3M created the Post-it Note and owns the Scotch brand.
3M was founded in 1902 as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. It began as a mining venture in Minnesota, but the original mineral deposits proved commercially disappointing, so the company shifted toward abrasives and industrial products.
The company became known for applying research across many markets, including adhesives, films, medical products, filtration, and safety equipment. The Scotch brand covers products such as adhesive tapes and recording media, while Post-it Notes grew from research into a reusable pressure-sensitive adhesive.
The adhesive behind the Post-it Note was developed by 3M scientist Spencer Silver. Colleague Art Fry later recognized its value for creating bookmarks that would stick without damaging pages. The first test-market release appeared in 1977, and the product expanded nationally in 1980.