Sometimes an idea just clicks into place

A Cork couple with a shared passion for Lego are building their new family business brick by brick, literally.

Ireland has a strong Lego community, and anyone familiar with the 'toy' will know what there is little more frustrating or disappointing than building a set and realising that you’re missing a crucial piece – or six.

That’s where Carrigaline-based Lego lovers Andrzej Skrobski and Anna Frost come in. A few weeks back they launched their startup ByteStorm from their attic.

“I'm a huge fan of Lego and I always was. I still have my sets from when I was five years old, Lego cars, Lego trains and they still work,” Andrzej told the Cork Independent.

The idea is that anyone in need of a specific brick, be it to finish a set or for one of their own creations, can browse the ByteStorm website and pick out exactly what they need, and it will be shipped straight to their door.”

The couple have amassed a vast inventory of original Lego bricks, meticulously sorted, and categorized. Whether it's a Technic gear, a colourful minifigure accessory, or a standard building block, customers can browse through the online catalogue and order precisely what they need. But the innovation doesn't stop there. Understanding the importance of authenticity in the Lego community, Andrzej and Anna guarantee that all their bricks are genuine Lego products, ensuring compatibility and quality for every build.

“We use a library system, so they are all segregated by numbers, by columns, by colours, by shapes. I always had a dream that I would have a library in my life, but I didn't expect it to be a Lego library,” said Anna.

Since getting up and running, the response has been great, and Andrzej and Anna have found themselves meeting orders of 2,000 and 3,000 bricks at a time.

In Andrzej and Anna’s experience, some of the most in-demand pieces these days are flat, glossy pieces often used to give a smooth finish to a design. Lego Technic, the more advanced version of Lego, is also popular with people looking for very specific, technical parts. Then there are the city builders who are looking for large street tiles on which to build their own Lego city.

Asked why Lego has stood the test of time, Andrzej says the quality of the product and the appeal to all ages has played a big role.

“I think it's great for creativity and imagination and it's good for kids and adults. I have friends who are adults, and they still play with Lego, even some of our neighbours collect Lego sets,” said Andrzej.

Anna added: “I think we were born in the time where everyone had it, then it was a little bit more quiet, and later we are here again and we are introducing Lego to our kids.”

Andrzej continued: “It's called the dark age; in the late '90s, Lego became less popular for a few years and now it's becoming more popular again. It's a great educational toy for kids. Much better than all of the electronic devices like tablets and smartphones.”

Lately, the possibility of an official Lego shop coming to Cork city has been mentioned here and there, and Andrzej and Anna say it would be a great idea and that there are more than enough hardcore Lego enthusiasts in Cork alone to warrant it.

“I will be there every day – twice,” said Anna.

To see what Andrzej and Anna have on offer, visit bytestorm.brickowl.com.