The phrase "Jersey Strong" became a popular bumper sticker in the Garden State, extolling the effect on one's personality that living in the most put down state in the nation can have.

Stephen Roma, CEO of Jersey Strong, says the original intent for the phrase was for a marketing plan for a chain of gyms. Roma's parents started Work Out World 30 years ago.

In the mid-2000s, Roma and his brother were brainstorming marketing ideas for the chain and came up with "Jersey Strong."

The phrase was placed on bumper stickers, and it just took off. Roma says customers started asking to buy shirts from staff members at the gym because of the logo. He says the number of bumper stickers printed soared to over 500,000.

The Roma family started a "Jersey Strong" foundation to help Superstorm Sandy victims and donate goods to food pantries.