Business started as a ‘safe space’
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Smoke and Mirrors Beauty Loft celebrated its third new home with a ribbon cutting May 8.
Kate Cerrone, president of the Putnam Business Association, said the business’s success is due to it being a service-oriented business and owner Laura Jones’ work ethic. “The focus here is good technicians.” 
The business, now at 211 Kennedy Drive, offers hair services, lashes, brows, nails/pedis, facials, peels, micro needling, spray tans, makeup, red light therapy, permanent makeup and more. 
Jones said “This didn’t really start as a business. It started as a kind of hope of making a safe space for women. And then it turned into a safe space for everyone.” She added it’s more of a community than a business. “I want people to come and feel safe and feel beautiful when they leave. Because it truly does start inside.”
J. Scott Pempek, deputy mayor, congratulated Jones on the new location. “It’s people like you; it’s entrepreneurs like you that really make Putnam a special place to live, to work and to grow.”

caption:
Smoke & Mirrors
Congratulations were in order to the business as it moved into a new space. From left: Selectman Mike Bogdanski, Deputy Mayor Scott Pempek, owner Laura Jones, PBA President Kate Cerrone, PBA  VP Sheila Frost, employee. Linda Lemmon photo.