The Revolutionary Idea Behind Brick Borrow
Any adult LEGO fan has encountered a similar problem. It is enormously enjoyable to set up the sets, but once finished comes the drama: where do we place it? The lack of space in modern homes or the impossibility of collecting several sets due to the space they occupy has led to the creation of a business especially aimed at those who do not want to give up building new sets, but do not need to keep them. Brick Borrow rents LEGO sets, which are then returned.
How Brick Borrow Works
Brick Borrow offers users the possibility of renting iconic sets by paying a fixed fee, always for an unlimited time. The amount of the fee determines what can be rented as follows:
- Mystery Set (9.99 euros): Brick Borrow chooses which set to send. Only one set per month.
- Builder (14.99 euros): The customer chooses what they want from the Brick Borrow catalogue. Unlimited loans every month. Only one set at a time. There is an annual version with a small discount.
- Master (24.99 euros): Like Builder, but with two sets per month.
There are dozens of available sets in a catalog that is constantly growing, and as expected, we can find some of the most iconic: Mario Kart, the Shire from ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ the Temple of the Golden Idol from Indiana Jones, Snow White’s cabin, the Creeper from ‘Minecraft,’ the house from ‘Up!,’ the ship from ‘Jaws,’ a Concorde, Hogwarts, the Infinity Gauntlet, a bonsai, Sonic’s first level, Darth Vader’s helmet, and a long etcetera…
The Wonderful World of AFOLs
This service is clearly aimed at adult LEGO fans (or AFOL: Adult Fans Of LEGO), a typology that ranges from rigorous collectors to creative builders who see LEGO as a form of artistic expression . Many value the building experience as much or more than the finished result. Rental introduces an interesting dimension for them: it democratizes access to complex or expensive sets that are sometimes inaccessible to a large part of the community. Aspects that a child does not appreciate, such as completism or playing with rare sets, are thus more accessible to this type of adult fans.
Building as Therapeutic Activity
It is more than proven that there is a therapeutic value of play in adults. Additionally, services like Brick Borrow (there are others, especially in the US, such as NetBricks, Brick Library, Blockria, Brickdrop, Lend A Brick, and Chorley Bricks) allow us to focus on an aspect of LEGO that sometimes goes unnoticed: building rather than enjoying the finished set. The activity of assembling blocks works as a mental escape and relaxation, similar to meditative or creative practices. The concentration on small pieces and the satisfaction of seeing a structure take shape generates a binding pleasure that transcends simple fun.
The Economics of Access in the Modern World
There is a global trend linked to a market increasingly dominated by subscriptions and temporary access to goods, allowing people to experience products without the burden of storage or constant spending. Brick Borrow is not a unique experiment; we have seen it before on platforms that rent luxury clothing or technology. This model implies a more responsible use of products, promoting the so-called “economy of access,” which emphasizes reuse, repair, recycling, and waste reduction. Unlike the traditional linear model of “use and throw away,” this approach maintains products’ values for as long as possible, minimizing environmental impact and promoting sustainable consumption.
The introduction of rental services like Brick Borrow significantly alters how adult LEGO fans engage with their passion while supporting a more sustainable and responsible consumption model. By focusing on the act of building, these services empower the community to experience the joy of creation without the constraints of ownership. Whether for relaxation, creative expression, or simply the thrill of building, Brick Borrow offers a refreshing alternative for AFOLs, one that could very well define the future of the adult LEGO experience.