Fireworks News: Pre-Season Pricing

February 3, 2021

UPDATE: February 18th – Click above for our webinar recap.

As part of our ongoing effort to keep our customers informed on the issues facing the consumer fireworks industry, we are providing this summary on the latest shipping, cost and production news. Our industry is facing a number of challenging conditions that will impact supply and costs for 2021.

As we mentioned in December, we are facing multiple challenges this year that are not only impacting the consumer fireworks industry, but also other industries. In brief review, our containers from China are incurring an additional $5800 fee per container and the US dollar has significantly weakened against the Chinese RMB. To help our customers, we offered our warehouse inventory at 2020 pricing before we started receiving 2021 products with these new fees. We are now in a window where the products we are receiving are subject to the $5800 fee. Accordingly, as of February 1 we have updated our prices to reflect the additional expenses we are incurring to import fireworks. 

In late January we were also informed that another $3600 per container fee would be added for fireworks departing China. With this new fee, we will be charged at least $9400 per container in addition to the standard shipping rates. These additional expenses, as well as the exchange rate changes, will likely force us to increase prices again. 

We will continue to do our best to provide you with the lowest pricing possible. Consequently, we are offering our in-stock inventory and soon-to-be-received products at pre-season pricing through March 3rd . To secure the current price on these products, we require an order with a minimum down payment of 50%. The current offer does not include products that are subject to the additional $3600 per container fee. We will re-evaluate our pricing in early March, at which time our pricing may increase again due to the new $3,600 fee and other new expenses. 

We encourage you to purchase now before we are forced to implement another price increase. We know containers will start arriving in March that are subject to at least $9400 in fees. On top of the increased freight costs, it is very likely there will be a shortage of fireworks for this season. Increasing fees, weakening exchange rates, and anticipated shortages are going to make 2021 a challenging year. We stand firm in our commitment to being your partner in facing these challenges head-on. 

Again, we urge you to order now. Do not wait – order today to secure available products and pricing.

Fireworks News: APA Endorses the RESTART Act

July 21, 2020

You can help the American Pyrotechnic Association (APA) in its efforts  to obtain industry financial assistance in the next COVID stimulus package that would help the display, proximate and domestic manufacturing segments of our industry. 

The following is a letter from the APA. See the Call to Action section for information on how to support the APA’s efforts.

APA Advisory – APA Endorses the RESTART Act

July 16, 2020

TO:  John Bechtold, Spirit of ’76 Fireworks

SUBJECT:   Call to Action for Association Members to Contact Their Elected Officials

Working with the legislative team at K&L Gates, the APA is making progress in its efforts to obtain industry financial assistance in the next COVID stimulus package that would help the display, proximate and domestic manufacturing segments of our industry.  

Yesterday, the  APA formally endorsed Senate legislation  (S. 3814) Reviving the Economy Sustainably Towards A Recovery in Twenty-twenty, more commonly referred to as the RESTART Act. The proposal, introduced by Senator Michael Bennett (D-CO) and co-sponsored by Senator Todd Young (R-IN), extends the 8 week Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), to a 16 week period and creates a new loan program to provide funding to cover 6 months of payroll, benefits and fixed operating expenses for businesses that have taken a substantial revenue hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

APA Director Mike Cartolano, Melrose Pyrotechnics,  participated in a press conference  with Senator Young just prior to the 4th of July offering his company’s support of RESTART.  S. 3814 enjoys bi-partisan support and currently has 10 additional co-sponsors including

Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. (I-ME)     
Sen. Cramer, Kevin (R-ND)
Sen. Gardner, Cory (R-CO)  
Sen. Tester, Jon (D-MT)
Sen. Reed, Jack (D-RI)
Sen. Ernst, Joni (R-IA)    
Sen. Tillis, Thom (R-NC)
Sen. Merkley, Jeff (D-OR)
Sen. Blunt, Roy (R-MO)  
Sen. Kaine, Tim (D-VA)

A companion bill to the Senate’s RESTART Act, was introduced in the House of Representatives on July 2 by Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-2) and Mike Kelly (PA-16).  Like its Senate counterpart, the legislation builds upon the PPP, enhancing it to ensure that more of the hardest hit American small and medium sized businesses have access to vital assistance. The APA has endorsed their efforts as well, click  here  for the House letter.  

Call to Action

Negotiations on the COVID aid package are likely to intensify next week and  we need APA members to contact their elected representatives NOW – before next Tuesday.

Please contact your elected representatives in the House and Senate and urge them to support the RESTART Act.   Attached is an  updated version of our “talking points ” which you should refer to when speaking with your elected officials or their staff. If you have previously made contacts in response to our May 28 Call to Action, make sure you follow-up with individuals you may have spoken with to alert them to the RESTART Act and to voice your support of this legislation. The APA letters referenced earlier in this advisory may also be modified and sent, however personal contact with a staff member of your representative or senator is generally most effective.

APA’s Executive Director is reaching out individually to member companies located in the 10 States listed above where Senators have already signed on as a co-sponsor of S. 3814. She is providing a specific template for contacting these Senators. If any member needs assistance, please contact Ms. Heckman at  [email protected]  or (240) 401-4513.

We wish to thank APA directors Mike Cartolano, Steve Pelkey, Atlas PyroVision Entertainment, James Souza. Pyro Spectaculars, and Stephen Vitale, Pyrotecnico for their ongoing work to support the association’s legislative efforts. We hope that you will lend your support by contacting your elected federal officials. Time is of the essence. Please take action now to help the industry obtain necessary relief in the next COVID stimulus package. 

Advisory #2020-35