Fireworks retailers win big in New Year

ROBERTSDALE, Ala. - The skies will light up as explosions and smoke fill the air Thursday night. New Year's Day is synonymous with fireworks, and retailers are loving it.

It's a minute, an evening and a year that is brought in with a bang! And it means a boom in fireworks sales.

"This year we only spent $100," said shopper Adam Jernigan.

"200 bucks there," said Dan Carlton as he looks in his car.

"300 bucks," said three guys as they load up their truck.

Shelton Fireworks has prepared for this day for four months.

"We just stock, stock, stock until we feel we have enough stuff to sell," Shelton Fireworks Manager Ethan Snedigar said.

At 30,000 square feet, that's a lot of room to fill. It's the largest showroom in the country. The store manager said even during the economic downturn, sales remained strong.

"In a bad time of the economy, we're gonna celebrate the New Year. Start the New Year off fresh," said Don Carlton, who drove from Louisiana to shop.

With prices from $.19 to $290, there's a deal for anyone and the most popular items are the artillery shells.

"Reloadable explosive you stick in a tube which shoots 100 feet in the air and then blows up into a 25-30 foot color display," says Snedigar. "A lot of bang for your buck in one of those."

The manager said fireworks have a shelf life of 30 years. Even so, this time of year, they fly off the shelves. Once they're off the shelf, they're launched in the air throughout the country.

"Just spreading the joy, one big party, spreading the joy," said one shopper.

"We're just passing through, thought we'd stop," another shopper added.

The store is located off the interstate, and folks travel from as far as Texas to stock up.

After the goods go up in smoke, fireworks retailers will reap the benefits and try again next year.
This is the second biggest holiday of the year for Shelton's fireworks. The first, of course, is the Fourth of July.