Lasting Image changes hands after 30 years

One of Brandon’s longtime custom framing and photography stores has changed hands after three decades in business.

Lasting Image was officially sold on July 1 by co-founders Sandra Parlow, Duane Claridge and Marlene Leflar to local photographer Dustin Glaseman. While Parlow and Leflar take a bow, Claridge will remain with the business for a period to help train the new owner and ensure a smooth transition.

The decision to sell came down to retirement.

“Thirty years is a long time,” Parlow told the Sun on Monday. “We’re getting older, so we wanted to retire.”

Finding the right buyer, however, was not easy.

Parlow said the business, located at 708 10th St., is one that requires specialized knowledge and craftsmanship, and several people expressed interest but ultimately believed they could not take on the work.

Glaseman, who had previously brought projects to Lasting Image, stood out because of his willingness and approach, she said.

“He’s willing to learn. He seems like a very detail-oriented person, which we thought was fantastic because with the job that we do, you do need to pay attention to details,” Parlow said.

Taking over Lasting Image was a natural progression as a professional wildlife photographer and owner of The Dusty Unknown, Glaseman said.

“I had been coming to Lasting Image as a customer for a while. I loved the staff. I loved what they did,” Glaseman told the Sun. “When I heard that they were looking to sell the business, it just seemed like a natural fit. It was a great expansion to my own business.”

Since assuming ownership on July 1, Glaseman said he has modernized the business.

The store closed for five days immediately after the sale while renovations were completed. The front retail area received new flooring and fresh paint, along with a redesigned display wall for artwork, he said.

The investment doesn’t stop there.

Glaseman estimates he will spend between $10,000 and $15,000 on renovations, new equipment and upgrades by the end of the year, including the purchase of an in-house printer that will allow artists to have prints produced locally.

He is also introducing an art boutique featuring works by about 20 Manitoba artists, with plans to have it operating by the end of August and celebrate its official grand opening in September.

While Lasting Image will retain its well-known name, customers will soon notice a refreshed identity.

“The name will stay Lasting Image, but I am changing the logo,” Glaseman said. “A local artist has also been commissioned to paint a mural on the front cash desk to complement the new branding.”

Most customers have responded positively to the changes, he said.

“They’re quite surprised when they walk in,” he said. “It has definitely sort of a gallery look to it now … Everybody that’s come in has been really supportive and happy to see it.”

Looking ahead, Glaseman said he plans to build on the business’s reputation while expanding its role in Brandon’s arts community.

“I really want to help it grow beyond a framing place into kind of an artistic hub in the city,” he said. “In lots of ways, it’s already been an artistic hub. But I just want to expand on that and expand on the community connection to make it something really special.”

The business first opened its doors in June 1996 after the three partners, who had worked together in a photography studio, decided to build something of their own.

Parlow said the community’s support made Lasting Image’s longevity possible.

“It can be very difficult to be a small business these days,” she said.

“When you have big-box stores opening up, it’s pretty scary when you’re just a small place. But the community supported us, and we always felt very fortunate to have such a great customer base, and we appreciated that so very much.”

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