Australia’s First LEGO Certified Store To Open

Monday, January 16th, 2017 by Brickfinder

There have been speculation on when Australia’s first LEGO Certified Store would begin operations and the Dreamworld Facebook page just updated with the announcement that it will open on the 28th of January, 2017 (just in time for the Lunar New Year)!

This is great news as I know a lot of my friends in Australia have been clamouring for an official store for years. 

There will be a Legoland Discovery Centre opening in Melbourne later this year but that is not an ‘official’ store like the one at Dreamworld as the Legoland brand is under Merlin Entertainment management.

This LEGO Certified Store (LCS) is will have exclusive LEGO products that would not be available at other regular retail outlets.

Here are some of the things that you will get to experience at an LCS:

• Pick-A-Brick Wall (PAB) – A selection of LEGO elements that you can purchase by ‘cups’ which come in two sizes. Fill it up with an assortment of whatever LEGO elements that is available but make sure that you’re able to close the lid.
• Build-A-Minifigure Station (BAM) – Build your own custom minifigure with an assortment of torsos, legs, headpieces and accessories.
• LEGO Brand Ribbon – Cabinets full of LEGO displays that stretches around the entire store.
• The Living Room – A play area with LEGO bricks for kids to build on their imagination.
• Exclusive Items – Sets that are not available at regular retail like the Creator Expert Modulars, Vehicles, Ultimate Collectors Series (UCS) and extended line.
• Monthly Mini-builds – These are free activities for kids where they get to build mini-models with LEGO and get to bring it home.

It has been confirmed that you will not need a ticket to enter the LEGO Certified Store at Dreamworld as it has an entrance that is open to the public.

I’m really quite excited for this as now there is another great reason to visit Brisbane (along with seeing my friends again of course!).

The Lego Ambassador Network has a quick FAQ on what is the difference between a LEGO Brand Store and a LEGO Certified Store:

Why LCS – LEGO® Certified Stores?

The LEGO Group discovered more than 300+ stores throughout the world using the LEGO logo, with each having their own idea of “what good looks like”.

The LEGO Group refers to these stores as MONOBRAND stores  – stores which sell only LEGO products with an often un-licensed logo above the entrance.  These stores offer no consistency in size, look and feel or customer service and are not part of the LEGO Group or operated by LEGO.

To address this challenge – and to protect the LEGO brand – The LEGO Group started to offer a LEGO Certified Store Program to customers who would like to operate a number of LEGO Certified Stores in a defined region.

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What is LCS?

The global LCS Program offers our partners and The LEGO Group a great opportunity to:

•Deliver high quality retail experiences for consumers and shoppers

•Heighten brand awareness

•Increase distribution points

This program allows The LEGO Group to:

•Protect the LEGO brand

•Deliver a uniform “look and feel” in the stores

•Ensure high levels of customer service

Create a structured and scalable approach to expand in markets where The LEGO Group has chosen not to place company-owned brand retail stores.

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How does LCS operate with a partner?

The LEGO Group offers it’s Certified Store Partners a “value proposition” to operate LCS stores within a defined territory.  The benefits to the partner include:

• Officially licensed to use the LEGO brand name and have LEGO logo at the store front
• Regional exclusivity to potentially grow the retail network expansion
• The partner will be a ‘preferred’ customer within the LEGO framework (for example, will be given exclusive product rights)
• The stores will be designed by The LEGO Group to ensure design consistency and compliance
• The partner stores will participate in training programs developed by The LEGO Group

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Do LCS operate the VIP loyalty program?

We are currently in the process of launching the first loyalty program with an LCS partner.  The partner program will:

• Contain the same basic mechanics as the LEGO VIP Program
• Shoppers will be able to collect and redeem points only at partner operated stores detailed on the loyalty card (for example, at stores throughout Italy if the shopper registers to join the Italian partner loyalty scheme)
• The partner loyalty card is only for use at store locations – not online since the partner doesn’t operate an online business.  (Shop.LEGO.com is operated by The LEGO Group)

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Where LCS stores currently operate

Europe: Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, ROmania, Russia & Slovenia

Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE – Abu Dhabi & UAE – Dubai

Asia/Pacific: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore & South Korea