Interim result better than expected !!

[xwingyoda]

Just for those of you who pondered on TLC's financial results, here is a press release taken from their website here

Here are some quotes ;-)

Despite forecasts that sales would fall in 2007, the LEGO Group sold 5% more during the first half of the year than it did in the same period of 2006. Profit before tax for the first half year was DKK 173m compared with DKK 168m for the same period the previous year. The result is better than expected at the beginning of the year.

Boost for classic product lines

Sales during the first six months of this year were DKK 2,966m compared with DKK 2,821m in the corresponding months of 2006. The increase was due in particular to higher sales of such classic lines as LEGO City and LEGO TECHNIC and a range that has become a classic: the LEGO Star Wars line. The Group

[Shadows]

I'm amazed to see that Aqua Raiders is a success for them so far, but the line doesn't offend me too badly, so it's good to see things going so well.

Imagine how they'd do if they had just listened to us all along and reverted back to these more Classic style sets a few years ago. Take it a step further and reintroduce Pirates and watch what happens.

Indy will be their ace for the coming year though, as long as they get their production issues in check and ship product quickly and in large quantities.

Overall, welcome news, and hopefully just the sign they needed to be sure to take good care of the Classics!

[xwingyoda]

I'm amazed to see that Aqua Raiders is a success for them so far, but the line doesn't offend me too badly, so it's good to see things going so well.

Well, its a good theme but could have been way better and I really wonder if '08 will see more sets of that line. In shops, it doesn't seem that their stock is decreasing like SW and even city.

Imagine how they'd do if they had just listened to us all along and reverted back to these more Classic style sets a few years ago.

You know TLC and their fast reaction time X-D How many years have we, SW fans, wanted BPs and weapons ?? Several years so its normal 8-|

Overall, welcome news, and hopefully just the sign they needed to be sure to take good care of the Classics!

Indeed !! So here is what we have so far:

SW replaced Classic Space ( :-P and viewing MM, I doubt that we'll see more space per se), City is back (yeay !!), Castle will probably sell well and is becoming epic/classic so whats left ? Pirates 8-

[DB24]

Ah, excellent news! Good to see technic and city are successful as ever! *y*

Indy should only improve these numbers.

[Cabby]

Good news indeed.

I'm a bit surprised too, that Aqua Raiders is considered a success by TLC.

Or maybe are they naming it a success to help sales a bit ? :-| They wouldn't be the first to use such a strategy. ;-)

[Vader]

Great news, though i am surprised that SW is now considered classic.

[mutley777]

This is great news for lego fans! I only have to look at my bank balance to know lego is doing alright out of me :-D

Great news, though i am surprised that SW is now considered classic.

Really vader! The sets have come such a long way since the line stared back in 1999 and the sales figures seem to show that. 8 years of success means we can hope for many more years of great star wars sets!!

(god, have i really been collecting star wars lego for 8 years!! X-O )

[Siegfried]

This is great news. From what I have seen most themes seem to be selling well, even the overpriced Star Wars sets. Personally I think this year has been great in all themes and I am really looking forward to 2008....

[Paradosis]

Great news! And I agree that this will probably help keep Lego going more towards classics.

[EyesOnly]

Well with the bulldozer and PF in general i really think technic will be much more successful in the coming years. :'-) *wub* My higher paychecks will definitely help boost sales as well. X-D

[SirNadroj]

All this seems to be positive and it really points out the need for TLC to stick with classical lines that are always best sellers ;-) Nothing better than the basics I say !! And yes SW is now considered as classic for TLC which is great *sweet*

It will be interesting to see how Castle plays out in classic revival issue. I guess it will really help TLC to meet the expected new target for 2007, and even if not better ;-)

I guess it shows what 2008 can look like, more emphasis on classics (yeay) and maybe less crappy themes X-D One more hint for pirates in may 8-

[Batbrick]

This is great news! Thanks *yoda* !

This not only means that TLC is going successful, but that it is reverting back to classic sets!

Pirate theme seems close now! *wub*

And I'm glad AquaRaiders was a success!

Batbrick Away! >:-)

[Scouty]

One more hint for pirates in may 8-

[Batbrick]

Star Wars is classic now? Well I guess it deserves to be....

Why didn't I collect it then! :'-(

Oh well, It's also great to hear that City sold well, what with its far better sets this year, hopefully TLC will take a hint and realise that quality can equal cash! |-/

Good to know that the company seems to be slowly realising that classic sets are far better profit wise and buyer wise! *sweet*

Batbrick Away! >:-)

[Corvus]

In a way, this tells me that TLC is making money off of lowering plastic quality... :-/

Then again, it could be that the Castle theme is doing good. X-D

[MatthewUSA]

Thank you *yoda* for this news. I am very, very happy that City has been a success for TLC. This means that they will keep this theme going which is great news since I am a "Townie". I wonder if Trains is also considered a Classic. I hope TLC will keep the 9V system going as well. I think they have much more they could do with the Train line. ARE YOU GETTING THIS LEGO!! I HOPE SO.

[Brick Miner]

My favorite part of this positive report is that bionicle isn't mentioned. LEGO needs to focus on brick and plate sets... preferable in SYSTEM scale.

i also love hearing that an original LEGO concept based theme, like AR was a success. this gives us hope for other "high concept" themes created by LEGO that don't rely on outside media for support, like spongebob and batman. personally, i think LEGO will benefit in the long-run from having solid themes that aren't successful based on the success of outside trends.

i really liked the AR in concept and execution, castle 2007 and MM are good in concept but falling short in execution. although, even the later two have potential to be great LEGO-owned properties.

- BM

[Batbrick]

I understand how you didn't like the execution of the MM line Brick Miner, but what didn't you like about Castle 07? I though it was great personally.

You make a good point about the original lines, it is good to see LEGO being successful from those instead of just making money from licensed themes. I would hate for TLC to sell out even more!

Batbrick Away! >:-)

[Brick Miner]

I understand how you didn't like the execution of the MM line Brick Miner, but what didn't you like about Castle 07? I though it was great personally.

i like idea of a fantasy based castle line... with reanimated skeletons and other fantasy based creature... it's the prefect concept and direction for a medieval based theme. but based on the preliminary photos of the dwarf

[Batbrick]

Thanks, I see what you mean now, and I also partially agree with your thoughts on the Dwarf Mining, it doesn't seem "solid" enough to me if you get what I'm saying, a lot of features slapped together and then marketed as a mine. I still like it though, but I'll have to see a better pic before I make my judgement.

Batbrick Away! >:-)

[xwingyoda]

i like idea of a fantasy based castle line... with reanimated skeletons and other fantasy based creature... it's the prefect concept and direction for a medieval based theme. but based on the preliminary photos of the dwarf

[gylman]

http://www.strategy-business.com/media/file/sb48_07306.pdf

Not sure if it's worth it's own topic.

Some insight into what the Lego Company did when it turned around.

The reason for the colour changes is clear. Apparently their huge palette of colours which came from many different sources was a major supply cost problem.

Oh, and for what it's worth, I'm with Brickminer. Other than for the improved figs of course, CC 2007 has been a disappointment for me. I haven't bought a single one of those sets.

[Klaus-Dieter]

Thank you for that great news, xwingyoda!

It's great that the classic City products are sold so good because I like City very much. And what I've read here on EB until now there will be great City sets in 2008! (This year's harbor and container truck is great, too!)

I only hope that TLC is going to make smaller cars with doors because - like you already know - I don't like these big blocky vehicles.

Star Wars became classic, that's great, too because I like SW very much. This year's Hoth Rebel Base, the AT-ST, the AT-AT and the Imperial Landing Craft are very cool sets. I only hope that TLC is going to release new SW episode 4-6 products with many new (mainly imperial) minifigs in the future and isn't going to release only EU and Clone Wars sets - that would be joyless.

[xwingyoda]

I only hope that TLC is going to release new SW episode 4-6 products with many new (mainly imperial) minifigs in the future and isn't going to release only EU and Clone Wars sets - that would be joyless.

No worries on that ;-) Even though they expand a lot their line with CW, EU and FU, I'm sure that they'll continue to release OT and PT sets ;-)

Oh and BTW, bring back those small cars with doors ;-)

*yoda*

[Asuka]

http://www.strategy-business.com/media/file/sb48_07306.pdf

A very informative article, thanks for the link! *y*

Hmm.... I