Eclectic Madison Store Closes Down But Still in Business Online

Photo of Presidential dammit doll provided by Totally Awesome Goods

MADISON, CT - A Madison business that specializes in unique gifts is shutting its downtown doors this Saturday but the owner is making it clear he's still in business.

Totally Awesome Goods, which first opened in Branford before moving to Madison, last day operating on the Boston Post Road is this Saturday.

"Frankly our future is online," said Jay Alpert, who founded Totally Awesome Goods along with his wife Gayle. "My online sales have surpassed my in store sales. It just makes more sense to stick with the e-commerce model.

On its website, which can be found here, http://www.totallyawesomegoods.com/, the business describes itself this way:

"Totally Awesome Goods offers an eclectic mix of unique gifts where every product tells a story.

"We specialize in offering meaningful gifts that include items that are handmade, items that are produced out of recycled objects and items that are produced in third world countries under Fair Trade conditions.

"We want the customer experience to be as positive for everyone."

Jay and Gayle Alpert said Totally Awesome Goods will stick to its core values of: Integrity, Customer Focus and Commitment.

Jay Alpert said one of the advantages out of working out of home is it will give him and his wife more time to take care of their two school-age children who attend Madison schools.

But, he reiterated, they remain committed to the business.

Asked what their best-selling item was/is - Jay Alpert didn't hestitate - saying their "Presidential dammit doll" has been its biggest sellers.

The doll, not so coincidentally, looks a lot like Donald Trump.

The website describes the doll this way:

"Perhaps it’s the suit, orange face and crazy blonde hair (which is real by the way). Love him or hate him, the political climate we are in makes us want to reach for a doll like this to release our aggressions when things don’t go our way.

"The dammit dolls are designed to stand up to all sorts of abuse. Hit it against the wall, counter top or any hard surface to let out your anger. It will take the abuse and you will feel so much better. The doll is approximately 13” tall. Stitched on the back is the dammit doll poem:

"Whenever things don’t go so well, and you want to hit the wall and yell, here’s a little dammit doll, that you can’t do without.

"Just grasp it firmly by the legs and find a place to slam it. And as you whack the stuffing out yell
“DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT!”