47 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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?

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

  surprise surprise LOL

• 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.

• 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!

• 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.

• 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... ;-)]

• 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.

• 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....

• 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

• 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.

• 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...

• 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!

• CanadianBill | Jan 10, 2010, 03:39 PM EST

  Niall, I suspect the fact is that if PJs featuring Pebbles came out they'd be snapped up by the dozen. To me its far more important, re 'overkill' that Susan not go on the talk show circuit like most do. One quality show here and there is great and enough. The clothing line will appeal to serious fans, and I can't see it hurting Susan since its such a common thing now. As you say, Susan is very uncommon - it might be nice to avoid this - but her true Fans want these things I think, so they may as well be official products, rather than the ripoff merchandise already being marketed all over the place.

• beachpolly | Jan 10, 2010, 03:34 PM EST

  I agree with you that Susan is an inspiration not a check-out item.

• carol0911 | Jan 10, 2010, 03:29 PM EST

  There were a couple of things, I believe, that went into the decision to sell "Susan Boyle" official merchandise. Neither one of which, no doubt Susan knew or cared about. The first was that it was something her fans had asked for and that was being sold w/o the "official" status, thus no profit was going to Susan. The second was that something had to be in place for the time Susan tours. It is what fans expect and want and buy. I find it a bit naive to talk about "crass commercialism". Of course, it is commercialism just as selling albums is "commercialism". Being a "professional singer" which, by the way is all Susan wanted to do, means you make a living at it, which means you sell something, which leads to "commercialism". I don't see that as a bad thing. Susan is indeed an inspiration but she is also a professional who needs to make a living from what she does so brilliantly. So if fans want to own something with her name or image.......fine, why not. And if she gets part of the profit....fine, why not, she has worked very hard to get where she is and should profit from it.

• MalcomAC | Jan 10, 2010, 03:25 PM EST

  I think the other issue here is that of control. Her team as consistently been a step or two behind the curve on controlling her image. The official website was slow in coming while many others popped up. Now, this. The past few weeks have shown that a lot of creeps have taken advantage of this vacuum. The merchandise that made the headlines really forced their hands.

• PaulaMarie | Jan 10, 2010, 03:22 PM EST

  Susan is already on record as saying she plans to use most of the money she's making to support charitable causes she believes in. So a significant portion of the money made from marketing Susan merchandise will end up going to worthy charities. So I say, sell Susan sell!

• martyPA | Jan 10, 2010, 03:01 PM EST

  The only problem with them selling items with Susan's name on them is that all of the papers are acting like they're the only doing it. Her fans wanted this, asked repeatedly for this, and I think they should have done it sooner. No one will be forced to buy anything, but the items are there for those that want them. I don't want a T-Shirt, but if I did I'd prefer a protion of the royalties go to Susan, whose name would be on the shirt, than to someone cashing in on HER name. Malcom, I'm not a lonely old person but I've bought a few items on QVC and have been happy with them. What the difference if you order from Amazon or QVC or Walmart or BestBuy? You can call any place and have something delievered just as easily.

• Quirky111 | Jan 10, 2010, 02:56 PM EST

  No, it's not too much. Susan is the biggest star in the world right now, and many people want to buy Susan-Merchandise. I like the idea of the Pebbles-the-cat pajamas! lol I'd wear those, but I'm from the USA, so I'm pretty odd anyway.

• MalcomAC | Jan 10, 2010, 02:36 PM EST

  To be frank, I think selling albums on QVC is the height of crass commercialism. They take advantage of lonely old people. But that's the way this game is played now. Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, etc. all did this, so it is logical for Boyle's team to follow. Same here. The way the market - and today's celebrity culture - work now, you have to sell your own gear, or someone else will do it. In this sense, Boyle's team were really several months behind the game. There's no evidence that Boyle herself has made these decisions or cares one bit. It isn't really that big a deal.

• JohnBo1 | Jan 10, 2010, 02:10 PM EST

  The thing is that her fans want some thing to have and hold to connect to Susan. As long as it stays tasteful and sensible I do not see that some Susan Boyle memorabilia is going to harm any thing but, the powers that be should not go over board.

• SherryM | Jan 10, 2010, 01:58 PM EST

  Other top level singers also sell official merchandise - some examples below: http://barbrabtreisand.fanfire.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Store.woa/wa/artist?artistName=Barbra Streisand&sourceCode=BSTWEB http://celinedion.shop.musictoday.com/ http://sarahbrightman.shop.musictoday.com/Dept.aspx?cp=15900_15902 Therefore for Susan to have official merchandise is perfectly normal.

• vickiUSA | Jan 10, 2010, 01:57 PM EST

  I completely agree with Niall's statement; it reduces a great and unique talent and reduces her status by selling these clothing items. It smacks of greedy commercialism by her handlers. I don't care if many other artists are doing the same thing. With her talent she doesn't need this, and I feel it tarnishes her image significantly.

• SherryM | Jan 10, 2010, 01:28 PM EST

  I think it is great and ABOUT TIME that we had some merchandise authorized by Susan. Ever since April, people have been making money by the millions of dollars in selling items with her name and likeness - dolls, t-shirts, cups, you name it. For some fans like myself, we have not wanted to purchase anything which was not authorized by Susan so now this online shop fulfills this need. Do you really feel that it is better that total strangers are allowed to make millions off of Susan but she herself cannot sell items with her own likeness and name? Also millions of people enjoyed her singing for FREE on YouTube for months and months and still enjoy it for FREE. Now people are downloading her CD illegally for free. Give the woman a break and also give her true fans a break - the ones who want to buy only legal and authorized items.

• chutzpah1 | Jan 10, 2010, 01:25 PM EST

  I totally agree; Susan is a special person who deserves all the "praise and hoopla" that she deserves. A movie or book about Susan's life would be more appropiate!

• ksdust2009 | Jan 10, 2010, 01:20 PM EST

  re the red scarf, Susan's was given to her by a loving fan. fans at the LA airport, NY airport, The Morning Show (all in the US) and some at the London taping wore red scrafs so as to be identified as Susan fans. the idea was first discussed on forum.susan-boyle.com so those from the forum would know each other. I just want to acknowledge this. other fans were also welcome to join in the red scarf brigade. Susan was aware of this and wore the scarf given to her in LA to the NY appearance. Niall, thanks again for all your columns about Susan.

• dublingausafan | Jan 10, 2010, 12:53 PM EST

  the merchandise is all in fun- all this type of stuff has been selling for months by people all over not connected to susan- I bought a t-shirt with susan and I have a dream picture and gave to my young cousin who adored susan and had been in a nursing home the last year dying of brain cancer- she was a doctor and got much enjoyment watching and following susan and the next morning after i left the gift she passed away,

• shirleyo | Jan 10, 2010, 12:37 PM EST

  I'd like to know: 1. Has Susan and Susan's management team approved her commercialization? 2. Who will oversee what and how items are marketed? e.g. check for appropriateness, eliminate suggestive crude content. 3. Is there a legitimate patent (?) a legitimate contract for remuneration in royalty? Not that she'd need the 'extra' money, but I should think she has rights for use of her name. Bruce Springsteen - "The Boss" T-shirts, KISS band T-shirts, Miley Cyrus...many popular stars have T-shirts. Unless merchandise of poor taste shows up, it's not a bad thing to support as a fan.

• xeno000 | Jan 10, 2010, 12:33 PM EST

  All stars sell merchandise to their fans. It is far better for Susan to have authorized items sold in her own store that to have pirates illegally making untold millions off her name and image. Pebbles PJs would be far more tasteful ad appropriate than some of the stuff out there on the black market. Like men's underwear bearing Susan's likeness and vulgar slogans about her. It is preferable to have her team taking control of the huge market for Susan-related items and satisfying demand.

• ArielAZ | Jan 10, 2010, 12:18 PM EST

  Niall, I don't think even you realize how big Susan is. She is on her way to becoming as big as Elvis, and it's only natural that people want a souvenir of Susan, as well as a picture of her in their homes. She is beloved and people want to feel her presence around them--and on them. Souvenirs of great people are as old as time itself. You can't fight human nature. So at least let Susan approve of the souvenirs that bear her name and profit from their sale. Susan will know what to do with the money.

• skywriter | Jan 10, 2010, 12:13 PM EST

  MalcomAC has it right. There's a glut of items for sale on the Internet already. Some of them are very nice, others seriously objectionable. The only way to have any legal recourse and hope of shutting down the bootleggers is to have "official" or "licensed" merchandise available. I don't know if it's possible to trademark a person and/or a person's name, but the penalties for Trademark infringement are considerably stiffer than for licensing violations. I guess we'll know if we ever see Susan Boyle®.

• maryjob | Jan 10, 2010, 12:07 PM EST

  Niall, I agree with you 1000%. Susan makes music, & I will buy every bit she makes. She doesn't make T-shirts, or bags, or PJ's. She may get a pittance from sales of non-musical items, but she herself has said she's not in it for the money, and she'll get plenty of money from music sales. Buying an item of clothing I don't NEED, because it has her name on it, just wastes money I could spend on her music. I'd rather buy another album & give it away to a nursing home or a soldier overseas who would benefit from it. I can knit my own red scarf to wear when I go to the airport to meet her. This "shop" is the first step of turning real fans into cash cow zombies. Will the next step be Susan Boyle junk food? Susan is not a commodity. I have too much respect for her to treat her like one.

• missmatty | Jan 10, 2010, 12:01 PM EST

  Niall, I understand your unease, but money will be made from her fame in any event, and it should be SUSAN who feels the benefit and not some merchandise pirates. At the very least I hope that it will allow some legal protection for Susan's name regarding any merchandising.

• ArielAZ | Jan 10, 2010, 11:49 AM EST

  My black T with the silver Pebbles logo and Susan's name on the logo arrived yesterday. Looking forward to wearing it and advertising my love for Susan. I don't think she'd be ashamed of me representing her here in Arizona. I promise to brush up a bit before going out with it on. I look forward to chatting about Susan with whomever stops me to comment. I wouldn't give a penny to any Susan ripoff. I'm sure she will find many worthy causes to share some of her clothes profits with. And the press has got it wrong. It is not a clothing line or Susan fashion line. The line is strictly fan merchandise, T-shirts, tote bag (not handbags as reported), scarf, sweatshirt, etc., nothing fancy. Only complaint, very overpriced for what you get. I'm still waiting for someone to design a large black coffee mug with the famous Pebbles head shot on one side and a head shot of Susan on the other. Just make it large enough for a big cup of morning tea.

• MalcomAC | Jan 10, 2010, 11:43 AM EST

  In today's market, artists really have no choice but to do so. If you don't do it, someone else will. It's much easier for bootleggers to make big money selling items on the Internet. In the grand scheme of things, they're about six months late in doing this. I hope they choose to be above it all a bit by giving a % of receipts to charity or something like that.

• WildOldDan | Jan 10, 2010, 11:08 AM EST

  Howdy Niall, First off, let me thank you for your outstanding support of Susan Boyle from the get go. It is deeply appreciated by both Susan and all her fans. Ya know, I've thought quite a bit about this...before November 23rd of last year a good many of us just couldn't wait till we had the chance to actually hold a piece of Susan's dream in our hands. When her CD came out at last...well millions of folks bought the thing because of something wonderful and real...a world wide love for Susan. I've been a member of the Susan Boyle Fan outfit for quite a spell and folks have gathered there from all round the world all to celebrate Susan. When she came to New York a good many of our fans were there to greet her with red scarves on and some with specially made jackets. Why? To let her know how much she is loved. Fans want stuff to demonstrate their love for Susan...to show and tell the world how much they love this wonderful lady from Scotland. When a portion of the profits from that stuff actually goes to Susan in support of her dream...well, I reckon that's kinda special and kinda important to us. Niall, as you know, there just ain't no gettin' around it...the world loves Susan...and we want to show that love in every way that we can. This stuff helps us do that. Well, keep up the good work...and the good reportin' on Scotland's Singing Sensation...and thanks again for all that have done and will do in the future. Adios for now. Talk to ya on down the trail. Wild Ol' Dan

• trennie | Jan 10, 2010, 11:04 AM EST

  As to those who don't want Susan commercialized. What do you think being a "professional" singer is? It means she gets paid for her work. I hope Susan makes tons of money from everything. She'll put it to better use for the benefit of West Lothian, in general, and Blackburn, in particular, than most celebrities would for their home towns.

• RitaInIndy | Jan 10, 2010, 10:47 AM EST

  I'd love to have a pair of Susan's cat's pajamas! I don't see a problem with this, as long as the money goes to Susan and not people who peddle bogus merchandise. The fans want it, so what's the issue?

• jayhawk | Jan 10, 2010, 10:35 AM EST

  Niall..this is the first time that I have ever disagreed with you. After all, you are Susan's #1 supporter! Before Susan started her own Susan Boyle store on her official site I had ordered many things from other sites because I wanted to show my support for her by wearing tshirts,etc. Susan received nothing from this. Now at least she will profit and that is a good thing. There is nothing that would have stopped us avid Susan fans from ordering the other items so I'm glad that she has a store now. I just ordered the red scarf with Pebbles on it as the red scarf has become a must have essential to wear to a Susan event. She even wears the red scarf that someone from our fansite gave to her because we see it in pictures of her taken in Scotland,etc. It makes us feel that she is saying "hi" to her fans! Please reconsider your opinion..we want Susan things and she should receive any profits, not someone else.

• Kate610 | Jan 10, 2010, 10:29 AM EST

  Apparently we, Ms. Boyle's fans, are responsible for this turn of events. I don't think that a little merchandise is going to be detrimental to Ms.Boyle. Little could take away her spirit, her dignity and her amazing talent.

• prettywoman | Jan 10, 2010, 10:20 AM EST

  Thanks for the concern for susan boyle she really deserve to be love and guided by true people. I hope her her niece behind her will always there to support her.

• prettywoman | Jan 10, 2010, 10:16 AM EST

  I am agree too to the above statement. Hope they will not misused the sudden fame of susan boyle and kick her out soon by the jealous people who does nothing but to criticize my woman of the year 2009.

• Jessie12 | Jan 10, 2010, 10:03 AM EST

  I agree , but the problem here is that the fans clamoured for it to counter the huge surfeit of unauthorised goods on the internet and on ebay, and they did not like the idea that other people were making money from the Susan Boyle name and they wanted Susan to benefit. It's a fine line getting the balance right and I personally hope that it stops here but when it's fan driven it's going to be hard.

• kathleenC | Jan 10, 2010, 09:10 AM EST

  I thoroughly agree! It's the spirit and voice of this humble woman that the world wants and needs, not crass commercialism. I doubt that her managers ever see letters like this; but they do respond to columnists and editors. Use your consideravle influence, Niall!