Fireworks stands - is it worth it?

[widebody911]

My wife is on the board of the local ballet company. She's heading to a board meeting in a little bit where they are going to decide whether or not to rent a fireworks stand this year (Phantom Fireworks).

The claim that she heard is that the location they will be getting made $24k last year, of which the charity gets 50%. When I asked if the $24k was net or gross, she couldn't answer. When I asked if the 50% was of the net or gross, she couldn't answer. When I asked how much cash do they have to front, she couldn't answer. Apparently there is a waiting list to get one of the prime locations (unverified). When I asked how this supposedly awesome location suddenly opened up, she said they were told the other entity couldn't do it this year. None of this data is verified, but the board is licking their chops at getting an easy $12k.

It seems to me that if there was really this much cash in it, the fireworks company would throw some minimum wage drones at it for a couple weeks and clean up.

Do any of you have experience in this sort of endeavor?

[rusnak]

Yeah lots of experience.

Look up Thunder Fireworks LLC. Talk to Debbie. They sell Black Cat. If your area is subject to a lottery system, then you'll need to enter the lottery. Call you local fire district first.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Yeah lots of experience.

Look up Thunder Fireworks LLC. Talk to Debbie. They sell Black Cat. If your area is subject to a lottery system, then you'll need to enter the lottery. Call you local fire district first.

Allegedly this location has already had the stands, just "rented" by a different organization in previous years.

[rusnak]

The worst would be TNT, but they operate more like a franchise.

You'll end up basically working for Phantom. If you make $4K you're lucky. A guy that I know, who I help out on July 3 and 4th cleared over $15K his second year, and more like $20K his third.

The key is to have experienced high volume seasonal retail people making the calls at the counter. And the order set up is key. In your area you want a lot of counter items and fountains in the $40~$60 range. Black Cat stuff is the best and much cheaper to the operator, on the magnitude of around 50% less. But they wont take your stuff on consignment like Phantom will.

What I would do is pull the trigger on a 2 year deal: location, stand, etc and build the location up the first year with an eye on the second. Retail is tough unless you know what you're doing. Try to find a Christmas tree lot guy to give you pointers, because he or she will show you how it's done.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by rusnak

What I would do is pull the trigger on a 2 year deal: location, stand, etc and build the location up the first year with an eye on the second. Retail is tough unless you know what you're doing. Try to find a Christmas tree lot guy to give you pointers, because he or she will show you how it's done.

That's my concern: I don't think any of the people involved in this have any idea what they're doing or what they're getting into. I suspect they think of it like a bake sale. I gave her a big list of questions to ask.

[speedster911]

The other consideration are the " volunteers" who work the stand. They will make or brake you. You would be surprised at staffs lack of sales skills , and thinking that sitting in a chair is fulfilling their obligation. You need people willing to hustle and move product. Lousy volunteers will kill the stand.

[ckelly78z]

The best intentions of the motivated, are killed by the realistic work ethic of the help.