Get All Access for $5/mo

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

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.

Editor's Pick

Buying / Investing in Business

What to Know About Selling Your Business

Selling your business can be both an exciting opportunity and a daunting process. This article will help you learn what you need to know before starting your sale process to ensure you get yourself on the right path to the desired outcome.

Business Solutions

Build Investor-Ready Pitches in Minutes with PitchBob

Your AI-powered co-pilot for startup success.

Real Estate

Why You Should Consider Commercial Real Estate as Your Next Investment

This article highlights the benefits of investing in commercial real estate while also addressing the associated risks you should consider.

Franchise

How to Create Franchise Videos That Inspire — And Convert Interest Into Action

The best franchise videos don't just inform, they connect emotionally. To capture those kinds of stories, you need to do more than just scripted interviews and staged office shots.

Growing a Business

'Good Isn't Enough': He Turned a Company on the Brink of Collapse Into a $100 Million Brand. Here Is His Best Advice for Giving Your Business a Second Chance.

Brad Charron, CEO and "Re-Founder" of ALOHA, explains the moves he made to help this plant-based protein company finally thrive.

Starting a Business

What You Need to Know to Buy the Right Business and Acquire Your Empire

Once you've decided to follow the road of entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA), it's time to focus on what your destination should be and what supports can help you get there.