I personally wouldn't buy packaged flies from just any company, atleast if I had to buy flies. I can however tell you, no matter what your buddy's experience level is, you couldn't go wrong with getting a bunch of Wooly Buggers, I stick to Black, but Olive and Brown are other proven killers.
Having little familarity with Portland area sport shops, maybe someone else will give you the name and location of a nearby(ish) fly shop if you don't know of one already, I know there is atleast one up that way.