Latest news with #LEGOStarWars
Campaign ME
07-05-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Customer centricity: Embracing the outside-in perspective
Marketing and brand management have undergone significant changes in the past decade, mainly driven by rapid advancements in technology and their impact on customers' daily lives. Widespread internet access, the evolution of e-commerce, the availability of information, and more recently, the rise of AI, have shifted the balance of power from brands to customers. This shift allows customers to set the narrative and influence brand perception and behavior. Looking back 50 years ago, communication was mainly one-way, with brands controlling the storyline, and customers being highly influenced by advertising through traditional channels. Today, with the democratisation of the internet, customers can set the narrative, access unbiased sources of information, and influence the rise or fall of a brand. Social media has further accelerated this shift in power, enabling customers to directly shape brand perception and drive conversations. So, what does this mean, and how has it impacted the way organisations behave and bring their products or offerings to market? Simply put, it has made the concept of the customer is king truer than ever – not only for customer brands but also for any brand that wants to lead in its sector and remain profitable. It has opened a direct dialogue between brands and customers, allowing customers to voice their opinions on the good, the bad, and the ugly. Customers now demand that brands listen, take their feedback seriously, and act on it. This shift ensures that customer satisfaction is prioritised over profit-making. We have seen numerous examples of this shift, such as the case of Volkswagen in 2015, when it was discovered that the company had installed software in diesel engines to mislead emissions tests. This resulted in billions of dollars in fines, a significant drop in sales, and long-term damage to the brand's reputation. On the other hand, LEGO, which faced declining sales and financial difficulties in the early 2000s, engaged with its community, incorporating feedback into product development. This led to the successful launch of lines like LEGO Star Wars and LEGO Friends, resulting in a resurgence in popularity and significant business growth for the brand. While the strength of this argument is clear for business-to-customer (B2C) brands, the same applies for business-to-business (B2B) brands as well. The shift in the relationship between customers and brands supports the importance of putting the customer at the center of any go-to-market strategy, making a customer-centric approach more critical than ever. Understanding the customer's needs, pain points, and decision-making drivers is necessary for any brand to succeed and differentiate itself from competitors. Deeply understanding customers and identifying key insights that encourage an emotional connection is essential for standing out and building customer loyalty. Below is a closer look at the key benefits of making customer wants and needs key drivers of strategy: Building sticky relationships: Enabling customers to feel that a brand understands their issues and is committed to providing the appropriate solutions will help build a strong emotional connection, keeping the brand top of mind. This fosters loyalty and trust, encouraging customers to return. Research reveals that 88% of customers who trust a brand will buy again. Sticky relationships are not easy to build; they take work, but once established, the benefits are well worth it. Trusted companies outperform their peers by up to 400 per cent in terms of market value, according to Deloitte research. Relevant innovation: Keeping an open dialogue and gathering feedback is a great way to gain relevant insights that can drive innovation. Innovation should address clear customer needs to make it relevant and enable adoption. Increased loyalty and trust: When customers are happy and feel understood, they are more likely to return, ensuring a more consistent revenue flow. In line with human nature, people tend to gravitate towards what they know and trust – change is not always easy or comfortable. Therefore, it's very important for companies to prioritise a positive customer experience at the core of their strategy. This approach helps build brand loyalty and affinity, encourages customers to prioritise the company's products or services, and motivates them to refer their friends or leave positive reviews. All of this will help the business retain revenue and attract new customers. Increased and accelerated growth: Focusing on customer needs will often lead to upselling and cross-selling opportunities. Knowing a client's challenges allows brands to think strategically about more ways to cater to those needs. This not only makes customers feel more understood but also increases their openness to considering additional services, which will lead to business growth. It's a win–win situation for all. An example to illustrate all of the above is Patagonia, which has been successful in building trust with customers while positioning itself as environmentally friendly. By being transparent with their customer base, sharing information about their production process, and showing that they put their money where their mouth is, Patagonia has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability. The company is honest about its sourcing; upfront honesty has paid off for them, retaining a loyal customer base and gaining trust. Their openness has also driven innovation, which has led Patagonia to look for more ways to bring sustainability to the core of their business, ultimately leading to significant business growth. Patagonia's brand promise isn't just a slogan — it shapes every element of their business. According to an article on Statista, Patagonia has achieved annual sales of over $1bn for three consecutive years, starting in 2019. It is important to note that profit figures from the company are not publicly available. Taking the outside view and bringing it in is not an easy task. It requires time and effort to truly understand audiences and gain the right insights. This process often requires combining various data points and personal information to understand the customer journey, while still keeping market trends in focus. When applied consistently across an organisation, this approach offers a competitive edge, driving sustainable revenue growth and success. For organisations to truly succeed, gathering relevant customer centric insights must be a core element of their strategic planning. They need to be intentional about acquiring these insights and allocate the necessary funds and resources to do so. While this investment may seem significant at first, it is one that is bound to produce substantial returns in the long run. By Nour Khoury, Brand Communications and Marketing Leader, Deloitte Middle East
The Guardian
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The galaxy far, far away comes to Melbourne in a new LEGO exhibition
When you hear the term 'dream job', what comes to mind? Movie star? Chocolate taster? Astronaut? Well, for kids big and small, Ryan 'The Brickman' McNaught has a fantasy career that's hard to top: judge of TV show LEGO Masters and certified LEGO professional. In his latest project, McNaught has channelled all his skill and passion into creating a 'galaxy first' LEGO Star Wars exhibition at Melbourne Museum. This cinematic-scale exhibition – which took more than 25,000 hours to complete, using more than 8 million LEGO bricks – offers visitors the chance to see some iconic Star Wars characters, spaceships and landscapes re-created in LEGO, as well take part in hands-on LEGO activities, such as building LEGO starfighters and custom lightsabers. The exhibition opens on 4 May. From kids to the young at heart, it's a rare chance to get up close with the galaxy far, far away. C-3PO and Ryan McNaught. Photo credit: Dani Evercroft. Visitors will find classic characters created by the LEGO master, including favourites such as C-3PO, Princess Leia and Darth Vader. Anyone who's ever tried to construct a small-scale LEGO Star Wars set will know what a challenge it can be, so it's easy to imagine the skill needed to build detailed versions of full-sized characters and spacecraft – some of which are as big as four metres high. McNaught finds joy in that challenge, and has plenty of favourites pieces he's excited to show off. 'Over the years I've always loved a 'cutaway' model where you can see the inside of something awesome, like the Death Star or a Star Destroyer, so they are super cool, but, unquestionably, my favourite [pieces] are the characters,' he says. 'Making a face in LEGO is easy, but making a face that looks like someone is hard – so hard that there aren't many people that can do it at all, so that makes them awesome.' As well as Star Wars characters in LEGO form, the exhibition offers an interactive, hands-on experience, with visitors getting the chance to build some LEGO sculptures of their own. There will be interactive elements and engaging experiences for fans of all ages. Battle scene exhibition. Photo supplied. 'I think [I'm most excited by] the interactive components of the exhibition where our models hopefully inspire people to make their own stuff,' McNaught says. 'For example, making your own Star Wars fighter, then having it scanned and watching it fly around in combat out the window of a Star Destroyer.' The scene inside LEGO Star Wars: The Exhibition resembles a Star Wars film set, populated by life-sized droids, full-scale lightsabers and realistic starships. For McNaught and his team, building the LEGO Star Wars exhibition was a painstaking labour of love. It took, he says, a long, collaborative effort to get the exhibition off the ground. 'It's far from only me; we have a dedicated team of 38 people who make it happen,' McNaught says. 'It's nearly 25,000 hours of designing, engineering and building – there's so much work that's gone into it. I've personally been working on this project pretty much nonstop – apart from filming LEGO Masters – for three years.' Getting this project off the ground was no easy task. McNaught and the team needed a lead time of six months just to source the rare and unusual LEGO bricks required for these one-off builds. Even then, the skill needed was 'way over the next level', McNaught says. Ryan McNaught in the Millennium Falcon cockpit. Photo supplied. 'The thing with this exhibition is it is about firsts,' he says. 'There's a reason the majority of the models we have made have never been done before. It's because they are so hard, technically, and these models are pushing the limits of what LEGO can do. I mean, imagine making the first ever life-sized Princess Leia and not doing it justice?' Despite the thousands of hours and millions of bricks taken to bring the exhibition to life, McNaught feels as if he hasn't even scratched the surface of the Star Wars universe. 'The museum is only so big,' he says. 'The Star Wars galaxy is so content-filled I could make another two of this exhibition with all new things. Imagine Boba Fett's [starship] Slave I, or a giant sandcrawler as examples.' The Emperor's throne room. Photo credit: Eugene Hyland. It's fair to say that 'The Brickman' loves his job. He get a lot of joy out of all that planning and building with LEGO, and is excited by the impact that exhibitions such as this can have on visitors. 'I get to bring happiness to people, so that's pretty awesome,' McNaught says. 'Hopefully I'm inspiring a Sally or Johnny to take over from me one day.' After seeing the exhibition, visitors can continue their adventure by exploring the main Melbourne Museum galleries, with general admission included in all tickets. Embark on a journey through the galaxy's first LEGO Star Wars exhibition.
North Wales Live
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
Get a LEGO Star Wars set for £2.78 this Star Wars Day with deal stack
It's a great week for Star Wars enthusiasts. Not only is the latest season of the Andor TV series available on Disney+, but it also marks the 20th anniversary of Episode 3's theatrical release. More importantly, Star Wars Day here this Sunday (May 4). The special commemorative day pays homage to the legendary franchise set in a galaxy far, far away. Typically, on the day, fans will use the greeting 'May the Force be with you' (from the original 1977 movie). In celebration of the event, LEGO has launched a special May 4th event on its website, with a collection of popular sets and member-only offers. For fans seeking a budget-friendly way to celebrate, there's a way to get a LEGO Star Wars 501st Clone Troopers Battle Pack Set, from £18 to £2.78. This significant discount can be achieved by using a savvy shopping tip from TopCashback. By creating a new TopCashback account via this link, consumers can receive £15 cashback on selected purchases over £15. The LEGO Star Wars 501st Clone Troopers Battle Pack Set is included in the offer, even at its sale price, meaning the effective cost will be £2.74 once the cashback is returned to the account. This set, sold on Argos and depicting the 501st battalion featured in the Clone Wars TV series, would make a thoughtful gift for a fan. It includes four minifigures and a single laser canon for the diorama. With a total of 199 pieces, this relatively small set costs just over 1p per brick at the discounted price, reports the Manchester Evening News. For those contemplating expanding their LEGO collection, the TopCashback deal is a great opportunity to acquire sets at a reduced cost. For instance, the LEGO Star Wars Clone Trooper and Battle Droid Pack is currently available at Argos for £20 (was £25), but with this cashback offer, you can get it for cheaper. It's important to remember that the £15 cashback is limited to a single item, so shoppers wishing to apply it to another set, will need to create a second new account for the additional savings. Elsewhere, Amazon is offering a 28% discount for Prime members on the LEGO Star Wars 75403 Grogu with Hover Pram Building Toy Set. This slashes the price from £89.99, down to £64.58. Over on the official LEGO site, shoppers can buy an Animal Crossing Able Sisters Clothing Shop for £34.99. Aimed for children aged 6 and upwards, it comes with 322 pieces. It comes with two characters, a toy sewing machine, and scissors to alter an outfit. As for the LEGO 501st Clone Troopers Battle Pack Set, customer feedback is largely positive. One customer said: "I bought this as a birthday gift and it went down really well, a great little set," which exemplifies the positive experiences users are having. Another customer added: "I bought this last November for my grandson's birthday. He is LEGO mad and built it in no time. Instructions are easy to follow. He has so many sets and puts them together to build his own creations." Another customer noted: "Good enough LEGO set but not as good value for money as some others." A third wrote: "This LEGO set is wonderful for many reasons: good variety of minifigures and accessories, a fun wee build that looks clean, and it makes a great gift because even if someone already has it, the more the merrier!". A fourth added: "I brought this for my son, he seems to like it, so it's not too bad, just the price could have been a bit cheaper."
Wales Online
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Get a LEGO Star Wars set for £2.78 this Star Wars Day with deal stack
Get a LEGO Star Wars set for £2.78 this Star Wars Day with deal stack The LEGO Star Wars 501st Clone Troopers Battle Pack can be picked up for £2.78, down from £18 This LEGO Star Wars set can be picked up for £2.78 right now at Argos (Image: Argos ) It's a great week for Star Wars enthusiasts. Not only is the latest season of the Andor TV series available on Disney+, but it also marks the 20th anniversary of Episode 3's theatrical release. More importantly, Star Wars Day here this Sunday (May 4). The special commemorative day pays homage to the legendary franchise set in a galaxy far, far away. Typically , on the day, fans will use the greeting 'May the Force be with you' (from the original 1977 movie). In celebration of the event, LEGO has launched a special May 4th event on its website, with a collection of popular sets and member-only offers. For fans seeking a budget-friendly way to celebrate, there's a way to get a LEGO Star Wars 501st Clone Troopers Battle Pack Set, from £18 to £2.78. This significant discount can be achieved by using a savvy shopping tip from TopCashback. By creating a new TopCashback account via this link, consumers can receive £15 cashback on selected purchases over £15. The LEGO Star Wars 501st Clone Troopers Battle Pack Set is included in the offer, even at its sale price, meaning the effective cost will be £2.74 once the cashback is returned to the account. This set, sold on Argos and depicting the 501st battalion featured in the Clone Wars TV series, would make a thoughtful gift for a fan. It includes four minifigures and a single laser canon for the diorama. With a total of 199 pieces, this relatively small set costs just over 1p per brick at the discounted price, reports the Manchester Evening News. For those contemplating expanding their LEGO collection, the TopCashback deal is a great opportunity to acquire sets at a reduced cost. For instance, the LEGO Star Wars Clone Trooper and Battle Droid Pack is currently available at Argos for £20 (was £25), but with this cashback offer, you can get it for cheaper. This LEGO Star Wars set has four minifigures (Image: Argos ) It's important to remember that the £15 cashback is limited to a single item, so shoppers wishing to apply it to another set, will need to create a second new account for the additional savings. Elsewhere, Amazon is offering a 28% discount for Prime members on the LEGO Star Wars 75403 Grogu with Hover Pram Building Toy Set. This slashes the price from £89.99, down to £64.58. Over on the official LEGO site, shoppers can buy an Animal Crossing Able Sisters Clothing Shop for £34.99. Aimed for children aged 6 and upwards, it comes with 322 pieces. It comes with two characters, a toy sewing machine, and scissors to alter an outfit. As for the LEGO 501st Clone Troopers Battle Pack Set, customer feedback is largely positive. One customer said: "I bought this as a birthday gift and it went down really well, a great little set," which exemplifies the positive experiences users are having. Another customer added: "I bought this last November for my grandson's birthday. He is LEGO mad and built it in no time. Instructions are easy to follow. He has so many sets and puts them together to build his own creations." Another customer noted: "Good enough LEGO set but not as good value for money as some others." A third wrote: "This LEGO set is wonderful for many reasons: good variety of minifigures and accessories, a fun wee build that looks clean, and it makes a great gift because even if someone already has it, the more the merrier!". A fourth added: "I brought this for my son, he seems to like it, so it's not too bad, just the price could have been a bit cheaper." Article continues below How to get LEGO Star Wars set for £2.78 at Argos:
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
LEGO celebrates May the 4th with massive sales on Star Wars sets
It's that momentous day of the year when Star Wars fans far and wide have the pleasure of uttering the iconic phrase, 'May the 4th be with you'. And this year, what has officially become known as Star Wars Day, is even more special as it marks the 25th anniversary of the hugely successful LEGO Star Wars collaboration. To mark the occasion, LEGO is going all out with amazing new Star Wars building sets, discounted member prices plus free gifts with select purchases. If you're a LEGO member, there are some incredible discounts on exclusive and hard to find Star Wars sets such as $180 off The Razor Crest (down to $719.99) or for the kids you can get the TIE Fighter & X-Wing Mash-Up for $152.99 (down from $179.99). Not a member? Join now, it's easy and it's free. Not only can you save on fab building sets but you'll also receive exciting gifts, such as the awesome new Jango Fett's Firespray – Class Starship – buy this, you'll receive a Jango Fett's Starship Key Chain, the perfect collector's item, free of charge (usually $29.99). Not only that, if you spend $260 or more on LEGO Star Wars, you will receive the Kamino Training Facility for free (valued at $47.99). And for the younger LEGO fans, if you spend $65 or more on LEGO Star Wars, you'll score the Millennium Falcon Mini-Build absolutely free. Plus, there are heaps more fantastic deals, with up to 40 per cent off all sorts of LEGO sets. So if you're a fan of Star Wars, or simply a lover of LEGO's excellent building sets, now is the time to venture further than you ever have before – and May the 4th be with you … BEST NEW STAR WARS LEGO BUILDING SETS Jango Fett's Firespray-Class Starship, $499.99 at LEGO Dimensions: 19cm x 39cm x 44cm | Number of pieces: 2970 | Age range: 18+ What You Need To Know This exciting new Star Wars set, with a massive 2970 pieces plus two mini figures, enables fans to live out their fave movie scenes, flying through asteroid fields and chasing Jedi masters. It features an authentic interior, a movable main entrance, adjustable blasters, a seismic charge and a sleek display stand. Plus when you purchase this awesome set, you'll receive the Jango Fett's Starship Key Chain free of charge (usually $29.99). What You Need To Know This magnificent Star Wars starfighter kicked off back in 2000 and now it's back and better than ever with a galaxy of new details. It comes with an exclusive TIE Pilot minifigure and Mouse Droid figure, and once you've put it together the 1931 pieces, it can be mounted on a stand with a printed plaque and printed brick with the LEGO Star Wars anniversary logo. What You Need To Know This newest and super fun droid features head movements, posable arms and hidden tools and comes with a Chopper figure and an information plaque with in-depth background details. Dimensions: 9cm x 41cm x 16cm | Number of pieces: 594 | Age range: 8+ What You Need To Know Straight out of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, this iconic Rebel carrier with 594 pieces, has a swing function so you can put the wings into an 'V' formation. It also features mini figures of Cassian Andor, K-2SO, an ISB Tactical Agent and, for the first time ever in mini figure form, Dedra Meero. Kylo Ren Helmet, $109.99 at LEGO Dimensions: 18cm x 11cm x 13cm | Number of pieces: 529 | Age range: 18+ What You Need To Know This is the newest addition to the helmet collection and features intricate dark side details with 529 pieces. Also available is the LEGO Star Wars Jango Fett Helmet ($129.99), a set with 616 pieces that is straight from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones LEGO Star Wars Kylo Ren's Command Shuttle, $109.99 at LEGO Dimensions: 26cm x 13cm x 44cm | Number of pieces: 386 | Age range: 18+ What You Need To Know Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, this is the newest addition to the Satrship Collection, featuring a sleek stand with nameplate and information about the ship. Dimensions: Each 8cm tall | Number of pieces: 656 | Age range: 10+ What You Need To Know Now you can create some of the most iconic and recognisable Star Wars characters. Perfect for display once completed. BEST NEW LEGO STAR WARS ACCESSORIES What You Need To Know This stunning 312-page hardcover book is a collector's item, taking fans on a journey through interviews with more than 50 contributors from the LEGO Group and Lucasfilm. Deep dive into the Star Wars galaxy with pages of development art and character designs – and find out how it all came together. The perfect gift for Star Wars fans and film buffs alike that comes in a slip case with collective memorabilia. What You Need To Know This super cool building set offers a 3D version of one of the most recognisable movie title cards. The perfect decorative item for Star Wars fans, this is a 700 piece build with hidden surprises and details revealed along the way. BEST LEGO STAR WARS DEALS FOR KID BEST OVERALL LEGO DEALS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WHAT DOES 'MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU' MEAN? This is a fun play on words, encapsulating the popular Star Wars phrase, 'May the force be with you.' As a result, the date May 4th has become Stars War Day – the perfect day to celebrate these iconic films. HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE STAR WARS DAY? Star Wars Day can be celebrated in all sorts of ways. Check out your local LEGO store for events – or simply stay in and re-watch you fave Star Wars film or build a brand new LEGO Star Wars building set – there are plenty of awesome sets to choose from, with new ones coming out to celebrate the occasion. ARE THERE SPECIAL STAR WARS DAY DEALS ON LEGO SETS? Yes! LEGO has extra special offers an gifts with purchases on select LEGO sets. And if you're a member, you'll get to enjoy exclusive promotions to celebrate Star Wars day. Not a member? Join up here. WHAT IF I'M BUYING A LEGO GIFT BUT CAN'T POSSIBLY CHOOSE? No problem. It can be tricky to buy the right thing so LEGO offer gift cards up to the value of $500 so the receiver can choose exactly what they want. LEGO's e-gift cards arrive in the recipient's inbox within 60 minutes so they can get shopping for their next must-have LEGO Star Wars set right away.
