21 hours ago
Tariffs may lead to more expensive fireworks across the metro this year
EDWARDSVILLE, Kan. — Tariffs enacted by the Trump administration might make fireworks more expensive this year.
'Yeah, we're seeing the prices go up a little bit and like everything is up a little bit,' said Mark Tibbits, the owner of Hot Mama's Fireworks in Edwardsville, Kansas. 'And we have the smallest markup around.'
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Tibbits has been running Hot Mama's Fireworks for the past 5 years, and since they started, he's seen firework prices double in some cases. However, he says you might want to bring some extra cash to the fireworks stand this year, due to the tariffs. '10% or so this year,' he said. 'Some of the stuff has the same price as last year, but a lot of it has gone up. The majority of it's a little higher.'
Tibbits said that customers have been feeling price increases in other industries, and it's become somewhat routine to pay more these days.
'We've all seen it, we've all felt it,' said Tibbits. 'Everybody knows the prices have gone up on everything now. So, I think customers are just kind of getting used to it.'
One Hot Mama's customer approached the stand on Wednesday. He wasn't able to buy fireworks, as Hot Mama's opens on Friday, but said that he doesn't mind paying more.
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'I'll pay the tariffs,' he said. 'If it gouges those people the way that it gouges us in the United States, I'll pay for it. I'll pay a little bit extra. Maybe we'll get a little bit more made in the United States.'
Tibbits said that the rising costs make operating the fireworks stand more challenging.
'It makes it tough, you know, because we've been around the community for, you know, quite a few years now here,' he said. 'So, we try to bring the customers the best prices we can and then we see our costs go up on everything, and then tent prices go up and up, land prices go up, so, you try to keep your prices the best you can.'
Despite the rise in cost, Tibbits thinks that business will be good again this year.
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'The American people still love getting fireworks to celebrate everything, celebrate our freedom,' Tibbits added.
Hot Mama's opens Friday at 9 a.m.
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