Fireworks stores see big business ahead of holiday

Many customers buy in bulk as pyrotechnic prices remain low.

By NATHAN FERRARO and HALEY DAUGHERTY
TribLive

Fourth of July is like Christmas to William Olbeter.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I fell in love with fireworks and I’ve always wanted to do my own shows,” said Olbeter, of New Kensington.

The 54-year-old puts on a fireworks show annually for his family and neighbors. Each year, he and his neighbors participate in a friendly competition at their cabins outside of Oil City.

“Every year, one starts upriver and then the next cabin goes and next cabin, next cabin, all the way down the river,” he said. “We try to show each other off. There’re no trophies or anything like that. We just get the bragging rights.”

Olbeter’s setup includes mortars, 200-gram cakes leading to 500gram cakes, and mortar rockets. He said he spends anywhere from $700 to $1,000 each year for the show.

This year was no different, he said. Terence Turk, manager of Phantom Fireworks’ store in Hempfield, said there haven’t been any drastic price increases this season.

“Prices haven’t really changed much. You can build a great show with only $100,” he said.

Turk, likewise, highlighted the store’s coupons and deals. He said there has been a company shift this year to offer more products for children, such as light sabers and water guns, to encourage them to keep a greater distance from the dangerous stuff.

“We’re really excited for this season. We’re really trying to promote safety,” he said.

Scott Close of Somerset said prices this year seem to be similar to what he’s used to. He drives 45 minutes from his home to the Hempfield Phantom Fireworks annually to stock up for his family’s July Fourth party.

“We want to get as much bang (as we can) for our buck,” he said.

Limited tariff impact

Despite looming worries about how tariffs will affect firework prices this year, Donovan Russell, the general manager of Phantom Fireworks in New Kensington, said the company hasn’t had to deal with them yet.

“I know a lot of tariff talk has been going around,” he said. “Obviously, the vast majority of (Phantom’s) inventory, we do get from China. …