The LEGO Group announces plans to cancel 10% of planned products by 2023 [April Fools!]
April 1, 2023
|
24
24
Update: April Fools! Hope you enjoyed this year’s gag! Check out all the other 2023 LEGO April Fools jokes you may have missed!
The LEGO Group has announced that it plans on reducing the number of sets within its portfolio by approximately 10%, following a successful pilot program.
In corporate-speak, this means that they’re looking to cancel the sets in order to free up resources across the organisation, a sign that not all is going to plan in Billund.
As this isn’t going to be the easiest exercise, LEGO are going to use the LEGO Ideas platform to help decide which sets to cancel, beginning with the upcoming Jurassic Park 30th Anniversary sets which were planned for June 2023.
See below for a press release shared by The LEGO Group.
For more information, check out Brickset, and RacingBrick
THE LEGO GROUP ANNOUNCES COMMITMENT TO CANCEL 10% OF PLANNED PRODUCTS BY 2025
UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 1st April 2023 AT 10:00 CEST (Billund)
1st April, 2023: The LEGO Group today announced an ambitious goal of cancelling 10% of its own products annually by 2025, potentially rising to 20% by 2030. This creative strategy follows the successful pilot program introduced in 2020, which began with the thrilling cancellation of 42113 Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey.
The LEGO Group’s commitment to quality is strengthened by this initiative, freeing up resources across the organisation to focus purely on products that will deliver even stronger commercial results.
The response to the pilot program has been tremendous. According to research conducted between 2020 and 2022, interest in products cancelled up to one month before their scheduled release is 61% compared to equivalent products that are available to purchase.
In future, the period between cancellation announcements and release dates will be shortened to maximise anticipation for novelties, and the frequency of cancellations will increase through operational efficiencies.
Cloë Clavotsen, Head of Product Termination, commented: “We are delighted with the response to our recent cancellation campaigns and are looking forward to expanding the strategy in 2023 and beyond. Our research has demonstrated that fans are even more energised when products are unexpectedly withdrawn before planned launches.”
The LEGO Group will now invite fans to be part of the process to determine which products are cancelled next via the LEGO Ideas Platform. Previous cancelled products include examples from LEGO Technic, LEGO City and LEGO Indiana Jones, and we are delighted to announce that LEGO Jurassic World will be joining this rarefied collection in June, as one of four upcoming sets will be selected for cancellation!
Cloë adds “Given the passionate response to past cancellations, we are confident in the support for our commitment to cancelling 10% of announced products by 2025. This initiative will also give fans an opportunity to advise The LEGO Group in determining which products will be most successful, as online discussions promise. Also, we recognise the view that too many sets have been produced recently and this innovative process reaffirms The LEGO Group’s commitment to supporting our fans.”
Round one of LEGO Cancellation Initiative voting will commence on April 31st, before announcing which of the LEGO Jurassic World novelties will be cancelled in late-May.
For a brief history of LEGO’s previously cancelled set, including the Technic Osprey pilot, check out this list of sets that LEGO has cancelled, including the recent Indiana Jones Temple of Doom set.
What do you think of this initiative, and which Jurassic Park set will you vote to get cancelled?
To get the latest LEGO news and LEGO Reviews straight in your inbox, subscribe via email, or you can also follow on Google News, or socials on Facebook, Instagram (@jayong28), Twitter or subscribe to the Jay’s Brick Blog Youtube channel.
