Who could have predicted which businesses would boom, and which would bust. The fireworks industry was unsure through April 2020 as Covid-19 concerns heightened across the USA, and the world. But, as May grew into June, and people grew tired of lock downs and trying to figure out to mask, or not to mask, a picture started to be painted. A picture saying, maybe this year WON”T be a total bust for the consumer fireworks industry.
Looking back as of this writing in August, just a month past Independence Day in the USA, the numbers turned out to be truly staggering. Some estimates show sales up as much as a whopping 200% in many states, and even the lowest reports came in showing sales doubling over 2019. So why, amidst the fears of a global pandemic did something as unnecessary as fireworks “explode” in sales?
Here is what happened. Americans grew suspicious of what the government was telling them. While Covid-19 affected a few population dense areas with big numbers, time has told that the disease has turned out to be much less deadly that originally predicted by experts. By June, with travel restrictions still in place and many borders, beaches and resorts still closed, people in masses decided to celebrate the 4th of July at home, in their back yards, with family and friends. They came in droves, with some seasonal retail locations hoisting signs days before the 4th saying, “Sorry we are sold out”. Operators of locations of more than 25 years said never, in their time in business have they had to post such signs.
Distributors are literally sweeping floors that haven’t seen in some cases for a decade, as they have been covered with annual stock that sold out completely in 2020. Now those distributors turn to the task of replenishing that stock to prepare for 2021 sales, starting with New Year’s Eve which many don’t know, can see sales just as big as the 4th of July in several southern states such as Texas. Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and even into Tennessee. Dominator Fireworks customers placed record orders to China starting as early as June, hoping to get oders to their USA warehouses before July 4th, 2021. Several concerns have yet to be completely addressed like production capacity, space on cargo ships and will there even be enough containers available to load in China when needed?
A looming question for importers is, was 2021 a fluke? We do not think so, while numbers are certainly unlikely to reach 2020 levels, 2021 is poised to be another banner year. The 4th is again on a weekend, and the huge influx of sales this year wasn’t just the same people buying more fireworks, there was a whole new crop of firework buyers due to Covid-19, and they loved it. They liked the excitement of the noise, the colors, and more importantly how it brought people, families, and friends together during changing times to celebrate their independence in the USA.