In 1968, Dr. Spencer Silver, a scientist at 3M in the United States, was attempting to develop a super-strong adhesive.
 Instead, he accidentally created a "low-tack", reusable, pressure-sensitive adhesive.
For five years, Silver promoted his "solution without a problem" within 3M both informally and through seminars, but failed to gain acceptance.
In 1974, a colleague who had attended one of his seminars, Art Fry, came up with the idea of using the adhesive to anchor his bookmark in his hymn book.
Fry then utilized 3M's officially sanctioned "permitted bootlegging" policy  to develop the idea.
The original notes' yellow color was chosen by accident, as the lab next-door to the Post-It team had only yellow scrap paper to use.

3M launched the product as "Press 'n Peel" bookmark in stores in four cities in 1977, but results were disappointing.
A year later, 3M instead issued free samples directly to consumers in Boise, Idaho, with 94 percent of those who tried them indicating they would buy the product.
The product was sold as "Post-Its" in 1979 when the rollout introduction began, and was sold across the United States  from April 6, 1980.
The following year, they were launched in Canada and Europe.

In 2003, the company came out with "Post-it Brand Super Sticky Notes", with a stronger glue that adheres better to vertical and non-smooth surfaces.

Until 3M's patent expired in the 1990s, Post-it type notes were produced only in the company's plant in Cynthiana, Kentucky.

In 2018, 3M launched the new "Post-It Extreme Notes", designed to be more durable and water-resistant, and to stick to a variety of surfaces to which regular Post-It notes do not easily adhere.
The Post-It Extreme Notes were specifically designed with work environments like construction and manufacturing in mind.
In 1968, Dr. Spencer Silver, a scientist at 3M in the United States, was attempting to develop a super-strong adhesive.  Instead, he accidentally created a "low-tack", reusable, pressure-sensitive adhesive. For five years, Silver promoted his "solution without a problem" within 3M both informally and through seminars, but failed to gain acceptance. In 1974, a colleague who had attended one of his seminars, Art Fry, came up with the idea of using the adhesive to anchor his bookmark in his hymn book. Fry then utilized 3M's officially sanctioned "permitted bootlegging" policy  to develop the idea. The original notes' yellow color was chosen by accident, as the lab next-door to the Post-It team had only yellow scrap paper to use.
3M launched the product as "Press 'n Peel" bookmark in stores in four cities in 1977, but results were disappointing. A year later, 3M instead issued free samples directly to consumers in Boise, Idaho, with 94 percent of those who tried them indicating they would buy the product. The product was sold as "Post-Its" in 1979 when the rollout introduction began, and was sold across the United States  from April 6, 1980. The following year, they were launched in Canada and Europe.
In 2003, the company came out with "Post-it Brand Super Sticky Notes", with a stronger glue that adheres better to vertical and non-smooth surfaces.
Until 3M's patent expired in the 1990s, Post-it type notes were produced only in the company's plant in Cynthiana, Kentucky.
In 2018, 3M launched the new "Post-It Extreme Notes", designed to be more durable and water-resistant, and to stick to a variety of surfaces to which regular Post-It notes do not easily adhere. The Post-It Extreme Notes were specifically designed with work environments like construction and manufacturing in mind.
Post-it Note