d.MBA cover image

d.MBA

101- LEGO - Business Design Teardown

Jan 17, 2024
The podcast discusses the history of LEGO, their pivot from wood to plastic, and their use of franchising and IP to turn things around. They also compare LEGO's revenue to companies like Nintendo and Fortnite, explore the ownership structure of a LEGO investment office, and highlight LEGO's impressive growth and smart retail strategy. The discussion includes topics such as licensing and manufacturing costs, as well as LEGO's strategic initiatives like focusing on sustainability and merging digital and physical experiences.
01:42:52

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Lego's strategic shift towards creating themed sets and implementing licensing deals with popular brands helped them overcome market challenges and become the largest toy maker in the world.
  • Lego's recognition of adult fans, known as AFOLs, and their emphasis on IP partnerships and storytelling tapped into a new market and sparked enthusiasm among collectors, solidifying their success.

Deep dives

The Birth of Lego: From Wooden Toys to Plastic Bricks

Lego started as a wooden toy company in 1932, but eventually pivoted to plastic bricks in the 1940s. The introduction of the Lego brick, with its innovative locking mechanism, became a game-changer for the company. They focused on creating a system of play, with themes and sets that could work together. Over time, they expanded their product line and implemented licensing deals with popular brands like Star Wars and Harry Potter, which further expanded their reach and fan base. They also embraced storytelling and collectibles, creating characters and stories that resonated with fans. This strategic shift helped Lego overcome challenges in the market and propelled them to become the largest toy maker in the world.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode