PONTOTOC – Fireworks sales are going OK so far, area dealers say, but they won’t have a handle on the economy’s impact until Friday morning.

“Ninety percent of sales are on New Year’s Eve,” said Shane Montgomery, who operates nine Orbit Fireworks stands throughout Northeast Mississippi. “The rest of the time my workers are pretty much baby-sitting fireworks.”

The watchman role was emphasized early Wednesday morning when a group of people broke into the Orbit Fireworks tent at the Lee-Pontotoc county line. The tent is not one of Montgomery’s.

The teenage thieves, according to workers Chris Jordon and Christina Chunn, stole fireworks, a cash register and a credit card machine around 3 a.m.

Later in the day, Montgomery, who was working the Pontotoc stand, said business was slow, but it was picking up. He cited the last-minute shopping and the rain for the soft sales so far.

Eric Barksdale at the D&D Trade stand in Skyline said he’s been selling fireworks to groups, kids and families, but he’s expecting the bulk of sales tonight.

“It’s actually pretty good – better than I thought it would be due to the rain,” Barksdale said. “You sell more if it’s not raining.”

Rain is good

Barksdale and Montgomery both said rain is good because it will soak the ground and help ease concerns about fire.

But if it’s still raining tonight, people won’t be able to shoot off their fireworks so they won’t buy as much.

Barksdale also expects people will continue to shoot Friday and Saturday.

The average shopper in Northeast Mississippi buys about $30 to $45 of fireworks, the local fireworks vendors said. But the amount can vary.

Jordon said this year he’s had sales for $5 and another for $300.

Montgomery added, “It all basically depends on how much the customer wants to spend. Kids want fireworks and most of the time the parents will take care of the kids. It’s a way of life. Hopefully, it’ll continue. I don’t know about the economy. You take the good with the bad.”

He said if July 4 is an indicator, then people are still buying. The patriotic holiday is a little bigger sales day for Montgomery, while it’s the other way around at the stands manned by Jordon and Barksdale.

“Fireworks – it’s just the American way,” Montgomery said. “People love the beauty of them and the loudness. There’s not a better way to bring in the new year than with a pretty fireworks show.”

Contact Carlie Kollath at (662) 678-1598 or carlie.kollath@djournal.com.