family and friends.”
Caltrider has two sons and a daughter-in-law (Nicolas, Dylan and Nicolas’ wife, Megan), as well as many other relatives and extended family members in the local area. She enjoys being active in the Casey community.
“I’m on the flower committee for Casey and the service club,” Caltrider said. “I like to help out wherever and whenever I can.”
For Caltrider, the most satisfying part of her career is knowing that she meets a need and makes a connection with her customers.
“The most memorable parts are the conversations with my clients. The tears, the laughter, there’s been a lot. I appreciate being so close with my customers and being able to make them happy,” she said. “I enjoy it, and I plan to be here until I can’t be.” n