(OT, sorry) For those of us in The South...

A

Arravis

First Post
This is something that has been bugging me for a while... and on my trip today from Huntsville Alabama, to Chattanooga Tennessee it became unbearable.

But first some quickie background. I'm originally from Puerto Rico and I moved to Louisiana when I was 10 where I lived until my late 20's and five years ago I moved to Huntsville, Alabama. Anyway, I've always seen myself as outside of the "Southern" culture, but I am often fascinated, amazed and at times aghast at some of the things I have seen in the south.

So here is my question to those that might know:
What the heck is the deal with all the fireworks stands? I saw, at the very least, fifty today. They ranged from tiny shack to gigantic football stadium size. Their billboards and advertisements where everywhere. Colossal billboards, each proclaiming "WORLDS LARGEST FIREWORKS STORE". Of course, they were all different places... Even better was the one that read "Live Fireworks DVD". I'm still trying to figure out how that would work.

Anyway, I've noticed the proliferation of fireworks stores and billboards year round, not just during holidays. How the heck do these places stay in business? The advertising costs alone must be staggering, much less rental, upkeep, etc. I don't know that many people that buy fireworks by the metric ton... I just don't understand how these places survive. If you have a clue, let me know, cause it's been eating at me all day, lol. :).
 
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Hey dont knock the fireworks man...Seriously I was born on the 4th of july. Anyway, one of my cousins owns a fireworks store. Basically holidays carry the business with the fourth and new years making enough profit to keep the business viable.
 

Not trying to knock 'em, just trying to understand them :) (I love living in the south, don't get me wrong...).

Anyway, I suspected it was mostly from the holidays, but even with massive markups, I can't imagine they would make enough money to maintain the shops year-round. I don't know anyone that spends more then 20 dollars on fireworks during the holidays... just doesn't seem enough to maintain profitability.

Well, clearly it works, just amazes me, hehe.
 
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The knockin fireworks thing was a joke......

But on topic....its not odd for some people to come in and spend more than a thousand dollars on independence day ...My mom used to spend almost two thousand a year for my birthday party on the fourth...and that was with her 25%discount from being family....:D
 


BOOM!

I think we sutheners like stuff that blows up real good!

My family's from the southeast and you're right, they're everywhere. Same thing in Texas, even though Texan culture is a cross between southern and western culture (well, Texan culture is also just a world unto itself - we're wonky that way).

Like you, I wonder how the stands make a living. But if people really do drop 2 Gees a pop, I can see how they do.
 

Because those of us who live in states where the sale and usage of fireworks is illegal have to travel to places where they are to buy them... not that I'd ever do such a thing... ;)

I imagine that increases revenue quite a bit as well.
 

Fireworks stands tend to work very hard to keep down overhead. They hire extra help for holidays but otherwise keep it small and family.

In my area nearly all of them are outside city limits with small stores and on cheap property. The advertising is generally fairly cheap too, since it tends to be incorporated into the structure of the place and use bill boards only sporadically or in low rent areas.

The one fireworks family I know personally operates from off of their house property.
 

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