If you have a fun event coming up in the next few months, such as a wedding or big birthday celebration, or some other occasion, you might be thinking about buying some fireworks to cap the night off with a bang.
Before you start shopping for these products, though, it pays to consider a few key strategies for sourcing and buying the best possible options for your needs.
Set Yourself a Budget Before You Begin Shopping
Firstly, determine how much you can afford to outlay on fireworks before you begin sourcing them. Set yourself a budget to stick within so that you don’t get too overenthusiastic when looking at displays and spend more than you should. Having a set dollar amount in mind that you want to invest in the purchase of fireworks will also help you keep on track when you’re browsing in-store and potentially getting pressure from a salesperson to upgrade to more expensive options.
Also, when you shop for fireworks online, you can use your budget figure to select the price range you want to browse within. This way, you won’t waste time looking at items you can’t afford anyway. Whether you buy fireworks in-store or online, though, take care to store the products carefully once you get them home.
This is particularly important if you’re purchasing well before you plan to use fireworks. These goods must be stored in dry, safe spots where pets or pests won’t chew on them, and children can’t access them. Keep them out of harm’s way, so not only do you keep everyone safe, but the products stay useable over time, and you don’t waste the budget you allocated for them.
Work Out Your Goals for the Fireworks
Before you start shopping, it helps to work out your goals for using fireworks. For instance, you might want the show to last for a particular length of time or to be about having the most impact for miles around and becoming a massive talking point for all your event attendees for years. You could want something simple to give the kids in your life a fun show to check out, or you may want to set a certain tone for an occasion.
Everyone’s goals tend to be slightly different and vary from event to event. Think about them in advance, though, and you’re more likely to pick the right products the first time and be happy with the display on the night.
Learn about Different Firework Products You Can Choose Between
These days, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to fireworks, with many different products to choose from. As such, you may get overwhelmed when shopping for goods. To minimize this, learn about the various styles for sale, so you have a good idea of what you’re after. There are two prime firework categories: the aerial effect options (which tend to be the most popular) and the ground effect ones.
Aerial fireworks shoot flaming balls up into the air. They can reach 150 feet or more. These products erupt from a single mortar tube or multiple tubes fused together, and they’re usually colorful and large and provide lots of bang for your buck. Examples include reloadable artillery shell kits, aerial spinners, roman candles, multi-shot cakes, repeaters, and parachutes.
Ground effect fireworks are lit on the ground and don’t shoot up into the sky. These products include tanks, snaps, pops, snakes, sparklers, smoke balls, and fountains. Many people don’t realize it, but some daytime effect fireworks are available for sale. These are used during daylight hours and usually come in parachute or smoke-based options.
Turn to Experts for Helpful Advice
It’s wise to learn the basics about fireworks before shopping, but you don’t have to know everything about them to buy well. Most stores have knowledgeable sales staff you can talk to when you want to know more about products or would like some recommendations on the best options for your needs, depending on your budget, goals, and where you plan to set the fireworks off. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance to ensure you find suitable fireworks for your next occasion.
Some other tips to consider when sourcing these products are to check the laws in your area before buying so you know what you are and aren’t allowed to set off and give yourself plenty of time to shop around and find the best deals. It pays to look for fireworks outside of the prime usage times, such as after New Year’s Eve or the Fourth of July, when many vendors discount their stock significantly.
Buying fireworks for the first time may seem daunting, but as you can see, it doesn’t have to be too complicated, and there are ways to streamline the process and shop strategically.