At Concert Properties, wellness extends beyond offering healthy snacks to employees—it’s about encouraging creativity and building a positive workplace culture. One shining example of this is Gollum’s Snack Review: a playful video series—created by Property Management Assistant, Thomas Sprott—where a small Gollum doll humorously critiques the snacks provided at our Vancouver head office.
What began as a quirky hobby for Thomas has since evolved into a weekly ritual. With Gollum’s commentary brought to life by a carefully selected AI-generated voice and snapchat filters, the videos are posted on the office’s internal communications platform, where employees eagerly share their thoughts and reactions after each episode.
It all started with a simple need. “I was taking online video editing courses, and I needed content to edit. The Gollum doll my brother gifted me many Christmases ago was just sitting there, and one thing led to another.”
Now, colleagues from across the company regularly stop Thomas in the hallways to chat about their favourite episodes. “It’s nice getting positive feedback from employees that I do not routinely work with. I’m surprised anyone watches them, so when someone stops me and says, ‘Hey! I liked that raisin episode,’ I feel like I turn three shades of red, I get giggly and it’s hard to maintain eye contact.”
Thomas attributes the success of the videos to their humour and relatability. “I hope it’s the humour that resonates with staff,” he says. “Perhaps they also share many of Gollum’s opinions? I’m not sure.”
The simplicity of the videos is part of what makes them special. Thomas films each review in just five minutes using Snapchat filters. He writes the script and edits the video during his SkyTrain commute, making it a seamless part of his daily routine.
Thomas believes that humour plays a big role in creating a positive work environment. “People laughing together at the same thing is a gentle bonding moment. If someone at work routinely makes me laugh, I enjoy going to work more.”
Producing the videos has also deepened Thomas’s gratitude for Concert Properties. “I appreciate working at a company that values humour and doesn’t mind being the subject of a little fun. That’s huge for me,” he adds.
Beyond the snack reviews, this creative energy has sparked other, more formal projects. With the skills he developed, Thomas now documents events like tenant appreciation days and property management team-building activities, further contributing to Concert Properties’ vibrant corporate culture.
Looking ahead, Gollum’s snack adventures are evolving, with holiday specials like the Halloween episode already posted, and a Christmas special on the way.
In a workplace, it’s often the small things that make the biggest difference. At Concert Properties, Gollum’s Snack Review is just that—a reminder to take a break and have a laugh. To get a taste of the humour, check out one of our favourite episodes, Gollum’s Snack Review - Episode 2.