Team building week with Micki®

When Micki came to us, they first wanted to create a 75th anniversary celebration. It turned into a full week of team building when Micki also gained a number of new colleagues through a company acquisition.

Micki, a well-known toy manufacturer, initially asked Contrast to create a concept and organize their big 75th anniversary. It turned into a full week of team building when Micki simultaneously gained a number of new colleagues through a company acquisition. With a clear objective, we created a series of relationship-building activities in true Micki spirit.

BACKGROUND. Family-owned Micki Leksaker from Gemla in Småland has a long history. In addition to the classic wooden toys, many people recognize the brands Pippi, Skrållan and Lundby. With its 60 employees, Micki® takes great care to produce sustainable, high-quality toys, with the aim of creating a love of play in both parents and children.

CHALLENGE. Micki asked Contrast to create a concept and organize their big 75th anniversary. This was eventually postponed due to the pandemic. When the restrictions were lifted, the mission had a greater purpose - to reunite and strengthen the 'family ties' that have always been so important in the family business. In addition, Micki® had now acquired the company "Rubens Barn", and the new colleagues had neither visited Gemla nor met the staff there.

SOLUTION. Under the concept name "Micki-Kul Together", named after the company's very first toy, we created a whole week full of activities on the theme of Reunion. The aim was precisely to reunite and at the same time welcome the new members into the Micki family.

The keywords were “creative,” “playful,” “family-friendly,” and “historic yet modern.” During the week, activities included a networking lunch at the warehouse, a two-day creative workshop, and a dinner event at the company’s historic premises. Live music was performed by the band Crazy Daze, which gives people with diverse abilities the opportunity to pursue their dreams and talents—something that is important to Micki, which employs several people with diverse abilities.

OUTCOME. The creative workshop took place in the Old Drum Room, where wooden blocks used to be painted, as evidenced by the splashes of paint on the floor. Here, new Micki-kul sculptures were designed based on the 1940s model, a popular team-building activity with a strong link to the company's history. The week ended with a real party night in the company's historic premises, where details from the 1940s still remain, with playful activities - in true Micki spirit.

Photo: Lena G Strömberg, Micki Leksaker AB