Ginger Singh-Kauldhar
Interview with Gaynor Fisher | Sales Office Team Leader
At Tomlinson Ltd, our people are the heartbeat of our company, playing vital roles in our day to day success. Since December 2020, we've been sharing interviews with our team members to give our customers and suppliers a closer look at the individuals who make up our team.
This time, we’re delighted to introduce Gaynor Fisher, our Sales Office Team Leader.
Gaynor brings warmth, honesty, and a down to earth approach to her role. She’s a natural communicator, with a positivity and confidence that makes her a perfect fit for leading our dynamic sales team. Her sense of humour and infectious laugh quickly reveal why she excels in this customer-facing position.
Originally from Leicester, Gaynor began her career in retail before transitioning into the direct mail sector of the printing industry. Reflecting on her time there, she describes it as a fast paced environment with long hours and high stakes.
Come 2005, Gaynor was made redundant when the company went into administration and she found herself looking for new employment. “I joined an agency that sent me for a number of interviews,” she says, “and the job of ‘Internal Sales Advisor’ at Tomlinson was one of them.”. Needless to say, she was offered the position and became a full time member of Tomlinson's busy sales team later that same year.
From then on, rather than labouring over intense direct mail projects spanning several weeks, Gaynor saw just how quickly foiling and embossing dies were ordered, manufactured and despatched to customers from Tomlinson - often within a single day. “It was a huge contrast to my previous role,” she says, “and it took me a while to get used to shutting my computer down at 5 o’clock and being told to go home because the day’s work was done. I couldn’t believe it!”.
Gaynor’s knack for communication and problem solving helped her thrive in her new role. Within months, she had learnt the intricacies of the various dies we produce, and her customer service experience meant she was always ready to tackle any challenge. “I’m a good problem solver,” she says with confidence, emphasising the importance of understanding a customer’s vision to help bring their ideas to life.
Customer service is a cornerstone at Tomlinson, and Gaynor embodies this commitment. “We’re not just a die maker; we work closely with customers and genuinely care about their jobs,” she shares. Her dedication to building strong relationships is clear as she values direct communication and believes in making herself accessible to all customers.
Then, Gaynor talks about the role she played during the pandemic after the UK went into lockdown in March 2020. “Once we’d been given the go ahead to reopen again, I was among the small team that came back initially.” she recalls. “Ginger and I ran the sales office together and we made a pact that, if either of us came down with Covid, we’d both be out and the office would be completely deep cleaned before others came to take over.”. Fortunately, neither Gaynor nor Ginger contracted Covid and so, through the summer of 2020, the two ran the sales office wearing face masks and with metres of distance between them, each supporting the other.
When asked about memorable moments at Tomlinson, Gaynor reflects on the many laughs and fun times she’s shared with her colleagues.
As she talks, it’s evident just how highly Gaynor regards Tomlinson as a company and, equally, how highly her co-workers regard her in return. “They call me ‘the mother of the company!’, she laughs. And it’s clear to me how this term has come about, because Gaynor’s approachable, caring and positive personality shines through as she enthuses about her years as a member of the team at Tomlinson. “There’s a great atmosphere here, and I never wake up and think, ‘oh no, I’ve got to go to work today’!” she expresses, warmly. “I love coming to work each day and being a part of that atmosphere.”.
Her positivity is even more inspiring given the challenges she’s faced, including the loss of her husband at a young age. Despite this, Gaynor’s outlook on life remains bright. “Every day that I wake up is a good day,” she says - a philosophy that drives her zest for life.
Gaynor enjoys traveling, socialising, and dancing, with plans for a Caribbean cruise with friends in 2025. Though she’s nearing her twentieth year at Tomlinson, she’s already dreaming of retirement in Portugal - a goal she’s determined to achieve.
As our conversation ends, I’m left feeling uplifted by Gaynor’s vibrant energy and positivity. It’s clear that people like Gaynor are the true heart and soul of Tomlinson, making it a special place to work.
