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Javier Lopez, 8, shops for fireworks in Park City. His purchases are part of what is projected to be a record-setting year in firework sales.

Sale of fireworks expected to set record
By David Dinell
Last Updated: July 02, 2015

Javier Lopez's wide eyes danced as he surveyed the dozens of fireworks at a open-air Park City tent with his older sister, Ellie Leyva. The 8-year-old was doing some serious shopping — he was ready for the Fourth of July — and cashier Kerby Sloyer was ready to ring up another sale. 

Throughout the area, Valley Center, Park City, Bel Aire and Kechi, tents full of fireworks have popped up in the last week and now are stocked and ready for buyers. They should see a lot of them, as this year is set to be a record-breaking one in sales, helped by the fact that the Fourth falls on a Saturday, more relaxed sales periods and, in some areas, more tolerant rules. 

Projections call for 2015 to chalk up $725 million in consumer fireworks revenue, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association. That's $30 million more than 2014, itself a record-setting year. 

The main reason is simple, said Julie Heckman, the association's executive director: people simply like to shoot off fireworks.  

"Consumer demand is very high," she said. 

Furthermore, governmental bodies have found that outlawing makes no sense as citizens will shoot them off anyway and they'll miss out on the permit and tax revenue. 

There are now only three states where fireworks are illegal, and one state, New York, recently joined the fireworks bandwagon and made them legal.

The group doesn't break out sales by state, but this region, including Missouri and Texas, traditionally are among the top sales states in the nation, Heckman said. 

Torie Thrash certainly wants projections of record sales to be true. 

She and her crew were busy June 29 at their red-and-white Big Top Fireworks tent at the southwest corner of South Meridian and 69th Street North, stocking the tables with products selling from $1.25 each to a deluxe fireworks package at $159. 

Thrash has been in the business for 10 years, but it's her first attempt at selling in Valley Center. She paid the city $2,500 for a permit and believes the investment will pay off. 

"Having the Fourth on a weekend will definitely help," she said.

Setting up the tent next to a busy roadway will add to it, she said. 

"We're in a good location and we've made a parking lot here, so we're ready," she said.

As long as the weather cooperates and rain stays away, the recipe for robust sales is set, she said. 

Just across the intersection, at Wholesale Fireworks, store manager Traci Nigg was ready for another busy season. Late June 30, the store was busy with shoppers, including Joshua Glenn of Valley Center, who picked out $315 worth of fireworks with the help of his 3-year-old daughter, Emily. 

"The Fourth is one of my favorite holidays," he said. "It's a long day, but it's a lot of fun." 

Nigg's outlet is different from the others as it's a permanent building — and air conditioned. 

"It's a little more comfortable," Nigg said.

Because it's part of a larger chain of outlets, the store considers itself to be a "one-stop stop" for fireworks fans, she said. Nigg doesn't mind all the competition, including the new one across the street, and said it's simply good for consumers as they have a wide choice of products and pricing. 

A little farther north,  in the Leeker's parking lot, Andrea Saffle and members of Riverlawn Christian Church have set up their fireworks tent. 

The young people of the church work there to raise money for their church camps. They, along with the customers, are kept somewhat cool in the oppressive mid-summer heat by giant fans, creating a vortex of air swirling under the canvas. 

With a smaller tent than Thrash's, Saffle's group paid less to the city, or $1,800, for their permit. 

Valley Center sellers also face a smaller sales window than competitors in nearby towns as they can't start selling until 10 a.m. June 30, while the others already have been selling for several days. 

Saffle said sales of "novelties," or kid-oriented fireworks do well, along with, at the other end of the spectrum, the large shells, products that are illegal in Wichita, but allowed outside of it. 

While sales may be more this year, that doesn't always translate into more profit, said one retailer, Shane Krehbiel of Krehbiel Wholesale Fireworks in Kechi. He has a tent by 61st Street and Woodlawn on the east side of Kechi. 

"It used to more profitable," he said.

The wholesale price of fireworks has increased, and a major explosion in China, where the fireworks are made, has reduced inventory, making it even more costly for retailers, he said. 

Krehbiel has more of a wait-and-see approach as, he said, the bulk of sales are made at the last minute. 

"The third and the Fourth are when all the money is made," he said. "And it depends on the weather, too." 

Like others, Krehbiel had to pay the city for a tent permit, although he questioned why and said it was a bit of a moneymaker for government. 

"They don't charge a permit if I'm selling hats or sunglasses out here, so why so for fireworks?" he asked. 

However, it's not likely cities are going to eliminate their permit policies, as sales are a solid source of general fund revenue. 

In nearby Bel Aire, the city collected close to $10,000 in permit revenue last year, said City Manager Ty Lasher. It also gets a percentage of sales tax revenue charged on each sale. 

"It really helps the city," he said. 

Prior to 2009, Bel Aire didn't allow fireworks, but regulations were changed as council members determined there were more citizens in favor than against them. 

Residents have benefitted from sales, said Gary O'Neal, a former Bel Aire mayor who helps to run an outlet selling fireworks for the Bel Aire Lions Club. 

"This is our biggest fundraiser," he said, as he restocked tables at the Lions' tent near 45th North and Woodlawn.

In the past, part of funds raised went into building a community pavilion at the recreation center, he said, among other projects. 

O'Neal expects a 20 percent increase in sales this year, but said he couldn't disclose the actual sales figure due to their contract with the stand's owner. 

Like other area non-profit groups, the Lions Club works with a for-profit group, in this case, Farha Fireworks. The company provides the product and tent and the club supplies the manpower in return for a percentage of the profits. 

Another factor helping sales, say retailers, is that safety has improved, mostly through education. Some cities, such as Kechi, require that a safety brochure is given to buyers with each sale. 

The brochure lists when the fireworks can be discharged, safety tips and how to dispose of fireworks. It also lists the ordinance numbers to ensure that consumers know that hours and disposal are not just suggestions, they're the law. 

The APA's Heckman said such techniques are working. 

"Education is so important in fireworks safety," Heckman said.

Figures show that the number of fireworks-related fires and injuries have decreased even as use has increased, she said. Fires are down 50 percent since 2000 and injuries have fallen by 36 percent since that same time, she said.  

"People and city officials are getting smart about it," she said.

Whether sales continue to climb again next year remains to be seen, but given the popularity of fireworks, there's little movement afoot to increase their regulation, she said.

That's good news for young fans such as Lopez who has one thing in mind this weekend: lighting his sparklers and firecrackers. There's nothing too complex about them either, as asked why he does it, he simply replied: "they're fun," before dashing off with a bag full of fireworks.





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