Q&A: This AIP Wants To Create A Limited Line Of $Ape Merch For DAO Members To Wear At Ape Fest 2023

There is an Ape Improvement Proposal on the ballot this week that aims to create a limited line of ApeCoin merchandise and distribute it to active DAO members so they can be dripped out in $Ape for the Bored Ape Yacht Club’s Ape Fest 2023!

AIP -299 titled “ApeCoin merch for the ApeFest,” is an ecosystem allocation fund proposal written by ApeCoin DAO Contributor Normie.

“I would like the ApeCoin DAO to give away (for free) ApeCoin DAO merch to Ape Fest participants meeting some criteria,” Normie wrote. “This is aimed to increase the awareness about, and participation in, the DAO among the wider Yuga ecosystem.”

In total, Normie is asking the DAO to allocate up to $8,300 USD worth of $Ape to create 100 $Ape merch bundles that include a hat, a shirt and a hoodie.

With the creation of these 100 Merch bundles, Normie hopes that the DAO will gain traction during Ape Fest and get more BAYC interested in $Ape!

To find out more about AIP-299 and why merch is important, the Bored Ape Gazette reached out to Normie for an interview. Check it out below:

In a sentence or two can you sum up your AIP?

“This AIP asks for milestone-based funding to procure and distribute merch (hoodies + t-shirts + caps) during the Ape Fest.”

What made you want to write this AIP?

“ApeCoin DAO is doing some really cool stuff but the wider Yuga ecosystem is often unaware about it. I aim to create more awareness about Apecoin DAO by having active Apecoin DAO members rep Apecoin DAO merch during Ape Fest. Additionally, I love merch and most people I know do as well. I don’t think we have any ApeCoin merch yet. So, I thought of creating this low risk AIP (initial funding before any milestones is just $300).”

Why is having DAO merch important?

“People in this space love getting and wearing merch. Additionally, high quality merch has a great return on investment because, men, especially, continue wearing merch for years spreading word about the DAO.”

What does success and what does failure look like for AIP-299?

“Success would be people loving and showing off their merch during Ape Fest. And that consequently bringing in many new people to the DAO .I’m hoping that failure would be reasonably less expensive. Because the first milestone is getting samples approved by trusted/ respected community members. If the quality is approved and designs are selected (voting in the discord) by the community, I’m not sure why would it fail later. So I’m hoping that if there is failure, it’s early and inexpensive.”

Do you have any plans or mockups for possible merch designs? If you do, can you share them? If you do not, how will AIP-299 come up with designs?

“I don’t have mockups yet but the designs I have in mind are very simple. As this is the first batch of merch for the DAO, I want to make something low risk which most people will appreciate. For each item (hoodie, t-shirt, cap), I will create 3 designs which the community will vote on to select 1 design for each.”

If this AIP is passed and the merch is successful at Ape Fest, what’s next for you?

“I will create another AIP for merch at the next Ape fest! That will give us a year to create something elaborate and create a goodie bag with a lot more cool stuff!”

Do you have anything else you’d like to add or say?

“I think I have mentioned this a couple of times already, but wanted to highlight again, as this key piece of information is missing in the snapshot summary (but mentioned in the detailed AIP post). The initial funding request is only $300. Only if trusted community members approve the initial samples, 50% of additional funding will be released. I have designed milestones to make this as low risk for the DAO as possible.”

The window to vote on AIP-299 is currently open and ApeCoin DAO Contributors have until next Wednesday, September 6th, to cast their coins.

$Apes can read Normie’s full AIP here: https://forum.apecoin.com/t/aip-299-apecoin-merch-for-the-apefest/16791

The Bored Ape Gazette will continue to follow AIP-299 and will let you know how the DAO votes next week. Stay tuned for updates!