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Glam Journal

When were post-it notes first sold?

Author

Matthew Perez

Updated on April 07, 2026

When were post-it notes first sold?

1980
The notes were invented by 1977, but were not sold nationally until 1980.

Were post-it notes invented by accident?

Post-it Notes The idea for the Post-it note was conceived in 1974 by Arthur Fry as a way of holding bookmarks in his hymnal while singing in the church choir. He was aware of an adhesive accidentally developed in 1968 by fellow 3M employee Spencer Silver.

Who came up with post-it notes?

Arthur Fry
Sticky Notes/Inventors

How much money did sticky notes make?

At the end of the campaign, 90% of consumers were interested in 3M’s new product. By the end of the year, Post-it Notes were sold nationally, earning more than $2 million in sales. Today, the Post-it is available in 27 sizes, 57 colors, and 20 fragrances in more than 150 countries.

Why are post-it notes so popular?

Post-it® Notes work. The quality of the Post-it® Brand is unsurpassed by any competitors. Having a reliable product that sticks, doesn’t bleed through or leaves residue on the wall means one less thing to think about. It allows you to simply use the tool to come up with incredible new ideas, without a second thought.

How was post-it notes a mistake?

Both are made by an adhesive company, 3M, but the sticky stuff on Post-it notes was actually a mistake. In the late 1960s, a 3M chemist named Spencer Silver was trying to make a stronger, stickier glue when he created Post-it’s wan, weak adhesive.

Are sticky notes bad for the environment?

Sticky notes are not toxic, which is why they can be composted and sometimes recycled. Spencer Silver, a scientist at 3M, invented the sticky microspheres on the back of Post-its over 50 years ago. These were made safely in a lab and were designed to not be harmful to you or the environment.

Who made post it notes?

Arthur Fry invented the Post-it Note but Spencer Silver invented the glue. The Post-it Note (also sometimes called a sticky note) is a small piece of paper with a re-adherable strip of glue on its back, made for temporarily attaching notes to documents and other surfaces.

When did the post it note take off?

However in 1979, 3M implemented a massive consumer sampling strategy, and the Post-it Note took off. Today, we see the Post-it Note peppered across files, computers, desks, and doors in offices and homes throughout the country.

What was the original color of post it notes?

The original notes’ pale yellow color was chosen by chance, from the color of the scrap paper used by the lab next door to the Post-It team. 3M test marketed the product as “Press ‘n Peel” bookmark in stores in four cities in 1977, but results were disappointing.

How many countries are the post it notes sold in?

Post-it® Notes are sold in more than 100 countries. The now famous Post-it® adhesive continues to be used on many 3M products.

When did the first post it notes come out?

Post-it Notes were released to the national market in 1980. In 1981, 3M named Post-it Notes its Outstanding New Product. In 1980 and 1981, the Post-it Note team received 3M’s Golden Step Award, given to teams who create major new products that are significantly profitable. 3M named Fry a corporate researcher in 1986. He is also a member of 3M’s Carlton Society and Circle of Technical Excellence.

When did Spencer Silver make post it notes?

Spencer Silver, best known for being a Scientist, was born in Texas, United States on Thursday, February 6, 1941. Chemist whose development of a re-usable adhesive led to the co-invention of the Post-It Note in 1974 . He won 3M’s highest honors for his contributions to engineering and research.

What is the history of post it notes?

A Post-it note is a small piece of paper with a strip of low-tack adhesive on the back that allows it to be temporarily attached to documents, walls, computer monitors, and just about anything else. The idea for the Post-it note was conceived in 1974 by Arthur Fry as a way of holding bookmarks in his hymnal while singing in the church choir.