'Worst year ever': Fireworks sales fizzle out as displays are called off
Lockdown has poured cold water on sales of fireworks with tons of boxes left stacked up in warehouses.
A fireworks shop was forced to close today on what would have been its biggest trading day of the year due to the second lockdown.
Jubilee Fireworks, based on Dawley Trading Estate, Kingswinford, is among the shops forced to close on what would have been its busiest day of the year.
Managing director Chris Pearce, who has built up the business over 32 years, said: "We have got a considerable amount of unused stock.
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"The fireworks season will go on for a few more days but the retail shop will close from today.
"It is our best trading day of the year which is ironic when you think about it.
"I think we well sell only 50 per cent of our normal volumes."
The company's fireworks are stored in specialist containers located in the countryside. And Mr Pearce was yesterday busy with loading boxes of unused fireworks from the firm's Kingswinford store to be taken back to storage.
He added: "We will have around 60 tons of unsold fireworks left in our various storage magazines throughout the UK."
However, the main part of the business is actually carrying out pyrotechnic displays - in addition to selling fireworks to members of the public.
Some of Mr Pearce's clients include Alton Towers and West Midland Safari Park and some London shows alongside international customers. He says there is a "big distinction" between consumer fireworks and professional ones which are used in public displays, as the latter types are much bigger.
"Hardly any professional ones have been used [this year]," he added:
"This the worst year I have ever had - even from the early days."
