Business: Retail Sales
Business
Retail Sales:
Frankie Thompson Jr.
by Mike Yoshiura
"I almost think that if I didn't work here, and I had another occupation… would I surf as much as I do? I don't think so," said Frankie Thompson Jr., his skin glazed a golden brown, after years of exposure to the Hawaiian sun.
At the Local Motion stores, employees aren't required to wear beach attire, but it's highly recommended.
There are days where I'll show up with my shorts still wet from surfing," said Thompson Jr., the nighttime manager at the Local Motion Waikiki Store.
The 38-year-old native of Aiea Heights, graduated from Damien High School in 1986, and left home for the University of Oklahoma (OU), to pursue a degree in Architecture. Thompson accumulated enough credits to earn a degree from OU, but he decided not to return to Norman, Oklahoma, after injuring his right knee.
"I came home for Christmas break in 1989, and blew out my knee surfing. My parents were like, 'you're going back to school.' I was in a full-length cast (leg), with crutches, and I'm like, 'do you know how hard it is to get around on ice? Are you going to put spikes on my crutches?' They were like, 'if you're not going back, we're not paying.' My dad was retiring that year, and it was just one of those, what do you do type of situations? From that day on, I was on my own."
The Right Place, At The Right Time
For the first time in his life, Frankie had no one to rely on for any kind of financial support. While cruising one afternoon at the Pearl Kai Shopping Center, some 16 years ago, Thompson lucked out, and found himself at the right place, at the right time. He says, in a convincing California surfer accent, "I was one of their regular shoppers (Local Motion). I would go in there all the time. Kaina, the manager, needed someone who could work the day shifts. I was in the store one day, and I saw a stack of applications on his desk about 8 inches high. I asked him if they were hiring, and he gave me the job on the spot."
In October 1990, Frankie started out as a customer service representative at Local Motion's Pearl Kai store. He agreed to work for a minimum wage, which at the time was a scant $3.85.
In 1994, the Pearl Kai outlet store relocated to the Waikele Shopping Center. In the process, Thompson got promoted to assistant manager. "I just long term stuck it out, and it showed my commitment to the company. It's not the best pay, but I know that. After sticking it out, and proving his worth to the company, Frankie got promoted to nighttime manager at the Waikiki location.
One Of The Perks
One of the perks of being the nighttime manager is having the mornings off to surf. On his way to the office, Frankie's daily ritual includes driving along the southern shoreline, in search of… you guessed it, SURF!! "If I catch three good waves before I have to go to work, I'm happy. If I can surf before work I actually feel like I did something with my day."
Advice To Teens
"If they like a store and shop there a lot, find out what it takes to get a job there. Also, does it seem like a fun place for the employees working there? Managing doesn't take a college degree, I kind of expect my employees to manage themselves. If they can manage themselves it makes, my job easier. I want my employees to be productive, but enjoy themselves at the same time. As a manager you need to be able to hire good people. The first thing I look for is a good smile."
On Finding A Summer Job…
Once the summer rolls around it's already too late to start a job search. The best time for students to start inquiring about a summer job is right after the rush of the holiday season. "Jobs in the retail industry are seasonal, and if you work a few nights a week, while in school, you can work more over the summer when your availability opens up."