Fireworks sales sluggish during the holidays

CEBU, Philippines - 2012 seems not to be a record year for fireworks entrepreneurs as stall owners find the supposedly-peak season for such business to be slow.

Rafaela Rabor, an 82-year old entrepreneur, has been into the fireworks business since 1997 as an additional source of income apart from her sari-sari store.

She added, however, that the seasonal business has become the “slowest” this year compared to the last three years that she has been selling at the South Road Properties (SRP).

Entrepreneurs like Rabor have the Christmas and New Year celebration as the peak season for fireworks.

She cited that low sales turn-out could be possibly attributed to financial crisis, bad weather, tough competition, inaccessible location and the campaign of the Department of Health against firecrackers and fireworks.

She noted that her usual sales from December 23 to January 1 averages to P150,000 but as of December 26, she had not reach P20,000 yet. She cited that even the famous Judas belt, she has not sold even a single piece.

Bestsellers include the skyrocket firework or kwitis sold at P50 per stick and the Wish Light fireworks priced from P500 to P2, 000.

Rabor increased her capital from P80, 000 for the Christmas season this year to P100, 000 for the New Year celebration to offer more products.

She also spent P13,000 for the 10-day rental fee of the stall at SRP.

She ironically admitted though that she prefers not to use firecrackers to avoid accidents during the holiday season.

“Gasto man gyud ang pabuto. Ganahan gane ko nga di na lang magpabuto ang mga tawo. Pero kon mamaligya gihapon sila, mamaligya na lang sad ko aron makatabang pud sa akong pamilya. Pero pildi man karon,” she told The FREEMAN.

Richard Potot, on the other hand, has been in this family business for 15 years.

Aside from his stall at SRP, the 37-year old entrepreneur also has his main fireworks store at Brgy. Babag, Lapu-Lapu City.

He claimed to be among the first batch that started selling fireworks at SRP. They began with about 18 entrepreneurs and now they have grown to 80 from last year but decreased to 50 this year.

He noted that it could have been the location that affects the sales and number of stall holders since it could only be accessed by customers who have their own vehicles.

“Mas maayo didto sa Babag kay accessible sa tanang klase sa tawo. Maong halinon gyud. Diri sa SRP kay mga de awto man. Mingaw gyud tan-awon diri,” he continued.

This year, Potot began selling last December 20 with a capital of P100, 000 that is good for 100 cartons of varied fireworks.

For seven days, he has earned around P50,000 and expected to have an additional income of P75,000 from December 29 to December 31.

“Okay ra gihapon same as last year. Di pud kayo kusog,” he added.

Fireworks made from Bulacan usually sold from P300 to P500, he said, have always been a hit to the Cebuano market.

He further reminded the public particularly drunk persons and children to ensure their wellbeing during holiday season when using fireworks and firecrackers have been a tradition for Filipinos.

He cited that drunk persons and children should be cautious against any danger and be responsible enough for their own welfare.

Safety practices such as no smoking and no testing are currently being observed at SRP.

Even with the slow performance in the fireworks business, Rabor and Potot still remain hopeful that their investment for this year will yield in the last three days of 2012.