A miniature Mong Kok built with thousands of plastic blocks graces Hong Kong’s first official Lego store, which opened its doors in Langham Place on Thursday despite the city’s flagging retail climate. The Danish toy manufacturer’s local flagship is targeting adult enthusiasts as well as children, with management hoping its strong brand will keep footfall high despite the economic downturn. Dr William Lo Wing-yan of Kidsland Holdings, which runs the Lego store, said there were plans to open three more Lego stores over the next three years. “Toys are a resilient market during a downturn, more so than say fashion, jewellery or cosmetics, because adults can show more restraint when spending on themselves rather than when they spend on their children,” Lo said. “Lego appeals to a wide demographic, from young kids to kid-adults,” Lo added, describing how at a preview session he saw some parents demonstrating greater enthusiasm for the toys than their children did.
“It’s a jolly and exciting store,” he said, confessing a particular fondness for the brand’s Star Wars-themed range. Worst drop since 1999: Hong Kong retail sales figures for first half of year suffer slump Retail sales plummeted by 10.5 per cent in the first six months of this year in what has been the worst decline in 17 years, as a significant drop in mainland visitors and poor local demand prompted a slump in the once-booming sector. The gloomy outlook is expected to persist into the closing months of this year, though tourist numbers have recently started to pick up again. Lo said conditions brought about by the retail slump made opening a new store more favourable owing to lower rents and cheaper labour costs than last year. Forecasting a greater variety of stores across Hong Kong as the likely result of brands downsizing, Lo said that the familiar experience of spotting several of the same stores on one street might become a thing of the past as market conditions entice more multinationals to set up shop.
“Entrepreneurs in Hong Kong should learn from the success of brands like Lego,” Lo said, balking at the idea that a greater global brand presence in the city might place further pressure on struggling local outfits. “Over the last 10 years, people have got too inward-looking,” he said.A pair of artists have designed a bag which will turn your hands into actual LEGO. The Lego Playbox, designed by Junho Lee and Hyun Chul Choi of the School of Visual Arts of New York, uses yellow material attached to the handles to create the look of LEGO hands. All you have to do is grab the bag to see your hands instantly transformed into a minifig’s. Hyun, originally from South Korea, tells Metro.co.uk that the bag was designed as part of an advertising competition. ‘The actual inspiration just came to me and my partner at 4am while we were brainstorming,’ he says. ‘Our professor, Frank Anselmo, really motivated us when we were burnt out – without his creative direction, it wouldn’t exist at all.
He’s 100% our inspiration. It’s probably worth noting that the Playbox will only work if you wear long sleeves. Right now, it’s only a concept but we’re holding out for the possibility of Lego bags coming to every high street in the land soon. ‘Some people haven’t liked it, others love it – we can’t satisfy everyone in the world, you know,’ says Hyun. Well, we’re more than satisfied. You can find more about Hyun’s work here. MORE: A fan asked LEGO to make a set of The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine, so they did MORE: Someone made a Playmobil hair bike helmet and they can just take our money Additional Shipping Charges Link Visit a LEGO® Education Learning Centre LEGO® Education Learning Centres provide adults and children with a total LEGO Education experience, with opportunities for creative problem solving, concentration & perseverance, designing, planning & organisation, teamwork, communication, and independent thinking.
Teachers can bring their early years or middle years class for a “hands on, minds on experience”. Parents can bring their children for holiday programs or birthday parties. LEGO Education Learning Centres in Australia are run by Moore Educational. Just another school day? Not at a LEGO® Education Learning Centre. Explore how robotics, mechanisms, storytelling, and creative construction engages students in playful learning. Visit a LEGO Education Learning Centre Teacher professional development at a LEGO® Education Learning Centre maximises the use of LEGO Education resources while addressing the Australia Curriculum in an engaging, creative way. Shop 5/439 Docklands Drive Ph: 03 9602 1116 Fax: 03 9602 1156 South Brisbane QLD 4101 Ph: 07 3844 6337 Fax: 07 3844 6307 The maximum quantity of an item that can purchased in each transaction is 99.To inquire about purchasing more than 99 of one item, please call 800-362-4738.
The Beautiful Foundation has grown to become one of South Korea's largest nonprofits. Its aims are, firstly, to build a more just and equitable society, spreading affluence more equally across society and, secondly, to give ordinary people the ability to feel wonderful and beautiful by donating to this cause. We're inspired by the thought of 80,000 Lego-shaped banks built into a mini-city in the central business district (CBD) of Seoul and think you will be too. It's one of the many ways the Beautiful Foundation is promoting a philanthropic society in South Korea, and it should encourage other nonprofits in the region and around the world. This clever campaign aims to demystify the notion that charitable giving is only for the 'elite' classes by encouraging ordinary people to donate through a national fundraising event.The Beautiful Foundation wanted to further promote charitable giving in South Korea, during a time when a 'giving culture' was rapidly taking root. This campaign aimed to increase the awareness of the needs of children and poor people, and to raise necessary financial social support through a non-conventional monetary system.
Supporters bought colourful Lego block banks to collect their donations. These were purchased online or in bulk and given to business employees or school students. A leaflet explaining how people could take part was distributed with each block bank. The leaflet also had stories from various supporters who came from all walks of life. Over the event period, supporters collected their monies in the block bank; on 6 December 2008 they brought their block banks to a central location in Seoul to join in a group Lego-building activity. Those who lived outside the capital were able to send their block banks before this activity. Supporters joined together to create a beautiful rainbow made of Lego block banks. The different colours of the blocks symbolised the dreams of different children. The rainbow itself symbolised the beautiful future that these children will now have, thanks to the help of united citizens. The Beautiful Foundation distributed 80,000 Lego block-shaped banks to schools, restaurants, corporations and partner organisations in the autumn/winter of 2008.