~ Studdard ditches 205 jerseys Options

[Norbu]

[img]http://a799.g.akamai.net/3/799/388/60d3fbc523ea34/www.msnbc.com/news/1926757.jpg[/img]
Number represented Birmingham area code
ASSOCIATED PRESS BIRMINGHAM, Ala., June 10 — “American Idol” winner Ruben Studdard said he no longer will wear the colorful jerseys that helped set him apart from other contestants on the Fox television show. Studdard wore the jerseys emblazoned with the numbers 2-0-5 — referring to the area code for his hometown of Birmingham — throughout much of the competition, which he won last month on a vote by TV viewers.
Should Ruben Studdard keep wearing 205 jerseys?
* 3653 responses
Yes, it's his trademark
38%
No, he needs to branch out
62%

BUT IN AN interview Sunday with The Birmingham News, Studdard said “a combination of things” led him to decide not to wear the shirts made by 205 Flava Inc. anymore.
“I will always represent the area 205, but 205 Flava is not indicative of what I am about,” Studdard, 24, said while in Birmingham to record the video for his new single, “Flying Without Wings.”
He would not elaborate further on his decision.
Willie Jenkins, an owner of 205 Flava, said Sunday he was stunned at the news. “I don’t understand why this man would say what he said,” Jenkins said. “I have been behind him 110 percent.”
Jenkins said Studdard asked him about wearing a jersey to represent Birmingham after making the top 32 on the show.
From then on, the store shipped jerseys to Studdard in Los Angeles every week when he needed them, Jenkins said.

Studdard’s wearing the jerseys led to increased sales, but the men had no formal agreement that he would be paid for his endorsement.
“I want Ruben to be rewarded for his success via merchandise sales,” said Alvin Garrett, Studdard’s close friend and business partner for the Music Caterers entertainment company. “I don’t want people to prosper if they are exploiting my friend.”
Jenkins said he is talking with Studdard’s entertainment company about an endorsement deal but none has been made.

[Naija79]

I can understand that. Flava never paid Ruben for all that advertisement he was giving them on American Idol for all those 24 weeks, so if Flava 205 wants continued recognition of their jerseys, they'll have to cough up some money for it. It's all about business, you know?

[Stutterin'4Studdard]

Let' see ...young man walk into your TWO MAN T-shirt shop ...tells you he is about to be on a nationally watched show ...asks for a special made product ...you make it and sell it to him ...he goes on show and does really really well ...all of a sudden you GIVE him free jerseys ...while expanding your business (due totally to the young man); now, you are no longer a 2 man shop ...you are a 150 person enterprise ...and you expect to buy that young man off with a free jersey per week ...even though you are selling THOUSANDS of these things at $150 a pop. Does the words " Endorsement fees" mean anything to you?? How about "Lebron James"?? He's the young man who plays basketball ...and signed a 90 million endorsement deal with Nike ...and hasn't shot one basket in the NBA!

Flava blew this ...they should have negotiated better ...they were making money hand over fist off of the efforts of Ruben ...had he not been successful (or even entered the contest) they would STILL be a 2 man t-shirt company

Ruben did the right thing

[Rubenfan04]

I thought it was a good idea that he ditched the 2-0-5 jerseys. Why should he have worn them bringing in money to the makers of the jerseys when he's not gettin' paid a dime for representing those jerseys while on American Idol. I think this should be publicized that he will not be wearing the 2-0-5 jerseys so they wont be making all the money that they are currently making. It's their loss. [/B] -Krissy-

[Rubenfan04]

I thought it was a good idea that he ditched the 2-0-5 jerseys. Why should he have worn them bringing in money to the makers of the jerseys when he's not gettin' paid a dime for representing those jerseys while on American Idol. I think this should be publicized that he will not be wearing the 2-0-5 jerseys so they wont be making all the money that they are currently making. It's their loss. [/B] -Krissy-

[harley05]

Its all about greed you know.

[piesces4lyfe]