Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Summer is only getting started in Western New York, but it's about to go off with a bang.
The Fourth of July is just a week away, and many people across the region are planning their celebrations for the extended weekend. While many local municipalities are set to offer their own festivities for residents, others will gather to celebrate in their own backyards.
And what better way to celebrate Independence Day than with a fireworks showing?
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For those who will be presenting their own fireworks show this Fourth of July Weekend, many may be making the trek across state lines to get their hands on some larger fireworks they can't buy in New York State. That's leading to some stores in Pennsylvania seeing a healthy amount of demand from consumers.
"We have plenty of customers every day. We normally have too many for us to handle, and a lot of people spend a few grand with us. I'd say our average customer has been spending more this year than last year," said Amonn, a manager at Flagship Fireworks in Edinboro, Pa. "On average, I think a customer spends around $700-to-$1,000 - I know it's around there based off of what I see every day. And I can tell you we are running out of stuff faster than ever, so that's a good sign that we're selling."
While he's not quite sure just how many people from New York State have come across the border so far this year, Amonn knows many from the Buffalo, and even Rochester areas make the yearly trip to purchase some fireworks.
Bruce Zoldan, CEO and founder of Phantom Fireworks, has also noticed a significant number of Western New Yorkers flooding his brick and mortar stores to get their hands on some fireworks.
He says the activity this year has already been noticeably healthy, especially with Fourth of July landing on a Friday.
"The Fourth of July is always affected by the day of the week it falls on, and this year it's a Friday. It makes it a long weekend, and everyone is very excited when it's a weekend-attached Fourth of July. So demand is picking up very, very strong right now," said Zoldan in an interview with WBEN.
Zoldan also points out another significant reason why business might be busier than years past.
"Everybody knows that next year is the 250th birthday of America, and they're celebrating the 249th and preparing for the 250th," Zoldan noted. "They want to see what items are really good, how they can plan for their big party next year. So they're having somewhat of a preparation party for the 250th birthday this year."
Every year, Phantom Fireworks does business in Upstate New York, offering certain fireworks that are legal in the state in stands and tents across the state. Their stands are set to open starting this weekend.
"Stands are more impulse. They do the most business right at the end, the 3rd and the 4th. This year, it'll be the 5th also because it's a Saturday. But stands operate different than brick and mortar stores," Zoldan said. "In the brick and mortar stores, you go in, there's full line, it's air conditioned. They can shop, look a little longer. In stands, it's pretty much impulse. Go in-and-out, I want to buy an assortment or a couple extra items. We won't know that for a couple days yet, and how the action is there."
One concern for consumers, as well as for some fireworks distributors this year has been the potential impact of tariffs on prices and supply of fireworks this holiday season. Most of the world's fireworks, more than 90%, are manufactured in China.
The good news, though, is the price of fireworks, for the most part, have not been impacted by tariffs this year.
"None of our prices were impacted significantly. I think there was maybe a handful of items that went up a hair. I can't speak for other fireworks stores, but here, our prices have stayed relatively the same," said Amonn with WBEN.
Most fireworks companies, including Phantom Fireworks as the largest retailer of consumer fireworks in the United States, bought product early, with it all arriving shortly after the Fourth of July the year prior.
"The tariffs really didn't go on until April. We got most of our products, at least 85% in, before the tariffs were added on," Zoldan noted. "We have a little bit at the end that has the tariff, but the blended cost was almost insignificant for this year."
Where Zoldan's concerns lie with fireworks pricing is for next year's celebrations.
"Right now, the fireworks industry is experiencing approximately a 37% duty tariff, and most companies, including ours, have put a stop on it in hopes that the President will exempt fireworks in a short period of time, and then we can bring everything in normal again," Zoldan said. "I know President Trump wants, and has mentioned many times he wants the 250th birthday to be the biggest celebration in the history of America. And Americans love fireworks, and we feel comfortable that at some point, he will exempt fireworks, because there's none made in the United States. It's not like it's helping a manufacturer here, because they're made in China."