Holiday sets off explosive business for Indiana fireworks shops
By Richard Webner, Chicago Tribune | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
She plans to work until midnight Friday at
In the week before the nation's birthday, Panos worked
"People say, 'You don't get to do fireworks?' No, this is my fireworks," Panos said, gesturing toward the shop full of customers and colorful bundles of explosives.
Uncle Sam is one of about a dozen fireworks shops packed along
The stakes are high.
And a huge portion of the stores' revenues come from sales leading up to
The looser laws have caused a proliferation of fireworks stores in recent years. The increasing popularity of fireworks also has helped. From 1998 to 2013, sales of consumer fireworks nationwide rose to
With more stores, there's more competition and slimmer profit margins, Kaplan said. At a maximum, he sells his products at two or three times the price he paid for them, and he has a lot of overhead from his buildings and staff, he said.
To catch Illinoisans' business, store owners say it's crucial to be as close to the border as possible. Uncle Sam sits in a former railroad station about 20 feet from the state line, but it's not as close as nearby
"It's location, location, location," said Kaplan, who started selling fireworks from his basement in 1985 and now has seven Krazy Kaplan's locations. "The closer to the state line, the better your business is going to be."
Kaplan spends 6 to 10 percent of his store's budget on advertising, including more than 250 billboards featuring a dynamite-holding, straitjacket-wearing mascot he drew himself 25 years ago.
"We do whatever it takes," Kiswani said.
Meanwhile, 42 states allow all consumer fireworks permitted under federal law, including bottle rockets and Roman candles, according to the pyrotechnics association. Seven have loosened their laws since 2010, in large part to increase tax revenue, Heckman said.
"It's really difficult and challenging to enforce this, and a lot of states saw how their neighboring states were generating a lot of tax revenue," she said. "They were tired of seeing the money cross state lines."
Queen Sister, who is from
"I think it's sad that during this celebration of independence we have to cross the state line to feel free," said Sister, who said she has shopped at Uncle Sam for about 20 years.
Still, accidents happen. The
Though they come to northwest
There are downsides, though: Last year, someone tried to set off fireworks in the parking lot behind the restaurant.
"It didn't burn my place down, but if people buy them, they shouldn't set them off in a residential area," he said.
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