In February 2024 we celebrate our 20th anniversary of selling fireworks.

When we started selling fireworks in 2004  from our small shop on Doncaster Road in Wakefield, we had very little selection, compared to now, but even then we had a passion for fireworks. 

In 2005, we expanded our range and added a few more suppliers and we know that we had something special to us. In 2005 the internet was still something new, and expensive, compared to what it is now. We bit the bullet and decided to do a website, boy was that fun, however, we plodded through it and we were one of the first fireworks companies to add videos to our website. It was a very basic website, but it was both functional and helpful. So much so that in 2006 we were awarded the title of Best Retailer in the Fireworks awards with runner-up for best shop and 3rd place for best website. Not bad for a fairly new small family business.

In 2009 we had outgrown the shop and it was time to move. We knew that moving might be problematic as we had gained a bit of a reputation and just hoped that our customer base would follow us. So off to Millennia Park, we went. It was a big shop, and so we had to fill it. So off to China we then went, to source our own brand. Liuyang is THE home of fireworks and where probably 90% of all fireworks come from. It was a real eye-opener to see the process from start to finish. We brought in a small range under the Fantazia Pyrotechnics brand, but the volumes needed became too much and we pulled out, but the brand still exists. 

For the next 11 years, we operated out of that unit, but we also did fancy dress which was becoming more and more online and the shop was people's last resort or being used as a try-on before going online. so we called a day on fancy dress in 2019. The outcome was we needed a smaller shop, luckily one became available on the estate opposite where we were and in January 2020 we moved to our current location. It needed a "bit of work" but we had a few months to do it, who knew what 2020 had in store for us?

We used the time during various lockdowns to refurbish the shop, doing 90% of the work ourselves was fun but time-consuming, luckily we had time on our side.

Eventually, we were done and ready for the 2020 fireworks season, what fun that was.....

So here we are in 2024, just starting preparations for this season. It's only February but we've already had meetings with suppliers, placed some orders and currently working our way through all things fireworks.

If you've got to this point, thanks and I hope I haven't bored you. It's a big deal for us hitting 20 so I felt it needed a bit of a history lesson as to why we are here, how we got here and how we love what we do. I have to say that while the company is 20 years old, we alas aren't and each year I find a new ache that wasn't there last year. But we love what we do, the fun, the banter with customers and all that despite doing 80-hour weeks during the season.

So for now I'm going to bid you goodbye, and a huge thanks to all our customers and we'll see you soon.

Rob and Jill