‘We’re not gonna raise our prices’: Hanover’s Big Blast Fireworks doing everything to combat tariffs
VENN
HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- If you're buying fireworks for New Years Eve, you might notice a boom in the price because of tariffs. Big Blast Fireworks in Mechanicsville is doing everything it can to not charge customers more.
A nearly 25% tariff has been added since President Donald Trump took office.
The store, located at 8170 Atlee Road, has been open year-round for any type of celebration for 15 years. But this year, they made some business changes to avoid tariffs hiking up prices.
“We’re not gonna raise our prices," owner Frank D. Hall said. "We’ll absorb it.”
Big Blast Fireworks located at 8170 Atlee Road.
Earlier this year, Hall cut ties with the U.S. manufacturer he bought Chinese-made product from, and now buys directly from China.
“[China] knew the tariffs were gonna be coming and we need to save money any way we can so we’ve kind of absorbed the price for the tariffs by buying straight from the manufacturer, Hall said. "Getting lower prices, cutting out the middleman.”
They’ve absorbed any additional costs, like a surprise 15% increase over the summer, and feel they owe it to their customers to keep the prices as is.
“Customers are like our family. We’ve been here so long we have so many people coming back," Hall said. “Just a little small locally owned little business and having fun.”
For now, Hall said the store is taking things day by day.
“I’m watching news everyday," he said. "But I really don’t worry too much about tomorrow. Today’s all we have.”
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will decide if the president's widespread tariffs are constitutional or not by late June, but the decision could come sooner.
On Nov. 5, representatives with the National Firework Association (NFA) attended a hearing in front of SCOTUS regarding the legality of the tariffs.
"This case has major implications for the American fireworks industry and our ongoing efforts to ensure the availability and affordability of fireworks for everyone -- especially as we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States," the association posted on its website.
Fireworks are not legal everywhere in Virginia. Check your area here.
