It has been 43 years since Lewis and Glenys Della Bosca spotted a gap in the market and opened what would become one of the country's few remaining specialist art supply stores.
In 1983, with no background in the arts, the couple launched a print and poster gallery selling reproductions, posters and the occasional framed artwork.
With no experience in the arts, they took a leap and opened a print and poster gallery selling reproductions of artworks, posters, and the occasional framed item.
They were one of the first tenants in the Hardy Street end of Marble Arch Arcade when it opened.
Fast forward 43 years to today, and Impressions is one of the few remaining art supply stores in the country.
“There was a fair degree of enthusiasm for the products because we were doing something different that wasn't widely available in a comprehensive sense at that point,” Lewis recalls.
Selling unframed works, people kept asking ‘do you do framing?’ So, after a short while we stopped saying no and started saying yes.
Lewis sourced a supplier and in came the frames. After a few years, they required a bigger premises for a framing workshop, so opened a new store in Richmond, which ran simultaneously with the Nelson store.
“We lived in Richmond, and it seemed like an opportunity. Eventually, as time went by, the print and poster market declined, and we sold the Nelson operation, and operated solely from Richmond.”
“We grew with the operation. On the framing side we started of knowing basically nothing but always tried to do things to a standard, that may have been a more amateurish standard in the early years,” Lewis says light-heartedly.
He decided they needed to “up their game” so joined the Fine Art Trade Guild, undertaking their basic qualification, which he achieved with flying colours.
His score was so good, that they invited him to be the New Zealand examiner, something he turned down due to his commitment to the store.
He says the recognition from the guild has been one of the highlights of his career. He also mentions founding what is now the prestigious annual Tasman National Art Awards, which has been fully independent for a number of years.
Over the years, the store has expanded to hold a staple of art supplies, while continuing with framing. The store moved to its current location in Sundial Square in 2001.
Glenys retired three years ago, and Lewis has taken somewhat of a forced retirement due to health reasons, so he says its time for someone with a new energy to take the business to the next level.
He says what’s made the business successful for more than four decades is their commitment to providing informed face-to-face service, with all staff having degrees or qualifications in their areas of expertise.
Lewis recalls some interesting people and even more interesting works passing through the doors over the years, but rather than focussing specifically on professional artists, has always been focussed on serving the general public.
This month the store is celebrating their 43rd birthday with a ‘buy four, pay for three’ special.
Ideally Glenys and Lewis would like to welcome new owners before the end of the financial year in March. Expressions of interest can be made by calling Glenys on 0211760495 or emailing delabos1@yahoo.co.nz
