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JANUARY 5, 2004 at 4:57 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: Telegraph via iharrypotter.net
Children's toy company Lego
announced its worst-ever loss in the organization's 72-year history after an "unexpectedly bad, nearly catastrophic" 2003. Star Wars and Harry Potter products had a disappointing 12 months, chief operating officer Poul Plougmann told Danish newspaper Boersen.
The company, which based its empire on plastic building bricks, had worked hard since it made a $180m loss in 2000 to turn round the business, and achieved successful sales of Harry Potter and Star Wars products last year (2002). The Hogwarts Castle, a top-of-the-range item in the Harry Potter series, sold almost a million items.
Update: Lego has fired Plougmann and another top executive, according to the Associated Press, and expects to announce plans to reduce their 8,000-strong workforce in the near future.
In related news, ToyWiz.com is taking pre-orders for the new Lego sets for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Included:
and moreThe sets will start shipping in May, and are available for pre-order now. Thanks to The Leaky Cauldron for the tip.
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Half-Blood Prince
(Moderator)
Points: 943
Professor Scoots says:
Sweet! Man I want a Knight Bus lego set! Those look great. I wonder what other ones they are going to have?
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 5:11 PM EST
High Inquisitor
Points: 23483
KT Lady says:
Those are soo cute!! Im gonna go buy it...Neato!!!
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 5:17 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2773
Alessandra says:
If the new ones are coming out, then the old ones will be on clearance. Yay!
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 5:20 PM EST
Head House Elf
Points: 2755
Dobby says:
WHOA!! I want the Knight Bus and the Shrieking Shack! Alessandra- you are right the old ones will be on sale!!!! :D
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 5:39 PM EST
Student
Points: 207
Serenity&Snape says:
Cool I want them all!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 5:44 PM EST
Witch
Points: 697
kaela987 says:
I think the new sets of Legos for PoA look great:) Even though I've never been the Lego-type (I was more of a stuffed animal person as a kiddie) that doesn't stop me from wanting to buy one of those sets... especially the Draco/Buckbeak one :)
But I don't see how the Lego people expected the Star Wars/ Harry Potter lego sets to do so well when neither movie has been in the news that much lately considering that neither set of movies had a new addition to the series, etc. I think if they had timed the release of their legos better, they would have had more success.
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 5:59 PM EST
Heir of Slytherin
Points: 5499
Spazzingduck says:
The old ones WILL be on sale! Yay! I think legos are kind of expensive otherwise. I'm going for it--and no, I do not think sixteen is too old to be playing with legos. This is Harry Potter legos we're talking about!
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 5:59 PM EST
Points: 7828
Rococoed says:
I find the Lego Company's decision to release another set of licensed Harry Potter legos premature after their loos of reported 480 million, for they'll likely manufacture more than they will sell. I presumed no more Harry Potter legos would be manufactured after the Chamber of Secrets set, but I guess I was wrong; they are releasing more Harry Potter legos, which are based off of a character who is thirteen, an age of which you can expect none of to purchase such childish merchandise. Warner Bros. still appears to be intent on manufacturing more merchandise for those nine and under instead of maturing the franchise (which they have already lowered it's maturity too far for me to tolerate) a bit. We can only hope they don't release a lego Death Room in 2007.
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 6:05 PM EST
Witch
Points: 606
~*~Marauderette~*~ says:
YES! New Harry Potter toys! Although I don't actually buy most of them it's still nice to have them out I guess. Buying them to me kinda cheapens the whole thing. But I still love going to the stores and seeing what new stuff they have out.
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 6:07 PM EST
Seer
Points: 15207
Brittany Radcliffe says:
Who says Legos are for kids??!! i want em!! and they are not just for boys either!! cool. i always wanted an HP lego set!!
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 6:08 PM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 8934
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
I am actually not surpised by the low popularity of the lego products. The characters appear very rough and crude. I think regular action figures would be far prefereable to the lego ones. I think they would be just as challenging.
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 6:26 PM EST
Marauder
Points: 3954
jade says:
That looks so cool that is want i have to buy. What did they expect though since a new film is not coming out until June and they don't follow the books. Oh well i know it will pick up by the time it gets to POA when its going to be fever pitch!
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 6:41 PM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 8934
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
I am actually not surpised by the low popularity of the lego products. The characters appear very rough and crude. I think regular action figures would be far prefereable to the lego ones. I think they would be just as challenging.
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 7:02 PM EST
Points: 927
ChelCho says:
I like legos, but I don't think I would get this. I'm not clever enough to get them to turn out right, so my Harry would probably end up with Buckbeak's head or something.
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 7:37 PM EST
Sirius Black's Widow
Points: 2476
DanielleG says:
Oh my gosh...a lego Sirius Black...makes me feel a bit perverse.
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 7:37 PM EST
Points: 230
cfsdimples says:
Oh they're so cute! Just some things I noticed...
--In the Malfoy-Buckbeak set, Malfoy's holding the Monster Book of Monsters.
--Strange, the Maurader's Map seems to have a cauldron and glass on it.
--Lupin's class looks more like Snape's classroom with the jars of skulls and cobwebs.
--Sirius has a mustache?
--In the Knight Bus set, Harry's wand is lit and Sirius-as-dog is nearby.
--The Shrieking Shack is very cool. Lupin-as-werewolf looks like a man with a wolf head, so I'm guessing it's an attachment you put on top.
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 7:44 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 30
Luna Longbottom says:
Thats so cool! I love Harry Potter legos! I can't preorder them, but i will get them as soon as they come to stores!
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 7:48 PM EST
Witch
Points: 523
ProfessorMaffioli says:
Lego BuckBeak COOOOL.
I wish it was HRH not Draco. But I have to have it!
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 7:51 PM EST
Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3836
hermionefan1 says:
That would be very nice to have more updated legos. I like the old ones, but new ones are in order. I can't wait!
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 7:57 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2773
Alessandra says:
ChelCho - they actually come with pretty good instructions. My eight-year-old manages quite well.
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 8:08 PM EST
Points: 790
M. Sebastian says:
Not into Legos personally but I remember a couple of Christmas's ago Hogwarts was THE toy to have. They were selling for quite good prices on Ebay. I really prefer the action figures myself as Legos still look like Legos and not much like the characters.
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 9:04 PM EST
Gryffindor Chaser
Points: 3637
Angelina Johnson says:
POA in legos. Cool! I think that my niece would go crazy if she had that!
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 9:05 PM EST
Student
Points: 257
Hellodoggy says:
This is really cool. I was just looking places to see when the new lego sets were gonna come out. Im so excited. Yes.
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 9:17 PM EST
Professional Beater
Points: 20891
feltonluver says:
That look awesome! i really like the knight bus the best!
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 9:17 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2391
HPN4eveRon says:
How cute! I will be buying a set of those.
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 9:18 PM EST
Werewolf
(Moderator)
Points: 5479
MoonyDawn says:
Yay!!! More presents to buy the kids! It's funny how I dont mind buying them extra toys when its something I like too. That bus looks neet!
Posted Jan 5, 2004 at 9:29 PM EST
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