Girls Inc. of Metro Denver’s Post

I was at Legoland earlier this week. We paid good money to spend 6.5 hours standing in queues for maybe 20 mins of ride time. But the kids loved it. Lego is a phenomenon. And the story behind it is equally impressive: ➡️ 1930s - LAUNCH - selling wooden toys ➡️ 1940s - PIVOT TO PLASTIC - shifts to plastic bricks, lacked appeal as they didn't stick together very well ➡️ 1950s - PRODUCT INNOVATION - added those little plastic tubes into the bottom of the bricks to hold them together ➡️ 1970s - PRODUCT DIVERSIFICATION - creates its first themed lego sets - Lego Space ➡️ 1990s - PRODUCT PARTNERSHIPS - first IP licencing deal - Star Wars ➡️ 2000s - OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES - loss-making and risk of bankruptcy forces a refocus on the core (sell off theme parks, reduce range of bricks) ➡️ 2010s - THE FLYWHEEL - added digital channels and interactive elements to build out the Lego ecosystem ➡️ 2020s - FINANCIAL GROWTH - now at $2bn profit on $9bn revenues So many takeaways for companies of all sizes: 💡 Consistent innovation is important no matter how simple your product appears to be (a plastic brick) 🔎 The risks of over-expansion and losing sight of the core 🤝 Leveraging partnerships and tapping into new communities 🚀 High growth is achievable even in incumbents that have been around nearly 100 years…just look at Lego’s recent revenue growth 👇

Great take by Oli Thomas on the LEGO Group profitable longevity hack, despite weathering a rise and fall, and then rise again roller-coaster over the years! Powered by consistent innovation, knowing how, when and why to pivot, in order to always reposition your business for sustainable profitability is a key lesson, for businesses of all sizes.

Elevating CRAZE GmbH's global narrative: A cinematic approach to toy and cosmetic storytelling   Since joining CRAZE GmbH in 2021, I've dedicated myself to transforming how our diverse product collection communicates with the world. With over 350 innovative toys and cosmetic products in our repertoire, my mission has been to elevate our advertising beyond the traditional, creating cinematic experiences that capture the imagination of our global audience. 🌐🎬   In collaboration with various amazing advertising agencies throughout Europe, I've led the initiative to blend CRAZE's inventive toys and cosmetics with the art of filmmaking. This partnership has been crucial, utilizing expertise in cinematography, narrative crafting, and sound orchestration to produce over 50 TV spots. These advertisements do more than capture attention; they forge a deep, emotional connection with audiences worldwide. 📺🌎   My role goes beyond simply overseeing production; it's deeply creative. I integrate visual storytelling techniques into every campaign, from wide-angle shots that reveal the greatness of our products to close-ups that highlight emotional depth. This strategy ensures our narratives not only reach but profoundly resonate with viewers, forging strong global bonds and enhancing CRAZE’s appeal. 🌟📽️   This proactive engagement in CRAZE's marketing strategies underlines the synergy between innovation and cinematic storytelling. Every toy and cosmetic product become the hero of its own story, enchanting both children and adults around the world. As we push forward, experimenting with new filmmaking techniques and embracing universal stories, our potential to captivate and engage a global audience only expands. Here's to creating captivating campaigns that spread CRAZE’s brand magic worldwide. 🚀✨ #GlobalStorytelling #CinematicInnovation #CRAZEWorldwide

I’m excited to share my first update on my Duckbill personal assistant experiment/adventure! I have my first task update! Duckbill 🦆 not only found the black Adidas sandals I wanted (using a photo of the shoe tag I sent them), but swiftly ordered them directly from Adidas, stayed within budget, shared the receipt, and provided an ETA. 🥿✨ My understanding is responses typically arrive within 1 business day so the fact I launched all my tasks at 11 PM on a Friday wasn't ideal, but the weekend traction was a pleasant surprise! 👏 One area of opportunity I would call out is the app interface. It has tabs at the top that I believe are meant to be similar to a kanban board “waiting on you”, “in process”, “snoozed”, “completed” but it’s not as intuitive and informative as a glance as you’d expect. But more importantly, right now when I look at all the tasks in process, some have notes they’re waiting on info from me (yet those tasks don’t show up in the “waiting on you” tab and there are no notes of what info is needed yet) so it’s a little confusing. Still too early to tell so we shall see. More experience is needed so stay tuned for more updates on my DuckbillAI personal-assistant journey. #DuckbillAI #ZoesDuckbillAIexperiment #Update1

Exciting US Market Venture *Baby Circus Sets Sights on US Expansion: Bridging Markets with Quality Babywear* With a legacy spanning almost three decades as a leading innovator in the Mexican baby apparel manufacturing landscape, Baby Circus is excited to announce its intention to expand further into the US market, beyond Amazon. Our commitment to quality, style, and comfort has made us a beloved brand in Mexico, and we are now eager to bring our unique offerings to American families. As we embrace this thrilling new endeavor, we are keen to forge diverse partnerships that resonate with our ethos of innovation and quality. Whether through collaborating with retailers, adopting cutting-edge technologies, or engaging with creative minds, we believe in the power of synergy to navigate and flourish in this vibrant market. Stay tuned for our upcoming plans and milestones highlighting our vibrant presence in the US. We are dedicated to becoming a cherished choice among American families by introducing innovation, unmatched quality, and styles that speak to every parent’s dream for their child. Join us on our journey and witness our rich heritage seamlessly woven with new insights and collaborations to make an indelible mark in the US baby apparel market. #BabyApparel #BabyCircus #USMarketExpansion #BusinessGrowth #Nearshoring

Building a brand is simple, but not easy. Before you hurt yourself rolling your eyes, read the attached story describing Vans’ fall from grace, and how new CEO Bracken Darrell is hoping to bring it back. Vans’ brand was a simple thing - a shoe skaters loved when skateboarding rose from ‘kid stuff’ to ‘counterculture’ status. The makers understood the culture. They lived it. They did their bit to build and nurture it. And then, like many successful things built by outsiders, they saw the bean counters move in and try to manage the grooviness. A bit like Dad breaking into your Saturday ramp session and insisting everyone watch him fakie from a standing start. Mortifying. Needless to say, if you allow the disconnect from the culture to continue (read the bit about central management wanting to introduce a wool Vans sneaker - Jesus H!!!) your brand disappears. Back to simple vs easy. Building a brand is simple in that it is a personification of a connection to a culture. The guys who made Vans knew what skaters wanted. But it isn’t easy, because if you’re blessed with success, you install layers of management that distance you from that culture. Beware the bean counters wanting to get into your cool culture to ‘improve’ it. #brandstrategy #culture #brand

Half way through an exciting week of learning, growth and development. Exciting things are on the horizon at the Crocs OHDC. I feel incredibly lucky to be part of it. Stay tuned! #insightsdiscovery #learninganddevelopment #growthstrategy

🌟🍹 Celebrating Barbie-in-a-blender Day! 🎉😄 Today, I want to share a unique and quirky holiday that brings back memories from my childhood - Barbie-in-a-blender Day! 🎀💕 Now, before you raise an eyebrow, let me clarify: this day is all about creativity and innovation. It's not about actually blending Barbie dolls! 😅 Instead, it serves as a fun reminder of the importance of thinking outside the box and embracing unconventional ideas. In my early career days, I worked in a team where we celebrated this day in a lighthearted yet impactful way. We gathered to brainstorm new product ideas and marketing strategies, and the rule was simple - no idea was too crazy or off-the-wall. 🚀💡 The results were mind-blowing! By encouraging open creativity and setting aside fear of judgment, we stumbled upon some truly revolutionary concepts. Of course, not all of them were feasible, but the process sparked inspiration and ignited our passion for innovation. The key takeaway from Barbie-in-a-blender Day is that innovation flourishes when we let go of limitations and explore ideas beyond the conventional. 💫 So, here's my challenge to all of you: Take a moment to reflect on your own workplace or projects. Are you embracing a culture of creativity and unconventional thinking? Are there opportunities to celebrate and encourage out-of-the-box ideas? #InnovationMatters #CreativityUnleashed #OutOfTheBoxIdeas #ThinkUnconventionally #BarbieInABlenderDay In the comments below, share your experiences or creative approaches in your industry. Let's celebrate the spirit of innovation and learn from each other! 🎉🤩 Whether you're in marketing, tech, finance, or any industry, embracing creativity and innovation can drive growth and transform your work into something extraordinary. So, let's blend some unconventional ideas together and raise a toast to creative thinking! 🍹🎉

When I started Kitty and Vibe in 2018, I wanted to fix the anxiety-inducing experience of swimsuit shopping. My motivating questions: Could I make swimsuit shopping *actually fun? Could I create a brand where everyone felt included, beautiful, and confident? So, I set out to create: Inclusive sizing for every booty  Prints (aka vibes) for every taste Real customers as models vs. airbrushed fakeness Confidence-boosting playlists to go with each order All the things I was looking for in my swimsuit try-on experience. To this day, one of my favorite parts of my job is getting letters from customers sharing the ways their try-on experience made them feel confident and beautiful. Operation “Make it more fun,” continues to this day and drives how we think about innovation and customer experience here at Kitty and Vibe. What drives you? What problems are you looking to solve? #branding #originstory #inclusionmatters

Hot take: outfitters are currently facing a four-way fork in the road. The way I see it, the way ahead involves one of four options: 🚧 Scaling up 🚧 Scaling down 🚦Embracing innovation (we’re talking “beyond-the-status-quo” and potentially “against-the-grain” innovation here) 🛑 Staying put and taking no action. Yes, taking no action itself IS an action. And with what lies ahead, opting to take no action will likely lead to an outfit’s slow and painful demise. For more context, and to discover the seasonal trends behind this unique crossroads, check out our Mid-Season Update: https://lnkd.in/gAp_94nJ #OutdoorOutfitters #WorkSmarter #Innovate #Crossroads