Tabletalk’s sales executive Lynn Holmes, 60, of Table View, has retired.
Tabletalk’s sales executive, Lynn Holmes, of Table View, has retired after more than 30 years with the community newspaper.
The 60-year-old says she looks forward to spending long walks on the beach with her dogs and spending time with her children, Josh and Alexandra.
She also plans to start her own business, to “keep her brain active”, and has considered tutoring underprivileged pupils, especially those struggling with English.
She is a qualified teacher but says it was during a teacher’s practical assessment that she decided the job wasn’t for her. So instead she joined the Cape Argus’s classified department in the early 1980s and worked there for seven years.
In 1988, Ms Holmes learnt about a newly established newspaper, Tabletalk, which had been founded in 1987 and was formerly known as The Tabletalk and Mail. She approached the paper for a job in the advertising department, but there were no vacancies at the time.
Then Sandy Naude, who was the advertising director for Tabletalk’s publisher and is now the CEO of Africa Community Media, suggested that Ms Holmes be considered for the job. Ms Holmes started at Tabletalk in 1990 and was with the paper ever since.
She says she will miss her colleagues and clients who have become like family over the years.
“I have only ever worked in newspapers and was lucky enough to see how things have evolved into our digital era.”
She believes newspapers will still be around for a long time, especially community newspapers.
“Community newspapers allow one to learn about the guy down the road who has achieved something or an elderly couple who inspire you to be married for 50 or more years, and, ultimately, they advertise business which is in close proximity to you.”
Ms Holmes says she has enjoyed every bit of her job - the only downside was having to deal with a rude client, but “it was just all part of the job”, she says.
She recalls when Food Lover’s Market only had one store in 1996, and, as someone who sold advertising space to the company over the years, she feels like she has been part of the company’s growth as it has established many other branches since then.
“I am still friends with the owners, who I have grown close to over the years,” she says.
Thanking the staff at Independent Media, she says, “Indy has taught me that there is a lot more good in people than there is bad.”
Ms Naude thanked Ms Holmes for her hard work and commitment to Tabletalk.
“Lynn’s commitment to Tabletalk has left a rich legacy of clients who grew their businesses with her over the last 35 years - customers who became part of our community news family. Her dedication and commitment have been hugely appreciated and valued. We wish Lynn all the very best for her next chapter. “