INNOVATION & company serving the Boise community for 50+ years has more than just luck going for them. A company that has survived and thrived for so many years must be an institution of innovation and adaptability. From Graeber and Company’s first day of business in the lobby of the Imperial Plaza, to their Main Street location, and then to the ultra-modern 350 9th St. Suite 103, this salon and day spa has been a model of both innovation and adaptation for more than half a decade. The moment you enter Graeber & Company it is evident that customer service is a point of emphasis. The front staff sets the tone with beautiful smiles, efficient scheduling, and product recommendations—they even offer every guest Aveda comforting tea. The salon is warm and inviting, especially the day spa area, where the calming décor instantly separates you from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. Graeber & Company offers full day spa services including massage, facials, waxing, nail care, and more. Like the salon staff, the spa staff believes in continued education, staying knowledgeable about the latest trends and techniques. They offer a high-tech product delivered with a high-touch approach. Graeber & Company was the first in the Boise area to take advantage of the newest hair and spa technological innovations.
They were the first to use blow dryers in the 1960’s. They brought the Vidal Sassoon training to Boise. They were the very first salon in the valley to carry Aveda products. And when consumers, male or female, wanted a top quality salon, Graeber & Company adapted their service to be the first to take both male and female guests as well as have male and female stylists. It is these decisions that made Graeber & Company one of the leading salons in the Northwest. These decisions are testaments to the ownership and their team. The business owners—Shelby Bills, Odell England, Joe Wheat and Robert Vasquez—press the importance of education and performance improvement on a daily basis. They bought the salon from the original owners, Bill and Jean Grabber, and out of respect of their legacy the name wasn’t changed. Odell England and Joe Wheat are the manager stylists in the salon and from the beginning have led by example. Starting their day early, they dress professionally and build relationships with every guest that sits in their chairs. Wheat makes every guest feel at home. He spends time nurturing their hair as well as their heart. Odell makes sure that he meets every guest’s needs and enters the salon every day with a positive attitude
WRITTEN BY BRIAN SHIELDS 50
The Voice of the valley
Photography by Kyle Basile