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Fireworks sales down, but vendors remain optimistic

Tribune photo by MICHAEL SPOONEYBARGER

Edgar Martin Jr. and his father Edgar Martin Sr. shop at Galaxy Fireworks on Dale Mabry Highway.

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By SARAH HOYE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 2, 2009

TAMPA - A dreary economy and a week of rainy days put a bit of a damper on Bay area fireworks sales, but vendors remain optimistic.

"This is America's birthday ... people are very proud to show their patriotism. If lighting off some fireworks helps get it done, then so be it," said Shawn Dorman, who is operating the TNT Fireworks tent at the corner of Highway 301 and Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Florida law prohibits the use of "consumer grade" fireworks except for agricultural use only, but that doesn't slow down determined Independence Day revelers. Tents are selling everything from $1.50 sparkler packs to $500 shooting rocket sets.

Dorman and fellow tent operator Steve Gonzalez expect to make $20,000 in sales by the end of the holiday weekend - if the rain holds off. "You have to spend money to blow stuff up," said Dorman, who opened sales at his tent on June 25.

"The first couple of days weren't as good because of the rain," Gonzalez said. "But everything picks up in July anyway."

Fireworks tents and stores are gearing up for a mad rush they expect will begin Friday and continue through the holiday. The onslaught is like shopping on Christmas Eve, said Chris Cooper, a Galaxy Fireworks tent operator.

"Either you like fireworks or you don't. We get everybody coming out here," said Cooper, who made $2,000 in sales Wednesday and $1,000 Tuesday. "We'll have about seven people working to help us out. It gets pretty crazy."

"The business in this game is the last two days," said sales manager Steve Bowers at the fireworks stand on U.S. 301 at St. Charles Boulevard in Riverview. Sales at his stand topped $6,000 this time last year; they were closer to $1,200 by midday today.

Bad weather and the economy have taken some of the spark out of his sales so far this year, Bowers said. "We had the tent up June 26, and I think it has rained every day since."

The $20 buy-one, get-one-free mortar shell package is a hot item this year as customers look to get more bang for their buck, Bowers said. "People come right out and tell me they can't afford to spend too much because of the economy."

Robert Thrasher, of Riverview, is running two fireworks tents in New Port Richey this year. His most popular items are mortars and he's getting dangerously close to running out of sparklers.

"It's slow till the Fourth," he said. "You got people who come and look, but if we were to stop selling right now, I'd be in the hole."

The weather and the loss of big spending clients such as contractors and homebuilders have chipped away at sales, said Sharon Hunnewell-Johnson, president Galaxy Fireworks, which contracts out 90 tents across Florida.

"Sales are down because of the rain, but more people staying home to celebrate this year will help," she said. "We're not seeing the large customers, but day to day, they're still here."

She, too, said a last-minute mad dash will help bail out a soggy season.

"Hopefully, you won't be able to move out there. We'll get slammed and stay slammed," she said about her store on Martin Luther King Boulevard. "That's been the trend for 25 years."

Tribune reporters Kevin Brady and Todd Leskanic contributed to this report. Reporter Sarah Hoye can be reached at (813) 259-7832.

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