Manhattan button manufacturer NG Slater brought out his new line of yellow “smiley face” buttons in 1969, but nobody seemed to want them.
Perhaps it was the increasing rate of unemployment, or maybe people were just looking for an alternative to the ubiquitous Peace Sign, but in 1971, the buttons suddenly started to sell like crazy.
Twenty million of the “Have a nice day” pin (as they became known) were sold in six months, ensuring that Slater would indeed have numerous nice days to come.
The button went on to become the most recognisable icon of the 1970s and to this day the image is still synonymous with the decade.
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