Ben Blemings, a West Virginia University graduate student, has been selling fireworks in a large white tent behind Sabraton Station in the days leading up to July 4 for four years now.
He is putting in 12-hour days selling his inventory — five pallets worth — to celebrants throughout north-central West Virginia.
“I am making enough to be doing this now for four years,” Blemings said. “It’s good for a college student.”
It’s safe to say the sale of consumer fireworks is a booming business, not only in West Virginia, but across the country. According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, a Bethesda, Md., trade group, 258.4 million pounds of fireworks were purchased by individuals last year, up from 229 million pounds the prior year. Revenue made from consumer fireworks sales was $945 million last year, up from $885 million in 2017.
West Virginia made the sale of fireworks legal in 2016, clearing the way for vendors to sell firecrackers, various types of rockets, spinners, roman candles and reloadable shells and mortars. Also, some consumer fireworks can be found, in a limited degree, in grocery and convenience stores in West Virginia. Fireworks can also be purchased online.
Consumer fireworks can also be bought in neighboring Pennsylvania at vendor stands.
Maryland, however, has more restrictive laws governing the sale of consumer fireworks. In some of the state’s municipalities, the sale and use of consumer fireworks, including sparklers, is illegal. Other banned items in some Maryland communities include firecrackers, squibs, rockets, roman candles, fire balloons and signal lights. Currently, Massachusetts is the only state to ban the sale of all consumer fireworks, American Pyrotechnics said.
Julia Adkins, a sophomore WVU economics student, is selling fireworks next to Kroger in Sabraton. She got $30,000 worth of fireworks on credit. Under her agreement with TNT Fireworks, she keeps 20% of what she sells. In the three weeks leading up to July 4, vendors can make anywhere from $1,500 to $6,000, according to industry estimates.
“I wanted to get some business experience,” said Adkins, who is working with her friend, Sierra Morris.
Like Blemings, Adkins carries roughly 200 items that vary from $600 for a large variety box to snappers and regular firecrackers that sell for less than $5. Adkins, who will be selling her inventory a couple of days after July 4, said business picks up around 8-10 p.m., when people get off work.
Remaining inventory is typically sent back to the wholesaler, they said. Around 90% of consumer fireworks come from China, while 70% of display fireworks are from China, American Pyrotechnics said.
When West Virginia legalized the sale of consumer fireworks three years ago, it also levied a fee — the Fireworks Safety Fee — which is equal to 12% of the sale price of consumer fireworks sold. Seventy-five percent of the revenue from that tax is earmarked to the Veterans’ Facility Support Fund, while the remainder goes toward the Fire Protection Fund.
Since July 2016, the state has collected more than $2.1 million from the fireworks safety fee, the West Virginia State Tax Department said. Those funds benefit both veterans and local fire departments. The state collected $1.054 million in state sales tax since legalization. Prior to the legalization of fireworks in the state, Morgantown had ordinances in place prohibiting the use of fireworks inside city limits.
Nationally, injuries from consumer fireworks has dropped, said American Pyrotechnics, which attributes this to states liberalizing their fireworks sales laws, as well as increased consumer awareness about safety. The injury rate last year was 56% lower than it was in 2000. On average, 280 people go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4 holiday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said.
Dave Moran, who lives in the Akron area, has been coming to Morgantown for the last four years to sell consumer fireworks. Moran, and his business partner, Jason Modlik, have a tent set up on Monongahela Boulevard, just down the street from the WVU Coliseum.
Moran, who has been selling fireworks for 21 years, said sales have been brisk.
“So far everything is working out,” said Moran, who will be at his boulevard location until July 7.
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