ABSTRACT
The invention of the Post-it® Note tells the story of a solution in search of a problem. In the early 1970s, Spencer Silver, working in the 3M research labs, was trying to find an adhesive. By accident, he created a weak glue, a substance that would stick to objects but could easily be peeled off without leaving a trace. This weak but reusable adhesive puzzled both its creator and his colleagues, who could not imagine a good use for it. Some year later, another scientist from 3M, Arthur Fry, singing in the church choir, was faced with the practical problem of keeping his place in the hymnal. Usual bookmarks wouldn’t do the job as they often fell out. What he needed was something that could be stuck in place and removed without damaging the pages. And then he remembered Spencer’s strange invention! But he didn’t have an easy time convincing others of its utility. The first sticky notes to be produced by the company, called Press ’n Peel, did poorly on the market. It was not until free samples were offered that office workers realised the value of this new product. What followed, about a decade after its initial discovery, was the mass-production and distribution of what became Post-it£ Notes, today pretty much an indispensable office supply around the world. 1
