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Buyers should beware of Susan Boyle overkill

NIALL O'DOWD,

IrishCentral.com Publisher

Published Sunday, January 10, 2010, 8:59 AM

Updated Sunday, January 10, 2010, 9:54 AM

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47 Comments

One of the site's Susan Boyle T-shirts

So Susan Boyle has joined the long list of performers who now have their own clothes store online.

The items there are very nice, ranging from pop art to sensible outerwear and copies of the famous red scarf that Susan wears.

But I wonder if it is all becoming too much? Is this the beginning of a slippery slope?

Everywhere we look these days there is another new Susan Boyle app for the followers to snap up.

Believe me, I'm fine with the record sales – she deserves every penny from them. But the latest clothing line strikes me as the beginning of overkill. Susan Boyle is a unique product, one that should not be wallowing in crass commercialism

What we will have next? Cats’ pajamas featuring Pebbles? The site, by the way, is at http://susanboyle.shop.bravadousa.com.

I know I'm swimming against the tide here, but Susan was always a unique story, one that gladdened the hearts of millions of people worldwide. Reducing her to a Wal Mart store item is not where I thought she should be.

She is an inspiration, not a check-out item, she is a symbol, not a dollar sign. I hope her backers understand that before they take all this a little too far. Let's not lose sight of the essential Susan Boyle and the inspirational message she represents.

Nster.com

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47 Comments

15 - 47 | See all comments

Mistisea | Feb 05, 2010, 03:24 AM EST

First of all, SusaFans were BEGGING for official merchandise. :) While I have not purchased any of it (at least not yet) why should Susan not have official merchandise available for those who want it? LOL I might even be tempted myself by the Pebbles PJs. Go Susan! Niall, I have to admit your surprised me by this one.

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AmericanReader | Jan 11, 2010, 03:32 PM EST

It was bound to happen, but keep the stuff good quality and benefitting Susan directly through her website and concert sales only. I don't want to see cheap knockoffs in Walmart or Rite Aid or eBay.

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Puck101 | Jan 11, 2010, 12:12 PM EST

I also wanted to mention that since SB isn't writing her own material (at least not yet), and that's where the big bucks are, this is a good way to boost income. Publishing, touring and merchandising are what have always given artists the monetary edge.

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Puck101 | Jan 11, 2010, 12:07 PM EST

Nowadays merchandising is at least as big a part of the artist's income as CD sales are, bc of file sharing etc... Susan is one of the rare exceptions. The difference is that the goods are generally sold at concerts, and of course on the artist's official sites. The idea of selling thru Walmart is obnoxious, but hey I wasn't keen on the home shopping net idea. Selling product on tours, would be the respectable, all artists do that...Ts, hoodies... Is she planning a tour?

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busterbrown | Jan 11, 2010, 06:03 AM EST

surprise surprise LOL

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roseofengland | Jan 11, 2010, 05:15 AM EST

I agree with you, Niall. It doesn't seem necessary to me for this megastar to go into merchandising, her magnificent voice and unique personality will keep her at the top. However, other people think and feel differently. There's no right or wrong. I will buy any cd, book, view any programme about her, support her in any way I can but I'm not into T shirts, mugs etc. It must be quite difficult for her and her advisers to keep all of her many fans happy. We all want her to remain happy, healthy and successful, so let's keep on supporting her in whatever way we feel most comfortable.

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Marjenda | Jan 11, 2010, 12:46 AM EST

It's all about change and what the new do. Now it's all about merchanding.I have bought a few items from the Susan Boyle store and check back regularly for more items being added. I do think Elvis started this way back when and it slowly caught on. People want this crap. The movies do the same thing. If you don't want it don't buy into it. But lets face it...it is the new era!

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ohiocathy | Jan 11, 2010, 12:13 AM EST

Seems to me everyone was asking for a store where they could buy stuff of Susan's. Strike while the iron is hot and right now she is smokin.

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myOpinion | Jan 10, 2010, 11:25 PM EST

I personally am not keen on t-shirts and mugs etc. I prefer photos and dvds of the artist. As for Susan's merchandise going on sale I think it's too soon. To date, she has been promoting her CD and fullfilled her BGT obligations. She hasn't done her own concert tour. Early days still. However, one thing that Susan doesn't know is that she has her own religion !!! [...go ye and make followers of all... ;-)]

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JolyJoly | Jan 10, 2010, 10:23 PM EST

@graysea, Don't worry, good fan, she made something like $8,000,000 in two weeks. The downloads, the other things, made that possible.

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JolyJoly | Jan 10, 2010, 10:21 PM EST

So as long as she is an underdog it's ok, but not if she is an actual success? Personally, I'm keen on the Pebbles pj's, but that's not the point. Susan is allowed to go all the way, as far as I am concerned. She does not have to maintain an underdog status, and can have everything life can bring her. No one says these things about other stars....

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winship1716 | Jan 10, 2010, 07:40 PM EST

i think that we as fans should stay out of susans business we should support any thing she wants to do we are not here to tell her what to do if she is happy with a store then she should have it

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graysea | Jan 10, 2010, 06:21 PM EST

Niall, there are too many people out there making a buck on Susan and Susan isn't getting one cent on the stuff. For example, the video we all love, IDAD, over 88 million hits, and Susan hasn't made any money off that. How many people have made downloaded/videos/music from all the shows, just so they can hear and see Susan. The "team" is way behind the curve. They have plenty of shows that could be on DVD's(already done, like the duet with EP and SB) that people would buy in a minute. I do not like the fact that others are putting out SB products and Susan isn't getting anything out of the profits. Why isn't someone stopping this piracy? Susan worked very hard to get where she is and deserves to reap the rewards of her labor.

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MARK/USA | Jan 10, 2010, 04:48 PM EST

NIALL, WHAT? YOU DRINKING IRISH BEER THIS MORNING OR WHAT.. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS OVERKILL WITH THE QUUEEN OF SCOTLAND AND IRELAND AND WALES AND THE CONQUEROR OF THE UNITED STATES.SUSAN BOYLE NIALL, WE YUV SUSAN... I YUV HER, NAILL. PLAEASE ASK HER TO MARRY ME, NIALL. HEY, STOP IT WITH THE OVERKILL THING. IM NOT GONNA BE WEARING WOMEN'S CLOTHES SOON, BUT I BUY SOME FOR MY MOM WHO IS HER HUGE FAN. HAVE A NICE SUNDAY NIALL...

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Hopeful | Jan 10, 2010, 03:58 PM EST

She's such a unique person - if she really has any say about the clothing line, I think it will be a very interesting line! I kind of like the idea!

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