Sounds like an easy value-add for them or someone else to provide design/manufacture/drop-shipping for all the merch if you give them your logos and brief, or w

Sounds like an easy value-add for them or someone else to provide design/manufacture/drop-shipping for all the merch if you give them your logos and brief, or whatever. They save on effort, and you take a few percent yourself. Scale means you can make better arrangements with suppliers, and quite possibly everyone comes out ahead. Edit: to address the "is it even necessary?" question, I'd personally guess at 'yes'. Having some sort of tangible reward for your contribution, even if it's just a sticker, helps people justify the cost. Then they can wear your hat or t-shirt and get maximum indie "I funded them even before they were underground" credit. Also, free(ish) advertising for you.