Lego loss on Potter, Star Wars in 2003; New 'PoA' pieces ready for pre-order

  January 5, 2004 at 4:57 PM ET
  Cheeser     iharrypotter.net (via Telegraph)
 


Children's toy company Legoopens in new window announced its worst-ever loss in the organization's 72-year history after an "unexpectedly bad, nearly catastrophic" 2003opens in new window. 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 Azkabanopens in new window. Included:

The sets will start shipping in May, and are available for pre-order now. Thanks to The Leaky Cauldronopens in new window for the tip.

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