Post-it® Brand has helped people be more productive, communicate better, and more creative for over 40 years.
These goods are now ubiquitous, yet their origins were uncertain. The Canary Yellow phenomenon taught us that patience is just as vital as inspiration when bringing a concept to reality.
BEGINNING:
Discovery
3M scientist Spencer Silver was studying adhesives. In the process, he discovered a light adhesive that didn’t adhere strongly.
“As a researcher, I developed novel adhesives.
We wanted bigger, stronger, tougher adhesives.”
“None of those,” answered Silver.
Silver identified microspheres that keep their stickiness yet have a “removability property”
Gospel-preaching
Innovation in Bunsen burner chemistry
Silver spent years trying to sell his technology. He still bragged about his invention to coworkers.
“I became Mr. Persistent because I wouldn’t quit.”
Art Fry, another 3M scientist, was frustrated. Every Wednesday night while practicing with his church choir, he’d use scraps of paper to mark future hymns. By Sunday, they’d all fallen out of the songbook.
He required a non-damaging bookmark.
Congratulations!
Thinking back to a session on Silver’s microspheres, he got his “eureka moment”1
Developing a product with Silver. Once they started using their new notes to communicate, they understood the idea’s potential.
Fry: “This isn’t a bookmark.” “A new way to communicate”
You’ll enjoy it
Two chemists test Post-it®.
Fry tested himself at 3M’s headquarters.
Fry gave the corporation new adhesive notes.
They were popular.
3M debuted Press ‘n Peel in four cities with mixed results.
blitz
The product was sold directly to consumers. The Boise Blitz sampling attempt was a huge success. 90% of testers stated they’d buy the product.
1980 to 1986
Born Star
A Star is Born scientist Dr. Spencer Silver with Post-it® on forehead light bulb emblem.
The notes gained popularity instantly. Customers would put the notes on documents they gave to others, stirring the recipient’s curiosity. They’d look at it, peel it off, and play with it, then buy a pad for themselves.
Silver stated theirs was a product nobody needed until they did.
Yellow shines
Silver and Fry’s unsung hero became Post-it® Notes on April 6.
Its now-iconic Canary Yellow tint was accidental.
Next-door lab only had yellow scrap paper.
Lee Iaccoa and other Fortune 500 CEOs adored them. Canada and Europe get Post-it® Notes.
Magnificence
Fry is the company’s corporate researcher. Post-it® Flags were invented as a tool to organize with color coding, filing, and indexing.
1997-87
Tenacity
The Post-it® Note celebrated its 10th anniversary and made many top-product lists.
Introduced: Post-it® Easel Pads. Then, brainstorming changed.
Spencer Silver, co-founder of Post-it® Notes, retired from 3M with 22 US patents.
Both Silver and Fry achieved top research accolades and worldwide engineering awards at 3M.
2001-2003
Hollywood Post-it®
Post-it® two-pack
Romy and Michele claim to have invented Post-it® Notes since graduation.
The average professional receives 11 Post-it® Notes every day, according to a research.
Over 100 nations sell Post-it® Notes. Many 3M products employ Post-it® adhesive.
2004-13
Success
Post-it® Flag Highlighters were featured on Oprah’s “Face Behind the Name” segment. David Windorski, a 3M product designer, appeared onstage.
Post-it® Brand Big Pad featured on Oprah
Post-it® Big Pad debuted.
The larger size helps professionals envision their ideas and operate more successfully with their colleagues in today’s collaborative work environments.
Water-based glue is used on all Post-it® Super Sticky Notes.
Post-it® Brand partnered with Evernote. Evernote product using smartphone camera.
Post-it® Brand partnered with note-taking app Evernote. You can snap, store, and share Post-it® Notes using your smartphone’s camera and create auto-tags, reminders, and journals. Evernote kept Post-it® Notes handy.
World notices
Post-it® Notes are available in 150 countries in different sizes, shapes, and colors. Post-it® Products number over 1,000.
Silver is amazed by the use of Post-it® Notes in movies, pop art, and everyday life. “Their recent success is beyond my wildest dreams.”
2014-20
Post-it® Super Sticky Dry Erase Surface
Super-sticky dry-erase surface.
In late 2014, Post-it® Brand responded to a trend toward open team workplaces by introducing an instant dry erase surface that is stain-free and adjustable to fit on walls, cabinets, tables, and more.
Post-it® Extreme Notes
In 2018, Post-it® Brand launched a note that sticks to surfaces never thought possible. Post-it® Extreme Notes hit the US market in February 2019. They are water-resistant and have 100X the holding power of the original Post-it® Note.
Snow-covered brick wall with a Post-it® Extreme note.
Post-it® Brand Extreme packaging.
Post-it® app 2019
The Post-it® App was relaunched with enhanced capabilities to create a full teamwork solution by bridging the analog and digital worlds. Instead of spending hours transcribing notes after a brainstorm, teams can now instantly capture and share notes without recaps or delays.
Post-it® App closeup.
Post-it® Flex Write Surface
Post-it® Flex Write Surface is a whiteboard surface that you can use both dry erase and permanent markers on, without stains. It cleans with water and a cloth.
Writer using Post-it® Flexible Write Surface.
Wiping off Post-it® Flexible Write Surface.
Post-it® Brand Flexible Write Surface can be cleaned with water.
Post-it® Foil Tabs
Post-it® Brand foil tabs are used to organize and personalize books.
These shimmering, iridescent, foil-based Tabs provide beautiful organization to diaries, planners, and notebooks.
2021-Now
Post-it® logo redesign
On January 1, 2021, Post-it® Brand unveils a new logo.
Post-its®
This selection of paper goods and desktop accessories helps keep track of life’s most noteworthy moments.