New Fireworks Law a Dud? Retailers Wonder If Year Round Sales Will Boost Profits

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A bill passed this year will allow those who sell fireworks to stay open 365 days a year. But retailers remain cautious about whether this law will boost sales since most people think of the Fourth of July, not other holidays when they think of fireworks.

Jerry Johnson, the owner of Fireworks Warehouse, likes the idea of being able to sell year round. The long time Oklahoma City retailer admits the idea of being open year round instead of only the few weeks out of the year could certainly help. But whether they can get enough business to stay open 365 days remains to be seen.

"We will look at this after the season and see whether we'll be open daily or just the major holidays. We'll just have to sit down at the end of the season and see what benefits the business," Johnson said. "I don't know if it will be feasible to have someone staffed here Monday to Friday."

The concern is for consumers like Jason Kaufman who drove from Enid to buy fireworks in Oklahoma City. Once a year he comes to Oklahoma City solely for the purpose of buying fireworks.

"This is just a Fourth of July thing for us, something to do with the kids," Kaufman said.

Should firework retailers be profitable year-round, Johnson admits they will need to be able to change public perception, but he believes it's possible.

"It'll be a business that you'll have to build up and where people know that they can get fireworks year-round," the Fireworks Warehouse owner said.

Still those who sell fireworks recognize it's a business plan with no guarantee.

Until the law passed this last session retailers were only able to sell fireworks from June 15 to July 6 and December 15 to January 2. Under the law, only distributors, wholesalers and licensed manufactures who sell to the public are able to sell year-round.

It's important to remember while those who sell fireworks can now sell year round, a lot of the bigger cities around the state including Oklahoma City prevent people from setting off fireworks within city limits.

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