The LEGO Story - How it all started

Summary

The script narrates the inspiring story of Lego's origin, starting from Ole Kirk Christiansen's carpentry business to the innovative plastic brick system. Ole's resilience and dedication to quality, alongside his son Godtfred's vision for a creative play system, transformed Lego into a global toy phenomenon. The narrative highlights the company's challenges, including fires and financial crises, and its triumphs, such as the introduction of the Lego system and Lego-Land, emphasizing the importance of imagination and quality in children's play.

Takeaways

• 🛠️ The origin of Lego traces back to a carpenter named Ole Kirk Christiansen, who started making toys during a difficult period in his life.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 Ole was motivated by the responsibility of caring for his four sons after the loss of his wife, which led him to innovate and venture into toy production.
• 🪵 Initially, Lego focused on wooden toys, using high-quality wood and meticulous craftsmanship, which eventually gained recognition and attracted a significant wholesale order.
• 📈 Despite facing setbacks such as the bankruptcy of a key wholesaler, Ole's perseverance led to the successful sale of all the toys, ensuring the family's survival and the continuation of the business.
• 🎁 The name 'Lego' was chosen by Ole, inspired by the Danish phrase 'Leg Godt' meaning 'Play Well', and it also means 'I put together' in Latin, reflecting the company's core product.
• 🔥 A devastating fire in 1942 destroyed the Lego workshop, but Ole's determination saw the company rebuild and return to the market with renewed vigor.
• 🧩 The introduction of plastic toys, including the iconic Lego bricks, marked a significant shift in the company's product line and contributed to its growing success.
• 🚜 The launch of the grey Fergus and tractor set was a milestone for Lego, signaling the beginning of the plastic toys' popularity and the expansion of the product range.
• 🏗️ The concept of a 'system of play' was introduced by Godtfred, Ole's son, which revolutionized the way children interacted with Lego, allowing for more creative and imaginative play.
• 💡 The realization that adding tubes to the Lego bricks improved their clutch led to the development of a versatile construction system that offered endless building possibilities.
• 🌐 The establishment of Billund airport by Godtfred was a strategic move to facilitate global sales and distribution of Lego products, demonstrating the company's ambition for worldwide reach.
• 🎡 The creation of Lego-Land was a visionary step by Godtfred to showcase Lego models and provide an immersive experience for visitors, which became a major attraction exceeding initial expectations.

Q & A

What is the origin of the name 'Lego'?

The name 'Lego' comes from the Danish phrase 'Leg Godt', which means 'Play Well'. Interestingly, in Latin, 'Lego' means 'I put together'.

Who was the founder of the Lego company?

The Lego company was founded by Ole Kirk Christiansen, a skilled and hard-working carpenter.

What event led Ole Kirk Christiansen to start making toys?

Ole started making toys after he had to dismiss his last worker due to financial difficulties and after losing his wife, as a way to support his four sons.

How did the Lego company initially struggle with sales?

Sales were initially slow because Ole was a skilled carpenter but not a very good salesman, and he didn't like promoting his own products.

What significant event helped Lego gain recognition for its wooden toys?

The recognition came when a wholesaler from Fredericia visited the workshop, was impressed by the quality of the wooden toys, and placed a large order.

What crisis did the Lego company face after the wholesaler placed a large order?

The company faced a crisis when the wholesaler filed for bankruptcy and couldn't buy the toys he had ordered, leaving Lego with a large stock of unsold toys.

How did Ole Kirk Christiansen personally handle the crisis with the unsold toys?

Ole personally packed the car with all the toys and drove around to sell them himself, even though he was not a good salesman.

What was the impact of the second World War on Lego's operations?

Despite the outbreak of the second World War, Lego tried to make the best out of a difficult time and continued its operations.

What catastrophic event nearly destroyed Lego's workshop and how was it overcome?

A fire in 1942 nearly destroyed the Lego workshop, along with all the drawings and models. Ole was inspired by his responsibility for his children and workers to rebuild Lego, and a new factory was constructed.

What innovation did Ole introduce with the plastic molding machine that changed Lego's product line?

Ole introduced the production of plastic toys, including teddy bears and rattles, and later redesigned and put plastic bricks into production, which eventually became the iconic Lego bricks.

What was the significance of the 'system of play' introduced by Lego and how did it evolve?

The 'system of play' allowed children to build houses and other structures from Lego bricks, providing a realistic town setting and promoting creativity and imagination. It evolved to include tubes inside the bricks for better clutch, creating a construction system with endless possibilities.

What was Godtfred's vision for Lego after Ole's passing and how did he implement it?

After Ole's passing, Godtfred focused on the Lego system, discontinued the production of wooden toys, and expanded the company's product line. He also built an airport to facilitate global sales and created Lego-Land, an amusement park made out of Lego.