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If you have been following our Blog you will have noticed a gap in recent postings. 

Our sincerest apologies. Unfortunately, we have been dealing with a family health emergency for the past month and are only now getting back to normal. 

During our absence, Radiant Pictures of Los Angeles filmed a television commercial in Thomas Studios on behalf of Suzuki Motors. The commercial will be telecast in Japan.

Last Samurai Co-Star Ken Watanabe was the principle actor in the Japanese commercial.

Thank you for choosing Thomas Studios. It was a privilege to host your production, and an honor to have Mr. Watanabe working in our studio.

You may have noticed our Blog postings have been extremely light lately. 

Software upgrades to our Blog platform have been creating chaos for the past few months and every time we posted, a programmer from our development team had to go in and fix the code.

Today, my Project Manager informed me that the development team "Thinks" they have solved the problem. 

Accordingly, THIS IS A TEST. If you see any broken links, missing images, or truncated text, you, and the world, will know they have failed.

Meanwhile, we thank you for your patience and understanding.

Vancouver rockers Hollywood Hoodlums recently filmed their latest Rock Video DVD at Thomas Studios. 

Check out their music . . . . tight and smooth!

Thanks guys. It was a pleasure hosting your shoot at Thomas Studios.

Come back and see us again soon.

We have just returned from an exhausting Halloween buying trip and thought we should bring a new 2013 Halloween developing trend to your attention . . . . CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP Halloween theatrical contact lenses.

Seriously, we could not believe how many vendors we ran across selling really cheap Halloween Contacts. 

Curious about this phenomenon, we struck up a conversation with one such vendor who bragged that his company owner used to work for the company from which we purchase our Halloween Contacts. He went on to point out that all of the designs were basically the same. When asked, he admitted that his boss "ripped off" the designs from our supplier and was producing their Halloween contacts in the Philippines. 

He also told us that their lenses were basically disposable, whereas the Halloween contacts sold by Thomas FX are of a much higher quality, can be worn for 30 consecutive days, or can last for many years if used more sparingly and cared for properly. 

So buyer beware, the market this Halloween will be flooded with really cheap contact lenses made in the Philippines. They may not be of the highest quality. The fit may not be very comfortable. The paint used to create the designs might hurt your eyes . . . . . But they will be CHEAP . . . Likely in the range of $29 - $39 a pair.

In contrast the Halloween contact lenses sold by Thomas FX are supplied by a company in the USA from the highest quality materials. They are manufactured by a highly reputable company, have been tested and approved by the FDA, and are both comfortable and safe to wear. We sell these high quality Halloween contact lenses for $59.99 a pair, and each pair comes with a free contact lens storage case. Betty has several pairs, some of which she bought 3 years ago, and they are all still in good shape and still comfortable to wear.

This year we will be offering quite a few new and innovative designs so stay tuned . . . more choices are on the way and will be in our store, and in our online store, very soon. We also offer a large selection of stunning Custom Halloween Contacts and Sclera Contacts by special order (allow 3 - 4 weeks for delivery). 

If you only plan to wear your Halloween contact lenses once, don't care if they might not be very comfortable, and aren't concerned about the fact that they might hurt your eyes, then you might as well save the extra $20 and take a chance. Please just don't complain that the lenses we sell cost $20 more than the really cheap lenses. They are simply NOT the same product.

Somewhere in the world the sun is shining on a Thomas FX customer right now . . . . 24 hours a day! 

In fact, after 45 years in business, we now have customers in so many countries around the planet that the sun quite literally never sets on Thomas FX customers. 

Thank you everyone . . . . Thank you world!

Through our ongoing commitment to providing outstanding service, no matter where our customers live or work, we have become experts in Global Logistics and are able to land critical production supplies anywhere on the planet in unlimited quantities, on time, and on budget every time.

We have gone to great expense to make doing business with us easy. As a result, customers can and do shop online in our dynamic web store 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

If you are not relying on Thomas FX to supply entertaining special effects production supplies for your current project . . . .WHY NOT? 

Contact Us . . . . Our prices are competitive and our service is second to none.

How can we help you today?

What is the best part of working in film production?

The Money? . . . Freedom? . . .The Buzz? . . . Bragging Rights? . . . Hotties?

From this person's point of view, it is all that great free food!

Imagine walking into a 5-star restaurant, having a great meal, then leaving without having to pay . . . OR . . . imagine walking into a top notch bakery, Starbucks, or candy store, helping yourself to anything you wanted then walking away without paying!

Film crews nearly always work long hours . . . day after day . . . sometimes for months without a day off (if they are lucky). In addition, crews can often start work at 6 or 7 am, then end up working through the night.

To make all of that craziness a little bit more bearable, production managers pamper their crews by providing tables full of goodies and truckloads full of really good hot food. So, hats off to all of those wonderful folks who work in Craft Services and Catering. They make life worth living! . . . . Well anyway, they certainly make it easier to get through a hectic day.

At the end of last week, we went out to the boulevard in front of Thomas FX and Thomas Studios and took a few photos of the Edible Planet catering truck that Manifesto Films had brought in to feed their crew while filming in our studio. This was one of the sharpest Catering rigs we have ever seen. Nicely done ladies!

Thomas FX is constantly searching for ways to improve communications with its customers and enhance the level of customer service we deliver. 

We are also interested in reaching out to new potential customers around the planet. 

Accordingly, we have an opening for an online marketing communications intern. This will be a temporary unpaid intern position. However if the successful candidate generates dramatic results, this could morph into a real job . . . Stranger things have happened.

This opportunity is ideal for a well advanced online marketing or internet communications student who is looking for a meaningful practicum. The ideal candidate will gain valuable experience working with our CEO, developing an aggressive marketing proposal, then implementing cutting edge internet software. 

During the practicum at Thomas FX, the candidate will interface with members of the Thomas FX team, with the leading web development firm in Canada, with BC's leading online marketing team, and with software developers in the United States.

If you know someone, or some educational institution, that might be interested in this opportunity, please direct them to this blog. 

Today is Cyber Monday and we are continuing our Black Friday blowout sale until the end of this week. 

Special thanks to everyone who stopped by during the Black Friday Sale last week and congratulations . . . everyone walked away with HUGE savings. 

Please let your family and friends know that they can still take advantage of Black Friday Savings until the end of this week. 

If you can't make it into our store, do take advantage of the Cyber Monday savings in our online store.

Please check the Thomas FX Facebook page for details and coupon codes.

Attention All Canadians... And Americans Too! 

This year you don’t have to travel to the U.S.A. to enjoy Black Friday SAVINGS. Now everyone can take advantage of BLACK FRIDAY . .  INCLUDING DOOR CRASHER SPECIALS at . . . Thomas FX. For example . . . Animated Winged Reaper and the Animated Pestilence Reaper . . . Both originally priced at $499.99, will be sold on Friday at $99.99, while quantities last.

November 23, walk / run / slither to our store in North Vancouver for savings that are too outrageous to list here. 

BONUS... You don't have to fight the crowds on Friday to SAVE!  All items will be on sale in our North Vancouver store on Friday, then available online till Sunday November 25'th  for our US Online customers. 

Check our website www.thomasfx.com for further information. You can also look for our Black Friday Blowout Sale Savings on the Thomas FX Facebook page.

Another shipment of Christmas Window Display Snow is outbound today. This shipment is destined for the Tommy Hilfiger chain of retail stores for use in their Christmas Display Windows. 

Tommy Hilfiger stores will be using our Extra Fine Display Snow for their displays this year, and every Tommy Hilfiger store throughout North America will be incorporating artificial snow from Thomas FX in their Christmas Displays. 

We offer Display Designers more than 100 types of artificial snow and ice products to choose from, and we even have colored snow as well. Another advantage for customers is our ability to customize their orders of snow and ice.

Thank you Tommy Hilfiger, and a Merry Christmas to one and all. We loved working with your people. 

ON ANOTHER TOPIC . . . . 

A word of caution: 

If you want our company to customize your snow order, we will ship "exactly" what you ask us to produce. Please take whatever time you feel is needed to fully understand our products and then be very clear about what you want to ask us for, then triple confirm your order before we start manufacturing, because with custom orders once we make it, and the order is shipped, you own it. 

In our 44 years in business we have only had a less than fulfilling experience with one or two customers. For example . . . A buyer came into our store earlier this year, viewed all available snow products in our sample room, chose two kinds of snow, walked away with a number of free samples of his favorites plus a few alternative options, then asked us to manufacture a custom blend of his two favorite kinds of snow. 

We did this for the customer, in the process, bending many of our standard operating procedures to accommodate this demanding customer's unique needs. Then a month after we had shipped the custom manufactured product, our customer called to tell us that "his interpretation" of our snow was different from ours.

Seriously . . . After you held the snow products in your hands, walked away with actual samples of the snow you were considering, and worked with the free samples for several weeks before placing your order, and then changed your mind several times after you issued a purchase order, but happily BEFORE we started manufacturing, you call us one month AFTER receiving your shipment to complain because your boss didn't like the snow that YOU designed? . . . Only in Canada could such a thing happen.

Time and time again we provide amazing snow products accompanied by equally amazing customer service. This is why the Thomas FX brand is well known in 51 countries around the world, and why we have succeeded in a challenging industry, and in a more than challenging economy, when others have failed. 

We understand that no company gets to stay in business by disappointing customers. However, no matter what we do, once in awhile we run across someone who simply can not, and WILL NOT, be satisfied no matter what extreme measures we have gone to in accommodating their demands. Sorry about that. Happily this only happens once every decade or two. 

Snow season is indeed upon us as we ship out more orders of Thomas FX artificial snow & ice to US based retail chains. 

We are proud to announce that every one of the Ralph Lauren retail stores will be decorating their Christmas windows this year with realistic looking artificial snow and ice products from our company. 

The artificial snow and ice products that are manufactured by Thomas FX are of the highest quality and are among the most realistic fake snow and ice products in the world. 

For the past 44 years, Thomas FX has been widely acknowledged as a global leader in artificial snow and ice by film and television industry special effects professionals around the planet. 

It is gratifying to be acknowledged by film industry peers, and now by display designers and professionals in the retail display industry as well.

We enjoy working with display designers, helping them to develop unique presentations that will showcase their products and brands in an entertaining manner.

If you want to stand out from the crowd, involve us early and we will work with you to develop something special.

Just as our busy Halloween retail season was wrapping up, we completed the manufacture and shipping of a large order of Thomas FX artificial display snow to the Aritzia chain of stores in the United States and Canada.

Last year Aritzia turned to Thomas FX for help decorating Christmas window displays in the new flagship store in Soho, New York.

In 2011, we supplied Aritzia Designers with falling snow machines as well as a quantity of our eco-friendly biodegradable SNO-FX artificial snow flakes.

Working closely with the Aritzia design team this year, we came up with a custom mixed snow product that was manufactured specifically for their needs. This year, every store in the Aritzia chain, throughout North America, will dress their windows with our biodegradable display snow, including both the Soho store and the new Broadway & Fifth Avenue store.

Thomas FX is proud to be the supplier of choice for the prestigious Aritzia chain, and for many other high end retail stores in New York.

Thank you Aritzia for placing your trust in us once again this year. We enjoy collaborating with your design team and we truly appreciate having another opportunity to help present your products to Christmas shoppers in an entertaining manner.

Best wishes from all of us at Thomas FX for a successful and profitable Christmas retail season in 2012!

2011 Aritzia Soho Flagship Store Window Display Featured Thomas FX Falling Snow Flakes

Just as our busy Halloween retail season was wrapping up, we completed the manufacture and shipping of a large order of Thomas FX artificial display snow to the Aritzia chain of stores in the United States and Canada.

Last year Aritzia turned to Thomas FX for help decorating Christmas window displays in the new flagship store in Soho, New York.

In 2011, we supplied Aritzia Designers with falling snow machines as well as a quantity of our eco-friendly biodegradable SNO-FX artificial snow flakes.

Working closely with the Aritzia design team this year, we came up with a custom mixed snow product that was manufactured specifically for their needs. This year, every store in the Aritzia chain, throughout North America, will dress their windows with our biodegradable display snow, including both the Soho store and the new Broadway & Fifth Avenue store.

Thomas FX is proud to be the supplier of choice for the prestigious Aritzia chain, and for many other high end retail stores in New York.

Thank you Aritzia for placing your trust in us once again this year. We enjoy collaborating with your design team and we truly appreciate having another opportunity to help present your products to Christmas shoppers in an entertaining manner.

Best wishes from all of us at Thomas FX for a successful and profitable Christmas retail season in 2012!

2011 Aritzia Soho Flagship Store Window Display Featured Thomas FX Falling Snow Flakes

$50 Off Orders of $500 Or More + Free Firework Gift

At last! . . . Halloween is finally here! As a surprise treat for all fireworks customers, today we will give everyone who purchases more than $500 . . . . a $50 discount at the checkout desk.

In addition, everyone who purchases fireworks at our store will receive a surprise gift . . . . a complimentary firework!

We look at your fireworks order then we add something, at no cost to you, that we feel will enhance your show.

When you consider the fact that we pre-select our fireworks, eliminating the lame ones, Thomas FX is the best place to buy "really good fireworks".

With a free gift, and a $50 discount off larger orders, today is definitely the day to buy your fireworks at Thomas FX.

PS: Don't forget to shop in our 'Dark Zone' for those last minute Halloween props and decorations!

At Thomas FX We Only Sell . . . "WOW!"

Our Annual Fireworks Sale has just begun and sales are brisk.

Thomas FX has been selling serious pyrotechnics to movie industry professionals for the past 44 years.

As a result, we know how to buy really good fireworks. If the fireworks available from our distributor do not impress us, we do not offer them for sale in our store.

Yes, you can buy from a pop-up fireworks vendor in local grocery store, car lot, restaurant, or vacuum cleaner store, and take your chances on buying "so so" fireworks . . . . OR . . . . you can make a trip to the North Shore and purchase from people who only sell the best available fireworks products.

We will work within your budget and have people standing by to help put a show together that will entertain your family, neighbors, and friends. Every fireworks customer will receive a free surprise. We look at each person's show, then add a little something at the checkout that we think will improve their presentation.

At Thomas FX, we don't play the pricing games that pop-up vendors usually play . . . doubling the price then advertising a 50% discount. We sell our products at the manufacturer's suggested retail pricing. However, we take the guesswork out of your purchase by pre-selecting only the best fireworks effects, we offer free advice on how to build your show, we take the pain out of the permitting process, then give you a free surprise. In other words, we add value to your experience of doing business with us. That is part of how we make a difference in our community and in our world.

We will also help you to complete your Fireworks Permit. This year District of North Vancouver Fireworks Permits are $2 each. A permit will allow you to purchase, transport, and legally use fireworks in the District of North Vancouver between the hours of 6:00 pm and 12:00 midnight on October 31'st.

If you do not live in the District of North Vancouver, or will be using your fireworks at a location other than your D.N.V. home, you will have to check with that local Fire Department to determine what the rules are in that area. Fireworks may not be purchased by anyone under the age of 18. Anyone under the apparent age of 25 will be asked for photo identification.

Have fun with your fireworks, but PLEASE follow the rules. Don't do anything stupid like holding lit fireworks in your hand and aiming them at people. Play Safe and Stay Safe this Halloween!

Let  Me Be Clear

For the record, I want to make it really clear to everyone . . . . Despite what people are saying about us on Facebook . . . . We are NOT a "haunted house".

At Thomas FX we display our products and props in a creative manner designed to give our customers ideas about how to use them to best advantage. We incorporate theatrical lighting, sound effects, animatronics, black lights and even lasers to showcase our products.

The result is unlike any other retail shopping experience you have ever encountered and a lot of people describe our store as being like a "haunted house".



Another way in which we are different is our staff. Nobody here is on a sales commission. When you arrive at our store you will be greeted by one of our "personal shoppers", and you will encounter many more before you leave us.

We want people to be able to shop in complete comfort without being distracted by, or encumbered with, their purchases. Other stores force you to carry your purchases around their premises. At Thomas FX, we take care of that for you.

When one of our personal shoppers sees you with a purchase they will offer to take your merchandise to the cash desk leaving you free to experience the other merchandise we have on display . . . Then, when you are ready to checkout, your order will already be waiting for you at one of our cashier stations. Don't worry . . . . nobody is going to try and sell you anything.

Experience Extreme Service At Thomas FX

We have trained our staff to answer your questions, to be interested in the theme you are working with, to offer suggestions that might augment what you are hoping to accomplish, and to deliver a level of customer service that you will not encounter at any other retail store.

If you are one of our regular shoppers you love all of this about us. However, if you are new to our store you might be surprised at first until you get the hang of it. Relax and enjoy the experience of being pampered!

We are all here to help you make Halloween 2012 your best ever.

PS: If you are looking for a Haunted House to entertain the kids, taking them to Fright Nights at the PNE, or to any of your neighbourhood's haunted attractions would be a good idea.

Get Full Details On The Thomas FX Facebook Page

Yesterday we launched a Loyalty reward Coupon for our Facebook Fans . . . full details on the Thomas FX Facebook page.

LIKE us on Facebook and share with your friends. Get a Loyalty Discount Coupon for 10% off your Online purchases on the Thomas FX Online Halloween Store.

The 10% coupon can be used in our North Vancouver bricks'n mortar store as well.

We have never offered a coupon of this nature before so it will be interesting to see how many people take advantage of the instant savings.

Several people people LIKE this and a some have already shared with their friends.

Sleep Country Canada
Why Shop Anywhere Else?

Update: After my horrendous experience at the Sleep Country Canada store, and after the store manager told me "Get out of my store right now!",

I drove home and called Visa. I told them what had happened and they filed a claim and put a freeze on the Sleep Country Canada charge against my account, following which they were going to contact Sleep Country Canada's bank and advise them the charge was under dispute.

Coincidentally, today we received a call from Sleep Country Canada advising us that they were going to refund the full amount of our purchase . . . Not that they had any choice in the matter. They apologized for "any inconvenience this might have caused".

They did not apologize for the conduct of their employees.

They did not apologize for the fact that their store manager did not have the authority to resolve a customer dispute.

They did not apologize for the fact that their store manager had ordered me out of his store without making any attempt to resolve the problem.

From now on, I am going to "Shop Somewhere Else". Thanks Christine! Nice commercials . . . Your business . . . Not so nice.



The Back Story  Let me tell you why I am going to shop somewhere else, and likely why you might consider shopping somewhere else as well.

A week ago I purchased two beds from the Sleep Country Canada store in North Vancouver. Delivery was rescheduled for this afternoon between 3-6 pm so my wife and I waited at home all day waiting  for our two beds to be delivered.

Unfortunately, when the truck arrived (4:00) it turned out that the delivery driver was afraid of dogs. I assured him that the dogs would not harm him but he demanded that we lock up our dogs before he would deliver our new beds.

When I refused to lock up my dogs the driver then refused to make the delivery.

My next step was to drive to the Sleep Country Canada store in North Vancouver to get a refund. When I told the manager that his driver had refused to deliver our beds, he told me that "he had a right to protect himself" . . . from what I do not know. These dogs are perfectly safe under my supervision.

Regardless, since his driver had refused to deliver our beds, I told him that nobody tells me what to do on my property and demanded a refund in full. The Manager then gave me a song and dance about, how he was not authorized to give refunds, and about some process involving customer service in some other office. I told him that I wanted my money back right away and handed him the credit card I had used to purchase the beds.

He refused to take my card.. I assume he didn't like my confrontational "attitude" because he ordered me out of his store. When I again asked for my money back he told one of his staffers to call 911!

For the record, the Sleep Country Canada policy, according to the brochure they provided with my invoice, states that no refunds will be allowed after delivery. Since they refused to deliver my purchase, I am entitled to a refund in full.

So, first the Sleep Country Canada driver refused to deliver my purchase because he has an unnatural fear of dogs . . . then the Sleep Country Manager refused to give me a refund . . . then the Sleep Country Manager called 911!!!!!  Completely frustrated and infuriated at this point, I told him in no uncertain terms what he could do with himself.

So why the Consumer Alert? In a world that is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate in I think it is only fair and proper than when someone runs into a vendor who refuses to deal fairly with its customers, people should be made aware.

Was I angry? . . . You bet . . . I waited all day for this delivery.

Was I frustrated? . . . You bet . . . I do not understand why people cannot simply do their jobs.

Was I irate? . . . Eventually, you bet . . . This situation never should have gotten to this point.

Was I rude? . . . You bet I was . . . I told those people exactly what I thought of them.

The Sleep Country Canada people promote themselves with the following promises:

- "No hassle"
- "Mistake Proof"
- "Express Delivery and Setup

Today, when dealing with me, Sleep Country Canada failed to deliver on every one of its promises, so far as I am concerned, their value proposition is completely unfounded based on my dealings with them.

I will NEVER deal with Sleep Country Canada again. What you do is up to you, but "eyes wide open". Be prepared for disappointment, you can just as easily be treated the same way that I was today, and they can take your money too, refuse to deliver the products you purchased, then call the police if you demand a refund.

Why am I blogging about this experience? . . . . Because efforts to deal with Sleep Country Canada have failed and their corporate website does not allow people to post reviews.

How could Sleep Country Canada have avoided this situation?

1) Properly trained delivery personnel
2) Properly trained store personnel
3) Managers with the authority to resolve customer problems effectively.
4) A customer service policy that puts customer satisfaction ahead of profits.

We have been furiously receiving and merchandising container loads of unique quality Halloween Props and have finally managed to display our 2012 Collection of Halloween Masks.

This is our best assortment of collector masks ever. They are made for us in Central America and painted by hand. Each mask is literally a work of art that must be seen to be believed.

These masks are designed to be modified for a custom fit to the shape of one individual's head.

For sanitary reasons however, we do not let people try the masks on. After all, would you feel comfortable wearing a mask that 40 or 50 people might have already tried on? Yuk!

This year we have a number of smaller less expensive masks for serious little haunters.

It is going to take a week or so to get all of these onto our website, but please keep visiting our Masks & Costume Accessories online store category.

Meanwhile, our bricks and mortar store is open today until 2:00 so feel free to stop by.

The Other Candidate