ShareASale Spring Fling: Paper Clip Day!

90’s Flashback time: “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion”. The plot surrounds two women, Romy and Michelle, which decide to attend their high school reunion with an idea – create a story that they are successful business women living in LA due to inventing the Post-It. They choose a Post-it because, honestly, who really knows off the top of their head how, when or whom created this piece of paper with a reusable strip of adhesive on the back, canary in color (various color options now available) that is a staple on my desk and in my daily life. In fact, the Post-It was actually created by Dr. Spencer Silver, a scientist at 3M. Silver promoted his invention for years without success until a colleague of his, Art Fry, had the idea to use the adhesive to anchor his bookmark, and the rest is history!

Just like the Post-It, the paper clip is such a commonly used item for various reasons that we might not even know the origin of this metal, oval-shaped item. As we are celebrating National Paper Clip Day, I would like to take a look at the history of this item that has so many uses in our daily lives! According to the Early Office Museum, Samuel B. Fay presented the first patent for a “bent wire paper clip” in 1867. Fay’s intention was to attach tickets to fabric, though recognized that it could be used to attach papers together as well. There are many other accounts of patents issued for different forms of the paper clip, but records show Samuel B. Fay was the first.

Today, paperclips are made in various sizes, shapes and colors to add flair to any paperwork. However, paperclips are not restricted to just paper use, as they can be used for arts and crafts, a hook to hang pictures or calendars, twist tie, string together to create a fashionable necklace/bracelet, emergency key chain, book mark, clasp, metal art figurine, and the list can go on!

On this National Holiday, use as many paper clips as possible to string together a necklace or simply grab a colorful clip to make your paperwork more festive! While you work on that, ShareASale Office Manager, Erica Toren will announce today’s Spring Fling Winners!