Slower start to fireworks sale, some consumers saying they’re cutting back this year

Recession? What recession?  If you just look at the number of folks lined up at Showtime Fireworks in Hardeeville, it looks like business is well, booming.

But the truth is, it’s been kind of a slow start. One employee says it’s taken a lot longer this year for sales to pick up.  Of course a tight economy isn’t stopping everyone from celebrating.  Joe Sica of Bluffton says he’s buying about the same amount of fireworks as last year.  “You’ve got to have fun,“ he says.  “Celebrating the fourth of July is a good way to forget about everything.“

Still, some say they are scaling down their family celebrations this year.  Down the road at Crazy Joe’s, Deborah Chatland says she’s not buying as much as last year. “i’m trying to pay bills this year so what I’m getting is definitely smaller.  And we’re going to go out to a public fireworks display this year which I actually think will be kind of fun since we don’t always do that,“ she says.

Still, many are hoping for big family celebrations just like always.  Thomas Reeves says he’s spending the same amount of money as last year.

Some like Tom Smart, are traveling through South Carolina and stocking up for family and friends.  Smart had a list of stuff to buy for his son-in-law.  Still, Smart doubts that sales can be as good as last year. “I mean a lot of people are out of work so they are probably going to where the fireworks are free and they can just look at them,“ he says.  “That’s what I’d do.“

With just two days and counting, some businesses say things will pick up as they always do.  They’re hoping this holiday does end with some kind of financial bang for them.