The LEGO® Story

Summary

The script narrates the inspiring story of LEGO's origins, from the struggles of carpenter Ole Kirk Kristiansen to the innovative toy brand we know today. It details the hardships, creative solutions, and the unwavering commitment to quality that shaped LEGO's success. The narrative highlights the company's evolution from wooden toys to the iconic LEGO system, emphasizing the importance of imagination and creativity in children's play.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ole Kirk Kristiansen, a skilled carpenter, founded the LEGO company during a time of personal and financial hardship.
• 🏗️ The initial LEGO product was wooden toys, which Ole started making after losing his carpentry business.
• 👦 Ole's idea to make toys was inspired by his sons' joy with his small invention, leading him to believe there was a market for such products.
• 📈 The business began to grow after a wholesaler placed a large order for the high-quality wooden toys produced by Ole and his son Gottfried.
• 💸 A significant setback occurred when the wholesaler filed for bankruptcy, leaving Ole with a large stock of unsold toys.
• 🚗 Ole personally took on the task of selling the toys, which he managed to do successfully despite not being a natural salesman.
• 🔄 The company's name 'LEGO' was chosen for its meaning in Latin, 'I put together', which aligns with the building nature of their toys.
• 🔥 A devastating fire in 1942 destroyed the LEGO workshop, but Ole was determined to rebuild and continue the business.
• 🛠️ The introduction of a plastic molding machine allowed LEGO to expand its product line beyond wooden toys, eventually leading to the creation of the iconic LEGO bricks.
• 🧩 The development of the LEGO system of play, which enabled children to build houses and learn about traffic safety, was a breakthrough for the company.
• 🌐 Gottfried's idea to put LEGO into a system and focus on the construction aspect of the toys led to international success and the expansion of the LEGO universe.

Q & A

Who was the founder of the LEGO company?

The founder of the LEGO company was a skilled carpenter named Ole Kirk Christiansen.

What was the initial business of Ole Kirk Christiansen before he started making toys?

Ole Kirk Christiansen initially had his own carpentry company, but due to hard times, he had to dismiss his last worker and close down the workshop.

What event led Ole Kirk Christiansen to consider making toys?

Ole Kirk Christiansen got the idea to make toys after he created a little invention that made his sons very happy.

What was the first significant order for Ole's wooden toys?

The first significant order for Ole's wooden toys came from a wholesaler from Fredericia who was impressed with the quality of the toys.

What unfortunate event occurred after Ole received a large order from a wholesaler?

After receiving a large order, Ole found out that the wholesaler had filed for bankruptcy and couldn't buy the toys that had been ordered.

What did Ole Kirk Christiansen decide to do with the toys that couldn't be sold due to the wholesaler's bankruptcy?

Ole decided to drive around and sell the toys himself, despite not being a very good salesman.

What is the meaning of the name 'LEGO' in Latin?

In Latin, the word 'LEGO' means 'I put together'.

What was the breakthrough product that led to the success of LEGO's plastic toys?

The breakthrough product was the gray Ferguson tractor, which marked the success of LEGO's plastic toys.

What was Gottfried's idea to improve the clutch power of LEGO bricks?

Gottfried noticed that LEGO bricks had a better clutch power when they had tubes inside, leading to a whole construction system with endless possibilities.

What was the concept behind the 'LEGO System of Play'?

The 'LEGO System of Play' was designed to give children a realistic town setting to build houses from LEGO bricks, stimulating their imagination and creativity.

What significant infrastructure did Gottfried build to facilitate the global sale of LEGO toys?

Gottfried built an airport, Billund Airport, to make it easier to sell LEGO toys worldwide.

What was the visitor count for the first year of LEGOLAND?

In the first year, LEGOLAND had six hundred thousand visitors.

What is the core belief of the LEGO company regarding the quality of their products?

The core belief of the LEGO company is that 'only the best is good enough' because children deserve the best.