It's LEGO's 50th Anniversary,  And They're Better Than You Know  
Monday, January 28th, 2008

Thanks to Google's homepage this morning, we found out way more about LEGO than we ever knew.  We don't want to hear about the time you swallowed and pooped out a Lego...that was your own fault.  If you ask us, LEGO is one of the coolest toymakers around.  And today they are celebrating their 50th Anniversary!

Why do we love LEGO so much?  Well, besides the fact that they are a household name and provide amazing toys that stimulate children's brains and creativity - LEGO is not down with toys made in China.

Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) is the trade group that represents many large toy manufacturers including LEGO, Mattel, and Hasbro.  If you recall, Mattel had to recall 18 million toys worldwide back in August after a Barbie tanning playset had a dangerous magnet, and the Sarge character from the "Cars" movie was covered in lead paint.  Toy Industries of Europe sets up these "trade deals" between large toy manufacturers, and plants and factories overseas that are making and assembling them.

The recalls from Chinese-made products are not, of course limited to toys.  In September, 1 million cribs (an item that was popular on shelves at Wal-Mart) were recalled due to a suffocation hazard.  The combination of cheap labor and cutting corners in manufacturing products that are sold in the U.S., and worldwide, has an ultimate price.

And, of course, there's the whole issue of the repression, prosecution, and civil rights violations that Chinese businesses and governments allow to their own people.

But we digress - our point here is that even though LEGO does work with TIE, LEGO not only dismisses opportunities to manufacture in China, they prevent Chinese companies from attempting to benefit from the LEGO design.

Less than 3% of LEGO's toy components come from China, while around 80% of U.S. toys are made in China.  And of those less than 3%, LEGO ensures that the companies are reputable small businesses who do not contract out for parts.

The Lego Group is a toymaker that began by Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter from Billund, Denmark.  The company name Lego was created by Christiansen from the Danish phrase leg godt, meaning "play well."

They play well...and they do business well, too.

Happy Birthday, LEGO!!!

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