Dale Condy says the light bulb in his head turns on at random times.
Indeed, it was while watching an NFL playoff game that Dale picked up his laptop and created the logo he is now notorious for. Little did Dale know that the circular logo, which says Doom Gloom with a red line through it, would become somewhat of a sensation, garnering interest in places as far away as Germany and Japan.
Dale, who owns Gems of La Costa with his wife, Linda, created the logo last January when it was nearly impossible to get away from the negativity in the news media regarding the economy. That same month, the merchant's business was down 70 percent compared to the previous January.
“It started as our own little pep talk,” he said. “It was a reminder for us to get our heads out of the doom and gloom even though it was coming at us from all angles.”
Dale made the logo into stickers that he put out for customers, and the store's staff began wearing it as pins. Everyone at Gems of La Costa decided not to talk about the recession anymore, leading Dale to create No Hablo Recesi?n stickers.
“We know there is hardship out there and we're not hiding our head in the sand, but we believe you can have a particular attitude in dealing with it,” Linda said.
The Condy's wore the No Doom Gloom logo to a jewelry tradeshow in February. Linda said the vendors there went wild for it and asked for stickers, which is how it spread through the industry nationwide.
The local news media sprang on the story, bringing attention to the Condy's and their idea. They've even been interviewed by Dutch public radio, and the momentum just keeps building.
A jewelry store in Alabama just jumped on the bandwagon, one in Los Angeles has a huge No Doom Gloom sign in its front window and another in Oklahoma recently ordered additional stickers from www.nodoomgloom.org, the Web site Dale created. A number of other items adorned with the logo also are available on the site.
The Condy's donate the proceeds from the sale of the products to the North County Food Bank. They also have a charity jar on the counter that benefits the food bank.
When customers come in for a small repair that the Condy's wouldn't normally charge for and ask what they owe, they are told to decide what they think is fair and put it in the jar.
It is for all of these reasons and more that Gems of La Costa has a reputation for honesty, integrity and value. If it didn't, the mom and pop business probably wouldn't be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Michael Fangman, who has been a regular customer at Gems of La Costa for more than a decade, recently shopped at the store for his wife's birthday with his two young daughters.
“I walk in the door and they know who I am. They will remember things I've bought from years ago,” Fangman said. “My wife loves every piece that we've gotten here. It's always about finding a piece that she will really like, because the price is always great.”
Indeed, it was while watching an NFL playoff game that Dale picked up his laptop and created the logo he is now notorious for. Little did Dale know that the circular logo, which says Doom Gloom with a red line through it, would become somewhat of a sensation, garnering interest in places as far away as Germany and Japan.
Dale, who owns Gems of La Costa with his wife, Linda, created the logo last January when it was nearly impossible to get away from the negativity in the news media regarding the economy. That same month, the merchant's business was down 70 percent compared to the previous January.
“It started as our own little pep talk,” he said. “It was a reminder for us to get our heads out of the doom and gloom even though it was coming at us from all angles.”
Dale made the logo into stickers that he put out for customers, and the store's staff began wearing it as pins. Everyone at Gems of La Costa decided not to talk about the recession anymore, leading Dale to create No Hablo Recesi?n stickers.
“We know there is hardship out there and we're not hiding our head in the sand, but we believe you can have a particular attitude in dealing with it,” Linda said.
The Condy's wore the No Doom Gloom logo to a jewelry tradeshow in February. Linda said the vendors there went wild for it and asked for stickers, which is how it spread through the industry nationwide.
The local news media sprang on the story, bringing attention to the Condy's and their idea. They've even been interviewed by Dutch public radio, and the momentum just keeps building.
A jewelry store in Alabama just jumped on the bandwagon, one in Los Angeles has a huge No Doom Gloom sign in its front window and another in Oklahoma recently ordered additional stickers from www.nodoomgloom.org, the Web site Dale created. A number of other items adorned with the logo also are available on the site.
The Condy's donate the proceeds from the sale of the products to the North County Food Bank. They also have a charity jar on the counter that benefits the food bank.
When customers come in for a small repair that the Condy's wouldn't normally charge for and ask what they owe, they are told to decide what they think is fair and put it in the jar.
It is for all of these reasons and more that Gems of La Costa has a reputation for honesty, integrity and value. If it didn't, the mom and pop business probably wouldn't be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Michael Fangman, who has been a regular customer at Gems of La Costa for more than a decade, recently shopped at the store for his wife's birthday with his two young daughters.
“I walk in the door and they know who I am. They will remember things I've bought from years ago,” Fangman said. “My wife loves every piece that we've gotten here. It's always about finding a piece that she will really like, because the price is always great.”