French brand store opening soon!

 

  • French brand store opening soon!

    Posted by Huw, 07 Aug 2012 03:36. Filed under shop.LEGO.com (General).

    French site Hoth Bricks is reporting that LEGO is recruiting for staff to work in a brand store that is to open in Lille, in the north-east corner of France.

    This will be the first brand store to open in the country and the news will surely be greeted with enthusiasm by AFOLs in that part of France, and also those in Belgium, because Lille is of course close to the Belgian border.

    Hopefully this will be the first of many in the country. If you fancy applying for the job, here are the details.

    I think those of you in Spain, Portugal, Italy and elsewhere in Europe can also be encouraged this news given that it signals expansion outside of the UK, Germany and Denmark which will hopefully continue into other countries.


    19 comments, latest one posted 9 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
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Comments

Posted by MvdS in Netherlands, 07 Aug 2012 04:48

The Netherlands will never participate in this (sadly).
I tried a few times to open such a store, but since Blokker (also owner of Bart Smit and Intertoys) has 80% of the toy market in The Netherlands, LEGO only listens to Blokker.

LEGO's only goal is to get more meters of LEGO in those shops.

Sad, but true.

Posted by large88 in Netherlands, 07 Aug 2012 05:19

@MvdS, I never knew this. Finally a decent explanation :) The only reason I would want a Lego store in the Netherlands is the PaB wall. All the other products are cheaper in other stores anyway. Maybe Blokker should open a special Bart Smit or Intertoys with a PaB wall :) (dont think it will ever happen though)

Posted by Minifig Man in Netherlands, 07 Aug 2012 05:36

MvdS, yes the brick 'n mortar toy market in the Netherlands is almost a monopoly. Blokker owns almost all chains (except Top1Toys) or has a part ownership (ToysXL). And of course the in-shop toy departments of Marskramer and Blokker itself (Marskramer oddly enough sells M*g* bl*ks.

Posted by Morniendur in Spain, 07 Aug 2012 05:41

north-east corner is cute far away from mediterranean countries, I think we must wait at least 5 years to see the frist Spanish brand store but of course that is a good news for Spain because our expectations are rising

Posted by Zander in United Kingdom, 07 Aug 2012 06:52

The opening of the first store in France demonstrates TLG's commitment to the bricks 'n' mortar channel. What surprises me is that they chose Lille rather than Paris. With such a large proportion of France's population being centred in and around its capital, I would have imagined the first store would be there. Any thoughts on why Lille?

Posted by RikTheVeggie in Canada, 07 Aug 2012 08:25

@Zander, maybe they're planning on opening one a store in EuroDisney and don't want another one too close? Or people around Lille buy more LEGO than those in Paris!

Posted by MvdS in Netherlands, 07 Aug 2012 08:47

Speaking about Disneyland Paris...
Have you seen what outrageous prices they charge for LEGO in their shops?

Posted by Frederick B. in Norway, 07 Aug 2012 12:49

I realy hope they will open one in Norway.

Posted by streeker in France, 07 Aug 2012 13:07

Congratulations Lille! Not too surprised about the choice for Lille. First brand store in France, or in any country for that matter? Might be better to launch in a smaller city, get a feel for the local regulations, taxes, administration, (good luck with that!) work out your kinks, then you'll feel much more prepared to do a successful opening in Paris. Explains why London Westfield was the fourth (?) and not the first store to open in the UK. What confuses me is that the link for the manager position on Hoth Bricks shows that it's through a work agency, Mercuri Urval. Haven't all retail jobs for LEGO's other stores been through LEGO itself and advertised on its website? Is this a departure for French employees in that they won't be full-fledged LEGO employees?

Posted by streeker in France, 07 Aug 2012 13:21

@MvdS, no, I've never had the wonderful pleasure of visiting Disneyland Paris, but would not be at all suprised at the highway-robbery prices. My understanding is that that particular LEGO store is actually not sanctioned or in any way affiliated with Billund. It's just a store that sells outrageously priced LEGO. Yeah, I don't know how that how works, either.

Posted by tontonsega in France, 07 Aug 2012 14:36

Finally it comes!!! the first french lego store. Hope a 2nd one come quickly in Lyon.

There is also a lego shop at shop in Paris.

Posted by streeker in France, 07 Aug 2012 14:43

I stand corrected-by my French better half. Mercuri Urval prescreens candidates and tries to match them to companies with whom they think best fits the job. Once a match is made, a candidate is directly hired by the company. So, they are LEGO employees after all. The hiring process is just different than usual. Good news.

Posted by Zrath in United States, 07 Aug 2012 17:34

Oh wow, the first Lego Store in France is opening in my hometown!
C'est super pour les Chtis! :D

Posted by lakuna in Italy, 08 Aug 2012 06:37

@ tontonsega i did not understand, there is a lego shop in Paris? where?
thanks

Posted by tontonsega in France, 08 Aug 2012 14:16

@Lakuna:
It's a Shop at Shop,They don't sell parts, only boxed sets.
Find it:
boulevard des italiens- Village joueclub- metro: richelieu drouot (ligne 8)

Posted by vienna3 in Austria, 08 Aug 2012 16:31

what´s with Vienna/Austria? would like to have a store here too!!

Posted by MvdS in Netherlands, 08 Aug 2012 20:09

@Lakua & @tontonsega:

They also sell T-shirts (LEGO), Keychains (LEGO), Minifigures (sadly on magnet).

Been there three times.

Posted by lakuna in Italy, 09 Aug 2012 03:55

@ tontonsega & MvdS

thank's a lot, the next time i go in Paris, i will go certainly!

Posted by Webel in Netherlands, 15 Aug 2012 11:06

For the Dutch people:

http://www.omroepvenlo.nl/nieuws/15103/

Don't ask my why they chose Venlo. I'm from Venlo myself but I can not understand why they would choose to open one here.

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