Shorter season not expected to affect fireworks sales

Despite a shortened fireworks sales season, area distributors are not expecting a negative impact on sales.

The season was shortened from two weeks to one in Cape Girardeau and Jackson as the result of a joint council decision reached Jan. 26. The councils shortened the season, raised the age requirement for purchasing fireworks to 17 and banned the sale of bottle and stick rockets in order to help ensure public safety.

So stands in the two cities must wait until Sunday. Cape Girardeau has received applications for 12 stands and eight permits have been sought in Jackson.

Chris Wheeler, manager of Patriot Fireworks, said that the shortened season should not hurt sales. Wheeler said that sales are normally slow the first week, before exploding during July.

Wheeler hopes that trend and the company's reputation in the area will help business. Patriot Fireworks, formerly Kinder's Fireworks, has operated in the area for 40 years.

"Hopefully, they won't go out of the area to get fireworks early," Wheeler said. "But that is one of the main things on our minds."

Wheeler said that Patriot, which operates two stands in Cape Girardeau and one in Jackson, begins sales Monday.

While the new restrictions may limit retail sales for fireworks stands, Hoffman Family Fireworks' wholesale distribution can continue selling as it has in the past. Hoffman will begin sales on Friday from its warehouse.

To become a wholesale distributor, Hoffman paid an increased fee to receive the wholesale license. The wholesale license costs $250, while the seasonal retail license is $25.

However, Hoffman will also operate two stands in Jackson and one in Cape Girardeau.

Owner Mary Ann Hoffman said that the company has many repeat customers during the sales period and the shortened season may cost some of that business.

"We may not see as many of the early, smaller sales," Hoffman said. "But I think we will still see as many of the larger sales, right up to the Fourth."

Stands may open on Friday in Scott City, but the city has not yet received any applications for a fireworks stand.

jwachter@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127