📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

Post-it Will Introduce Extreme Notes, and It's a Textbook Lesson in How to Solve a Customer Problem The handy yellow sticky note is getting an upgrade for non-office settings.

By Liz Webber

entrepreneur daily
Post-it Brand

Post-it Brand is going after customers who don't work in offices.

First sold in 1980, the brand's handy yellow sticky note has become a ubiquitous communication medium in offices, schools and homes (and it's the favorite low-tech office tool of Entrepreneur's Twitter followers).

But, what about situations that are a bit, shall we say, stickier?

Related: This Entrepreneur Needed a New Tube of Toothpaste and Ended Up Creating One of the Top Natural Oral Care Brands

Construction workers and kitchen staff need to communicate, too, and options are often limited, Post-it Brand discovered in research it commissioned from Wakefield Research. A survey of more than 1,000 workers who work in non-office settings found almost 40 percent had to redo a project at least once a week because of a communication issue.

The survey also found 77 percent of respondents resorted to unconventional means of communication, with 23 percent reporting they had written on a body part.

To keep people from taking a Sharpie to their arm, the brand created Post-it Extreme Notes. This heavy-duty upgrade to the original Post-it Note is designed to work in hot and cold temperatures, as well as wet conditions. It also will stick to a variety of surfaces, such as cement, steel, PVC piping and lumber.

Related: Podcast: This Founder Made Space for an Unusual Obsession -- and It Led to a One-of-a-Kind Kayak Company

Image Credit: Post-it Brand

"When developing new products, the Post-it Brand is committed to creating tools that facilitate effective communication and align with the integrity of the brand," Remi Kent, the brand's global business director, said in an emailed statement.

Related: The Simplest Ideas Can Be Extremely Profitable. Here's Proof.

The lessons for entrepreneurs are pretty simple but important to remember:

  1. If you're designing a new product or feature, look for a customer pain point and solve for that specific problem.
  2. Every product you create should fit your brand message and values.
  3. There may be customers for your product outside of the environment you designed it for.

You can get your own Post-it Extreme Notes starting in March.

Liz Webber

Entrepreneur Staff

Insights Editor

Liz Webber is the insights editor at Enterpreneur.com, where she manages the contributor network.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Starting a Business

I Wish I Knew These Four Things Before Starting My Own Business

Starting a business is hard work to say the least. These are four lessons I wish someone had shared with me before going solo, so I'm here to share them with you.

Side Hustle

These Coworkers-Turned-Friends Started a Side Hustle on Amazon — Now It's a 'Full Hustle' Earning Over $20 Million a Year: 'Jump in With Both Feet'

Achal Patel and Russell Gong met at a large consulting firm and "bonded over a shared vision to create a mission-led company."

Resumes & Interviewing

Find Jobs Easier with This AI Resume Builder on Sale for $90

Canyon Pro features automated resume writing, application autofilling, and more helpful tools for finding a job.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Science & Technology

Brand New GPT-4o Revealed: 3 Mind Blowing Updates and 3 Unexpected Challenges for Entrepreneurs

Unveiling OpenAI's GPT-4.0: The latest AI with vision, auditory, and emotional intelligence abilities is revolutionizing industries. How will it affect your business?

Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.