Reginold Thompson stands slightly hunched over, the result of years spent lifting 50-pound crates of fish. The Virginia native spent much of his life working in Alaska's fishing industry. He moved to The Last Frontier seeking money and a new experience.
"It was cold out there, but I wanted to see Alaska for myself," Reggie said. "I wanted to experience the place that I had read about in the magazines."
In 1997 Reggie left Alaska for Seattle. He was able to find some occasional day labor, but nothing was as profitable and consistent as selling Real Change. In 2009 Reggie began selling Real Change regularly.
With day labor, he said, "they run out of jobs so I couldn't do it every day, but with Real Change, I could go and get my papers and I wouldn't have to worry about having a blank day."
One of the other benefits that Real Change offered was the opportunity to write. Reggie has been a regular contributor to the Real Change blog since he started selling paper. He loves writing, photography, art and poetry. He began writing poetry in Alaska after he was stranded in a truck between two Alaskan cities.
"My truck broke down, I only had a pen and some paper and I just started to write," he said. "I didn't have anything else to do."
Reggie hopes to continue to write about his experiences and about what moves him, possibly a memoir.
As for his sales work, it is not always easy, Reggie said, but consistency helps.
"If you continue to stay with it, you will have success. You will be able to create a presence," he said.
"One thing that I found out is that if I am there for the people, things will work out. Sales are good, but you need to have service too. Sales skills are no good without service."
Donning his trademark glasses, Reggie sells outside Specialty's Cafe & Bakery on Third and Spring streets. Reggie's New Year's resolution is, "to navigate my way toward success. I am trying to add some extra customers, younger readers, I want to bring new people into the Real Change world," he said. "I know they like their American Idol, but they also need to know what is going on."