Local fireworks sellers lower expectations, but hope season isn't a dud

David Riley usually buys about $30,000 worth of fireworks to sell at his stands near Beaufort County for the Fourth of July.

This year, he reduced his order by about $6,000, fearing the economic downturn would take a bite out of his business.

"The recession has hurt everybody, so I'm sure it's going to affect us, too," he said.

He set up three temporary shops this year. Two are on S.C. 170 -- one near Callawassie Island and the other at Okatie. The third is in Point South.

So far this week, business was close to its usual pace, said Riley, who has been selling fireworks for 12 years. He expects business will be "maybe a fraction down" for the season.

"The middle-class person is going to still buy if he's got a job," Riley said. "If anything, they're buying less junk and buying bigger stuff."

Riley's Callawassie location is a white trailer stocked with shelves upon shelves of fireworks of varying sizes, shapes and colors. No customers stopped by early Thursday afternoon, but Riley expects they will come in droves before Saturday's holiday is over.

"They don't buy 'em a week ahead of time," he said.

At Joker Joe's Fireworks near Interstate 95 Exit 8 in Hardeeville, manager Stacy Williams said sales June 30 and July 1 were down at least 20 percent from last year.

She hopes business will pick up because Independence Day isn't until Saturday.

"I'm assuming (today) may make up for it," said Williams, who has managed the store for four years. "Hopefully I'm right."

Americans spend more than $630 million on backyard fireworks each year, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association. Executive director Julie Heckman predicts a "banner year" for sales, mostly because of the economy leading people to stay at home. That means more neighborhood parties and family get-togethers -- and more backyard fireworks.

AAA Carolinas estimates about 3 percent fewer drivers will be on the roads this holiday weekend compared to last year.

Riley, the Callawassie fireworks seller, is confident people will still spend on fireworks celebrations.

He expects Saturday to be a "non-stop, tongue-hang-out day."

"It's kind of like Christmas," Riley said. "It's coming whether you want it to or not."

Riley's business partner Rock Purdy isn't nervous about the prospects for his Okatie location, a red-sided building near S.C. 170.

He was worried about the economy's impact on his fireworks shop last winter before New Year's Eve, he said, but those fears didn't materialize.

What concerns him more is this week's hot weather, which has made it unpleasant for him to sit outside, so he can be visible from the road.

Even so, Purdy is prepared for a long night of ringing up customers Saturday.

"I'll stay 'til they quit coming," he said.

Mark Weisner might be among those late buyers.

Weisner is an organizer of the Firecracker 5000, a 5-kilometer run and walk Saturday on Hilton Head Island.

He was buying fireworks Thursday for the race and said he might return to buy more for personal use in the coming days.

If he does, the recession might make a slight dent in his purchase, he said.

"I wouldn't cut it out," Weisner said. "I might cut back."

The Charlotte Observer contributed to this report.