Totem Tuesday: September 3rd, 2024
Hey fam—
We've got some exciting news to share...
So if you don't mind,
I'd like to jump right into this thing.
May I?
Thank you.
Welcome to
the one...
the only...
🙌 TOTEM TUESDAY 🙌
(everyone's favorite weekly inbox party, est. November 2023)
Alright Tribe—it's time to get our Vibe on. 😎
Before we get started, here are 3 quick (and important) announcements:
1) ⬇️ Timeline Update ⬇️
Here's the news you all have been waiting for...
We have wrapped up QA Testing, and production is officially underway. That means we expect that shipping will begin sometime in October.
In the coming weeks, we'll be able to get more specific about when in October it will begin... so stay tuned. 😘
Thank you so much for your patience these last few months.
The wait will be worth it, I promise.
2) 🫶 We're Hiring 🫶
The Totem team is growing once again.
Totem is looking for a Marketing Manager who loves this brand, this product, and the festival community at-large.
Someone who embodies our core values in their daily life.
Someone who is ready for the greatest challenge (and opportunity) of their career.
Do you know this person?
Perhaps... you see them in the mirror every morning? 😉
If so,
tell them to check out the Job Posting at the link below.
🫶 Totem Marketing Manager - Job Post 🫶
.
OK! That is more than enough housekeeping, thank you very much.
Let's do this thing.
You ready?
This, dearest family, is our weekly progress report to all our favorite people.
Welcome to the Totem Tuesday 3-2-1.
3 things we accomplished,
2 things we learned,
1 thing coming up
Let’s go, Tribe!
🙌
3 things we accomplished
1) Production Greenlight
As of last week, we have officially given the greenlight for production!
Our manufacturer is ready to go, with the final design and final hardware.
This design and hardware has been thoroughly validated through rigorous QA Testing at festivals around the world over the last few months.
HOW EXCITING IS THAT?!? 🥳
Manufacturing, assembly, and quality control will be professionally handled by our contract manufacturer. And our logistics partners (both domestic and international) are ready & waiting!
While production is underway, we'll be continuing to refine the software and fine-tune the UX before shipping begins next month.
The wait is almost over... this is going to be fun 😁
2) New Product Page
Our brand-new Product Page went live just a few hours ago, with a MASSIVE face lift.
Seriously, you won't even recognize her. 😍
She's got...
✨ new visuals & product photos
✨ every piece of info we could think of
✨ answers for every question you could ask
and so much more.
It's a game-changer.
Plus, it's a pretty awesome scrolling experience (especially if you've never been on a page with horizontal scroll) 😘
Check it out—here's the link!
3) New Homepage Video
We've also got a brand-spankin-new homepage video!
By now, I'm sure that you've all seen the original YouTube video that announced our product back in February. She was special and we love her—but it was about time for an update after 6.5 months! My, how time flies.
We kept the original song for sentimental reasons, as an homage to the early days.
Before the viral posts.
Before the press coverage.
Before the international partnerships
We've come such a long way since February... and we're grateful for every single moment.
Check out the new video on YouTube, or on our shiny new product page.
2 things to learn
1) Persistent Bonds
Recently we've gotten a lot of questions about the Bonding process.
Things like...
"Can I bond with my friends before the festival, then find them there if we enter at different times?"
or
"What happens to my Bonds when I turn the Totem off?"
Here's the low-down. 👇
There's only one thing that can break a Totem's Bond: you!
Totems remember their Bonded Peers until you decide to delete them. Even when you turn the Totem off. Even if it dies. They always remember. 🫶
Your bonds are persistent, which means they will never be forgotten—they can only deleted by the user.
That's love, baby. It doesn't go away just because you went to sleep! 😘
2) SOS in Morse Code
Any chance you know Morse Code?
If so, you might recognize the crystal blinks in the gif below.
Here's a Totem fun fact...
When your friend hits their SOS button, it will make your crystal blink the message "SOS" in Morse Code!
Pretty cool, eh?
This only happens in Vibe Mode (aka when the Totem is hanging vertically) and it's designed to catch people's attention.
The SOS button is designed to make people feel safe and free whenever they're away from their loved ones. As long as you have your Totem, you're never truly alone. 🫶
1 thing to look forward to
Freedom is a huge part of our mission at Totem.
Freedom of movement. Freedom of choice. Freedom of self-expression.
It's very important to us that you are able to make your Totem feel like it's truly YOURS. Like it's an extension of yourself and your own vibe.
Wanna see some alternative lanyard styles? 😘
We're planning to have 3 alternative lanyard packs to start out...
✨ The Luxe Pack ✨
🌼 The Hippie Pack 🌼
💪 The HARD Pack 💪
The images below are NOT final, but they will give you a decent idea of where we're going with this...
What do you think?
Which option would you choose?
Let us know in the survey below!
Feel Real Again
Hey there 😊👋
Have you ever wondered WHY the Totem is designed to work without any screens or apps?
Here's the answer...
Totem exists to bring people together. Not just physically—but mentally, emotionally, and socially. One way we do that is through our commitment to no screens and no apps.
Massive companies all around the world make their living by convincing you that the most important things in life are not happening in front of you.
This is tragic. Your life happens right here, right now—nowhere else. Blink, and you can miss it.
Smartphones, apps, screens… they all have an insidious way of ripping you out of life’s most beautiful moments without your conscious consent.
But Totem isn't here to pull you out of the real world. We are here to help immerse you in the real world.
We empower people to be more present during the most magical moments of their lives.
To experience real joy alongside the ones they love.
To connect on a deeper human level.
We’re here to make life feel simpler. We’re here to make life feel easier to manage.
With Totem, people can actually navigate the real world and coordinate with the people they love without their cell phones.
With Totem, people can actually feel real again.
Totem Team, out.
✌️
(P.S. — if this is your first Totem Tuesday, we hiiighly recommend that you go back and check out the Totem Tuesday archives. Every single decision we’ve made with the product is detailed extensively in past editions. Have fun 😘)
