The Post-it note came about by a bit of chance and being aimed at the wrong target market!
In 1968, the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) developed a sticky, re-usable adhesive. A scientist called Spencer Silver was the inventor and he tried to gain recognition and support for the product within 3M.
Six years later, with success eluding Silver, a co-worker called Art Fry ised the sticky adhesive as a hymnbook bookmark! Fry - who was not the inventor but was certainly an innovator - developed the product and helped lead the commercialization process. After an unsuccessful launch in 1977 due to poor customer trials, a better trial resulted in a full product launch within 12 months to North America and Europe.
The Post-it then became a must have for every office stationery supply!
Think of such a simple idea and product and how it has totally transformed the way we operate in our daily lives.
Students no longer highlight their textbooks; they use post-its to mark important sections, meaning they get more money back when they sell on their pricey textbooks.
Office staff can disseminate work to colleagues via a handy post-it on top of a circular or memo.
The list is endless and another example of a great product that found it's market by serendipity.
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