From a car boot full of fishing gloves in the 1980s to a family business with several shops in Tromsø. The story of Jobb og Fritid is one of quality, strong relationships and values passed down through generations – always with customers at the centre.
The story of Jobb og Fritid began back in the 1980s, when founder Oddleif Johansen started selling fishing gloves directly from the boot of his car in Tromsø.
What started small grew quickly into something larger. Oddleif eventually rented premises at Skansen in Tromsø, where the main focus remained workwear for the fishing industry – a sector that has always been a cornerstone of Northern Norway.
As the customer base grew, the shop was expanded and moved to Grønnegata. Together with his wife, Anne Harriet, Oddleif built up a popular shop with a broader range. Customers could find everything from children's clothing and outdoor wear to high-quality workwear.
When the time came for new opportunities, the business moved on to Langnes, specifically to the premises by the SATS centre. From there, growth continued before Jobb og Fritid established itself in an approximately 1,000 square metre space at Jekta Storsenter – Northern Norway's largest shopping centre.
Jobb og Fritid has always been a family business, and that is very much at the heart of everything. Two of Oddleif's sons, Geir Arne and Eivind Johansen, began working in the business at an early age. They started on the shop floor as sales assistants and built up valuable experience over many years in customer relations, products and day-to-day operations.
In 2024 they took over responsibility for the business and carried on the family's life's work. Today, the next generation is also part of Jobb og Fritid. Several of Geir Arne and Eivind's children work in the business, and the family story lives on through new generations who share the same values and dedication to customers.
Throughout all these years, one thing has been especially important to us: the people who have chosen to shop with us. We are enormously grateful to all the loyal customers who have followed us through several decades. Many have been with us since the very early years, and several generations of families have shopped at Jobb og Fritid. That trust means everything to us.
Since Oddleif passed away, his legacy has become even more important to honour. Jobb og Fritid is still run according to the same principles he established back in the 1980s – the desire to offer good quality, personal service and a solid range of products to people in Northern Norway.
Today Jobb og Fritid comprises several departments. In addition to the shop at Jekta Storsenter, we have opened a dedicated Bedriftsenter in the former postal terminal at Langnes (Kvaløyvegen 329), as well as a large, modern shop at Veita Senter in the heart of Tromsø city centre.
We are also proud to be a certified Miljøfyrtårn business. For us, sustainability is about more than a label – it is about taking responsibility for the future. We want to inspire both customers and partners to choose quality that lasts, rather than products that quickly need replacing.
Through conscious choices, solid brands and a long-term outlook, we aim to contribute to more sustainable consumption – in working life, outdoor life and everyday life alike.
Although much has changed since those first fishing gloves were sold from a car boot in the 1980s, the core idea remains the same: to be a reliable, local and knowledgeable supplier that puts customers first.
It is this combination of family, experience, expertise and genuine commitment that makes Jobb og Fritid the company it is today – and that will carry us forward for many years to come.
