Announcing the Wendell August Genesis NFT Collection
Our mission has always been to create functional art that will shape your life’s special moments. We are committed to continue crafting gifts our customers can give their loved ones that will be passed down for generations to come — each one with a unique story and feeling.
Wendell August gifts are crafted to intertwine your cherished relationships with treasured memorabilia. In our 99 years of business, our mission remains the same — and always will.
Yet, the world is changing. Many aspects of life around us are becoming increasingly more digital. From virtual work, online classes, and an entire generation dubbed ‘the zoomies,’ to children socializing over video games, Facebook’s ‘metaverse,’ digital money and art — the world in front of us is blending with digital experiences, and it is our duty to continue to deliver what our customers want, when they want it.
The emerging digital landscape has inspired us to take steps to bring our product suite to the next level. NFTs — digital art built on blockchain technology — are proving to be the next evolution of consumer collectibles, gift giving, and communities. They don’t expire, break, or get lost — rather, they are forever yours and can be passed down generationally as the world becomes increasingly more dependent on digital products. As we enter this space, we want to bring our loyal customers with us, and are committed to making this process easy for you. No longer will our products only last a lifetime — with NFTs, our products will last forever.
We join many global consumer brands taking the leap into digital collectibles. You may have heard that Adidas, Gucci, Gap, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Tommy Hilfiger, Perry Ellis and many more retail brands have launched debut NFT collections. Each of these companies have communicated a powerful message by their cross-industry entrance into NFT products: digital items will soon complement many aspects of physical commerce.
So, what exactly is an NFT? NFTs, short for ‘non-fungible tokens,’ are 100% unique digital collectibles. They are the intersection of digital products, experiences, and receipts. Embedded in a product itself, you can own and carry proof that it is owned by you, all in one. Historically, one-of-a-kind items ranged from collectible baseball cards, original artwork, and any relic whose value can’t be exchanged 1 for 1. NFTs bring these items and their proof of ownership online.
Remember that Babe Ruth rookie card people always dreamed of collecting? This rare card is called a non-fungible item because it cannot be interchanged for another of its kind — it is completely unique and owned only by you. Taking this concept of non-fungibility a step further, a non-fungible token, or NFT, is a digital, unique, non-fungible item whose proof of ownership and security is protected by blockchain technology in a trust-less way. Embedded in the digital item is the history of the NFT — its origin, price and ownership history, and receipt of current ownership — all of which can never be erased. A fungible item, on the other hand, is the U.S. Dollar bill, which is interchangeable for both value and usage with other dollars.
By introducing non-fungible items into our product suite, we are enabling our customers to create experiences for their loved ones that can never be erased, be passed down for generations to come, and will be truly one of a kind. We believe that with the emergence of digital collectibles and increasingly digital everyday life experiences, introducing NFTs into our products will enable your loved ones to bring remembrance of you everywhere they go.
As we enter our 100th year in the collectible business, we are excited join the next generation of collectibles, and even more excited for you to take this journey with us. Please stay tuned for upcoming announcements on the details of our genesis NFT collection, step-by-step directions on how to get involved, and the special utilities our NFTs will provide for their holders — now and for years to come.
To learn more about our genesis NFT collection, please visit www.wendellaugust.com/nft, follow us on Twitter, and join our Discord.
