Skyrockets in flight: fireworks sales exploding

AMHERST, N.Y. (WBEN)......As a lunch hour customer sauntered into his tent, Larry - the TNT Fireworks tent manager - had to stop his interview and tend to the shopper.

The shopper, who declined to be interviewed or identified, left with more than $200 in fireworks.

To Larry, that is a snapshot of how business has been - especially in the last few days where he has a had a steady stream of customers shopping at the TNT tent on Niagara Falls Boulevard near North French Road in Amherst.

Business is up - maybe 20% or 30%, Larry estimates.

"I've had to do a lot of re-ordering," Larry said.

For the fireworks industry - especially locally - sales are skyrocketing.

The National Retail Federation is projecting that retail fireworks sales will top $2.5 billion - a record.

What gives?

The retail federation attributes the surge to several factors including the American 250 celebration and the fact that the July 4th holiday falls on a Saturday, which means from July 1st to July 5th expect to see and hear a lot of fireworks displays in neighborhoods and backyards.

And, another factor, at least locally, the summer weather with blue skies and temperatures in the high 80s and low 90s.

"You don't have to tell me," Larry said. "I'm watching business pick up everyday."

TNT Fireworks, which has more than 20 tent locations in the immediate Buffalo Niagara region, will keep its retail sales operations running through July 5th.

Larry said one of his most popular items is a $60 grab bag that has a variety of fireworks options.

Also popular is "The Tank" - which is an exploding tank.

"The Tanks are flying off the shelves," Larry said.

While New York state does welcome retail fireworks operations, it does have certain restrictions such as not allowing bottle rockets, mortars, certain firecrackers and Roman candles.

"We call it the big noise makers," Larry said.

And, with that, another customer entered his tent and Larry went back into his salesman mode.