WesternOutlaw Posted March 7, 2007 Posted March 7, 2007 As I was reading Lego's 2/21/07 news release regarding 2006 being a very profitable year for Lego, I couldn't help to note the following which talks about why. The news release states, "The increase in revenue is evenly distributed on the Group Quote
Berry Syedow Posted March 7, 2007 Posted March 7, 2007 Is it because of the AFOL? How many of the SW AFOL fans buy other LEGO products? (I'll get to that later.) 2006 was a good year to be sure, but I'd be careful in making these kind of statements, especially if some of the new AFOL oriented sets fall through. (I'll be happy to eat my words, though! X-D) Too much of a good thing can be bad (especially this clich Quote
Asuka Posted March 7, 2007 Posted March 7, 2007 Is it because of the AFOL? How many of the SW AFOL fans buy other LEGO products? (I'll get to that later.) Too much of a good thing can be bad (especially this clich Quote
Zaktan of the Shadows Posted March 7, 2007 Posted March 7, 2007 Nice! AFOL's are making a difference. Its good for me... a bit. -ZotS Quote
Starwars4J Posted March 7, 2007 Posted March 7, 2007 I was talking earlier about this. See, it's great that they're coming out with these sets. Those wonderful (for the most part) Star Wars sets, the MF, the Corner Cafe...but I can't afford it all! And I doubt most AFOL could. These are wonderful sets, but I fear they may be competing with each other a bit. I just wished they had spaced the releases out a bit more. I still haven't gotten the playset ISD or the updated X-wing...now all this? Are you joking? I <3 ya, Lego, but you're killing me here. Or rather my wallet... Quote
WesternOutlaw Posted March 8, 2007 Author Posted March 8, 2007 Whether or not one buys the Cafe Corner, Classic SW, or other new set (in response to the comment regarding competing sets), Lego doesn't care. They want you to spend your money on Lego vs. other company's products. Yes, I strongly believe that a strong 2006 year for Lego is contributable to Lego going back to the basics. These classic themes are making a difference and unlike the mom of the small child who is debating whether or not to buy that $40 video game, a Megablock Pirate set, or a Lego Sponge Bob set, AFOL know exactly what they want (it's the classic sets). I don't believe that your average Lego Shop at Home customer is the small child, it's rather the AFOL that is buying these classic sets. Maybe I stand corrected, but I do believe that AFOL are the ones spending the high amounts per year on Lego. Lego has been successful due to their products. Those products (design) over the past years have been slipping. 2006 offered some great themes (new and old). They must realize that producing a good product = good sales. So far, 2007 has proven this with the theme variety and the quality of the designs. I would predict that 2007 will be an even better year for Lego. Quote
Scouty Posted March 8, 2007 Posted March 8, 2007 Like I said somewhere around this forum, I've always loved building. The overal finished set was great, sure, but I have alot of fun, and struggles "Where is that darnned piece!!!!!!!", with building these sets. It's great that Lego is geering towards originality, that Cafe Corner must be one of THE BEST sets this year, besides the Millenium Falcon. I really think Lego is turning Juniorisation down low. My lovely Ten Dollars on the Matter :-) . Quote
jngunsw Posted May 28, 2007 Posted May 28, 2007 (edited) hope this is a turning point... not just a mere nice moment for lego ^^ long live lego ^^ Edited May 28, 2007 by Hobbes Quote
snefroe Posted May 28, 2007 Posted May 28, 2007 i don't think the afols have anything to do with the succes of the classic lines. city sells in large numbers because small boys are interested in the firefighting theme, police sets, airplanes,... Parents are buying duplo again because probably they grew up with duplo 25 years ago... technic a success? weird... i just heard from several shopowners that technic still does not sell. it's kinda difficult to say what lines sell or don't sell if you're forced to buy mixed packages of lego sets, so if you buy 10 city sets because that sells pretty well, you're also forced to buy a technic set or two. does that mean technic sells? don't think so. afols don't mean anything in terms of numbers compared to the number of general lego fans. besides, we've all been buying lego sets in the last 5-7 years, so afols buying city sets isn't really new since 2005-2006. that doesn't explain the improved results. it's just the general public that is buying lego again. sure, lego direct probably saw in increase in sales. after all, sets like the caf Quote
Asuka Posted May 28, 2007 Posted May 28, 2007 so in the end, for young boys who get lego from parents and family on all sorts of occasions, lego is still affordable if they're interested in city+exo force+some of the sw sets. I just observed at my local TRU that the AquaRaiders line is selling very well.... I think this could express a strong wanting for a somewhat "adventure orientated" theme.... Maybe we will see a return of an Adventure line in a future not so far away from us if TLC considers the success of their new line.... :'-) Quote
Mr Hobbles Posted May 28, 2007 Posted May 28, 2007 I think it's a bit of a double edged sword. One one hand, you have the AFOL's who are spending large amounts of money on LEGO several times a year. Big orders such as Cafe Corner, new city sets, trains etc. certainly help LEGO to make money. On the other hand, I'd imagine a lot of LEGO's custom comes from the parent who buys their child the ocasional small set, and a larger set for a birthday, christmas, etc. While these purchases are few and far between, there are a lot more small children out there than there are AFOL's! I believe both contribute to LEGO's success. Bringing out newly designed lines such as City, Castle, Mars Mission etc benefits both the AFOL and the child. To the child, they don't care how it builds as long as it looks cool once it's built. But for the AFOL's, they want sets that contain a nice selection of pieces (Smaller, rather than larger "<insert that tiresome argument>" pieces). Of course they want a set that looks good, but it's more about the build experience than playing with the end result. Both the new themes and the classic lines are excellent and appeal to both, which is where I think their success comes in. If City is anything is anything to go buy, the new sets look far better than the old 5-piece cars I've seen from 1999. Talk about <insert that tiresome argument>. The new City has a better build experience for both the AFOL's and the child, and provides more value for money for both. Quote
alex54 Posted May 28, 2007 Posted May 28, 2007 then there are the students: afols, but no money... X-O :-X but don't they always complain, students? besides, last time i checked, they do have lots of money, they just spend it on partying and booze X-D *sad* They are not all like that... But this problem of money will take end in few month for me (hope), I'm a futur ex-student, a new worker on the hard job market... Quote
Jipay Posted May 28, 2007 Posted May 28, 2007 It all comes down to copmike buying multi multiples of each SW set X-D Quote
snefroe Posted May 28, 2007 Posted May 28, 2007 It all comes down to copmike buying multi multiples of each SW set X-D yeah... and then he'll say 99% is actually not for him but for ras! X-D Quote
Mr Hobbles Posted May 28, 2007 Posted May 28, 2007 *sad* They are not all like that... But this problem of money will take end in few month for me (hope), I'm a futur ex-student, a new worker on the hard job market... Oi! As a student, I resemble that remark! :-P Actually we have very little cash, yet we still manage to spend it on alcohol. *wacko* That, plus a LEGO obsession, puts a big dent in the bank account. Quote
JINZONINGEN73 Posted May 28, 2007 Posted May 28, 2007 (edited) technic a success? weird... i just heard from several shopowners that technic still does not sell. I'm shocked if they were ever a success. I remember seeing ads on the back of comic books in the early, early 80's showing a construction vehicle Technic set. And it looked ridiculous. It KIND of had the shape, but it was still a pile of beams with holes. Seriously, was I going to bug my parents for a Star Wars figure, a Micronaut, a few packs of Wacky Packages... or a thing I actually had to set aside my impatience for and build, only to have the final product look incomplete anyway?!? Right, the Micronaut. :-D Going to the toy stores today, not much has changed, if not worse looking. Ugly stuff, though there are some out there who confound me by speaking fondly of past Technic years. Anyway, more the subject at hand, yes... there are way too many things for a person to buy this year. It can't lead to too bad a result though. They might be competing with themselves, but they're also sucking new consumers into the Lego vortex who will be there years from now, thanks to all the diverse, unique lines. The bad side I see is when they finally do downscale their amount of unique offerings, people will complain that they're "out of touch" for not paying attention to whatever type of line got them hooked. Edited May 28, 2007 by JINZONINGEN 73 Quote
Lord Admiral Helden Ravensdorn Posted May 28, 2007 Posted May 28, 2007 Market to a mature audience that will keep coming back for quality and you win. Market to a bunch of pre-10-year old idiots who will trash their sets and go back to videogames within 3 days of receiving them and you lose. Its that simple, Lego. Quote
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