Deutsche Post!

The inclusion of the Post-It® trade mark as a term in common usage bears testament to the daily use made of the product distinguished and the fact that it has become indispensable.

The familiarity with which we currently refer to Post-it® adhesive notes is the consequence of an initial discovery which was made by mistake!. In 1968, while conducting research to find a type of strong adhesive, the scientist Spencer Silver at 3M Laboratories came up with the formula for a re-usable substance that adhered lightly to objects but could also be easily removed.

The particular application of this substance was subsequently thought of by the researcher Arthur Fry. Since he lost the marker in his music book when singing in the church choir, he associated the possible application of Silver's adhesive with a piece of paper to act as a marker, without harming the surface of the music book.

In this way, the solution to a universal problem which, until then, had not been resolved (the inconvenience of having to remember an unending to-do list in both personal and professional life) came to light, thanks to notes that can be stuck to any surface without harming it. Protecting this first invention by patent enabled the multinational 3M to carry out subsequent improvements, from which the digital version of the Post-it® emerged.

p.s. Post-it® can be found at your nearest Audi dealership – just ask the sales execs how they receive those not-to-be missed sales calls (physically or electronically!).

Submitted by: Seamus Carlin