Careers

We sell more than just souvenirs, we provide memories! Tongass Trading souvenirs remind visitors of the incredible vacation they had in the magnificent state of Alaska!  At any one of Tongass Trading Company's three Ketchikan souvenir stores you will find the best selection of souvenirs and travel and convenience items,  and the most happy, helpful, and energetic staff on the island. We pride ourselves in providing our time conscience visitors the ultimate shopping experience by having well stocked, easily shopped stores and fast, efficient cashiers. Visitors and locals alike love shopping at Tongass Trading Company!

Living and working in beautiful Ketchikan, Alaska is an experience all to its own. Even though we live on an island, you will have the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. You will have the opportunity to gain new skills and experience living in a culturally diverse, scenic, vibrant community. Making new friends amongst co-workers is one of the highlights of working at Tongass Trading Company. 

We foster a T.E.A.M. environment where Together Everyone Achieves More.  Each team member has a valuable role to play in the success of each store, whether it be cashiering, stocking, recovery, gathering merchandise in the warehouses, cleaning up or leading the charge. When the cruise ships are in port we are crazy busy, requiring all team members to be engaged in cashiering, customer service, and stocking. In between rushes or ships it's all hands on deck getting the store recovered, cleaned and fully stocked before the next wave of customers or ships arrive. There's never a dull moment in our high volume, fast paced environment!

Our ideal candidate loves to keep busy, and finds fully engaging in work to be rewarding. They are confident, energetic, and eager to jump right in to help their store be successful. We count on our team members to be reliable, trustworthy, and able to be adaptable and multi-task in a fast paced environment. Having a positive attitude and customer friendly personality makes work more fun for the entire team! All positions require the ability to be on your feet for 8-10 hours a day, some require ladder work, and some areas of responsibility require regularly lifting up to 40 lbs.

Mostly private rooms in completely furnished housing are available for seasonal team members for the low rate of $250/month.  All housing units include free laundry facilities, and kitchens stocked with dishes and cookware, full-size beds, linens, pillows, and towels. We have a few shared rooms at a discounted rate. Housing units are no pets, no drinking, no smoking or vaping. Must be 18 and over to live in housing. 

Our team members enjoy...

• An employee discount on merchandise

• Competitive wages including an end of season bonus

• Working inside out of the rain

• Working right next to the cruise ship docks

• Small town hospitality 

• Beautiful nature trails within walking distance

• A seasonal bus pass

• Return airfare to anywhere within the 50 United States with a completed contract

Ketchikan is served year round by Alaska Airlines for the quickest way to arrive. The Alaska Marine Highway ferry system can be accessed in Bellingham, Washington for a scenic ocean voyage to our island. 

All of Tongass Trading’s stores and housing units are within walking distance of each other or on the borough’s bus system.  Some drive, some bike but most find walking and the bus to be the easiest way to get around town.

Our team members enjoy exploring one of the most beautiful places on earth through hiking the numerous trails in the Tongass National Forest, bon-fires on the beach and picnics at the lake.  Ketchikan has a library, and a complete recreation center sporting a pool and water fun center. Of course an Alaskan experience would not be complete without doing some sports fishing in the “Salmon Capital of the World” from shore or by boat. Other activities our team members participate in are local tours, paddle boarding, game nights, hammocking, whale watching, shopping and jumping in the ocean.