A FAMILIAR face has joined The Lakes Mail staff.
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Longtime local businesswoman Brenda Hartmire is the newspaper’s new media sales representative.
Many of our readers will recognise Ms Hartmire from her six years with Toronto Chamber of Commerce, most recently as secretary.
She founded LE Computers (now Hunter Valley IT), in 1997, and Lake Side Marketing and Events, in 2015.
But her business ties to Lake Macquarie go way back.
“I actually started my first business at age 14,” Ms Hartmire said.
“I started Lake Mac Dance Academy at Coal Point Hall,” she smiled.
It’s that first-hand business experience coupled with local knowledge that Ms Hartmire believes will stand her in good stead in her new role.
“My aim has always been to help small businesses to grow,” she said.
“I understand the local demographics very well, as I have experience in working in digital and print platforms. And I understand what businesses are dealing with on a day-to-day basis, so I can really empathise with them.”
Ms Hartmire is enjoying meeting The Lakes Mail’s established and new advertisers.
She knows many of the business owners, or someone in their staff.
“There’s very few I don’t know, or who don’t know me,” she said.
The Lakes Mail offered advertisers a suite of advertising options that enabled businesses to best target their market, and to reach new customers, she said.
Whether it’s advertising online, in print, or in both, the newspaper had all of the bases covered, she said.
“It really is a holistic approach to advertising. I wish I’d known more about it when I was in business,” she said.
“For the reach you get, it really is an extremely affordable way to advertise, and by doing an advertising campaign you can be assured that your audience sees your ad.
“Because The Lakes Mail is a community paper, it’s where everyone turns to see what’s happening.
“And it’s keeping the ‘shop local’ ethos going.”
Ms Hartmire said she was looking forward to getting to know the Toukley, Doyalson, Norah Head and Lake Haven areas, too.
Phone Ms Hartmire on 0477 754 127 or 4979 5278.