Long-time Lasting Impressions employees Stephanie Riley (left) and Michelle Callison (right) are now the new owners of the Holton custom embroidery, screen printing and vinyl graphics business, having taken over from previous owner Carole Danner in recent days.

Callison, Riley take ownership of Lasting Impressions

Two long-time employees of Holton’s Lasting Impressions custom embroidery and screen printing business are now the new owners of the business, it has been reported.

Michelle Callison and Stephanie Riley took over the business from long-time owner Carole Danner effective Aug. 21, just as the business was getting ready to enter what Callison said is one of its busiest times of the year — getting new clothing lines and other merchandise ready for Jackson County’s three school districts.

“It’s a good thing,” Callison said of the level of business being done at a transitional time. “We’re still trying to get our feet underneath us.”

With the experience that Callison and Riley have working under Danner, it’s likely that won’t take long. Callison has worked for Lasting Impressions as a production manager and graphic artist for the past 14 years — coming aboard not long after Danner took over the business in 2000 — and Riley has worked there for nine years “in all capacity of operations,” she said.

The business got its start in 1998 as a home-based embroidery business owned by Karen Beightel, who moved the business to a location just off Holton’s Town Square in 1999, then moved to another location on the south side of the Square (currently occupied by Homestead Affordable Housing) within a year. Danner took over not long after that, and shortly thereafter, Callison joined the staff.

The business moved to its current location in 2006, after the renovation of the former Campbell Precision Machine shop just north of Holton Country Mart. At that time, Danner said the move was necessitated by a need for more retail and work space than the business had on the south side of the Square.

At that time, the business sold gift items in addition to its screen-printed and embroidered goods, but Danner and husband Brett — who will retain ownership and management of the building — made room for Advanced Chiropractic to lease the front of the building in 2013. Earlier this year, another portion of the building was leased to Seneca Cellular, which was looking to expand into Holton.

Despite the reduction in retail space — Callison said Lasting Impressions “got out of the gift shop part of it” and is sticking to embroidery and graphics printing — there certainly hasn’t been a reduction in business, the ladies said. Danner has continued to make herself available during the transition period, they added.

“Carole’s been great in helping us take over,” Callison said. “She’s stuck around, and she comes back and helps us out when we need it.”

And if it should get too busy and Danner’s help is needed again?

“She’s not too far away,” Callison said.

Meanwhile, Callison and Riley are preparing some new clothing items and continuing to take orders from area businesses and schools.

“It’s been a little overwhelming,” Riley said of being a new business owner. “But the transition’s been smooth, and we’re just going to keep doing what we’ve done before, adding new stuff as we go along.”

Lasting Impressions is located at 123 Dakota Ave. in Holton. For more information, call Callison or Riley at 364-4900.

The Holton Recorder

109 W. Fourth St.
Holton, KS 66436
Phone: 785-364-3141
 

Sign Up For Breaking News

Stay informed on our latest news!

Manage my subscriptions

Subscribe to Greer Citizen newsletter feed