Spirit of 76 Fireworks

Retail Recommendation

2011-06-28T08:43:00.003-06:00

Hey Everybody,

With fireworks season now in full swing, here are some items we recommend picking up at your local retailer:

1) RL225 Supernova Canister Shells
2) MS306 Great Expectation - 9 Shot
3) FN251 Pure Fantasy
4) SL100 Sky Lanterns
5) MS384 Rip Rap Rush - 88 Shot
6) MS202 Bling Bling - 36 Shot
7) RL218 Smart Bomb Ball Shells
8) GM468 Southern Comfort - 30 Shot
9) TB215 Khaotic Kaboom - 9 Shot
10) SM145 Green Glitter Saturn Missile Battery - 200 Shot

Price Cut

2011-06-11T11:35:00.001-06:00

We just cut prices on 21 items! Login at www.76wholesale.com. The prices that show up in red are the reduced price.

Working

2011-02-14T14:38:00.003-06:00

Just a quick post - everyone is working hard. '76 Pyro Issue #15 is almost done. The 2011 Gold Price List has just been released, along with our Early Order Sale. We have updated the prices on the website and are working to put the full 2011 product line on the web. We are also working on the February NFA Newsletter.

The big project is the catalog. We started with a photoshoot in January, and are now in the thick of things. Product descriptions are done, now our genius graphic artist Michael Richards is working his magic on about 600 items.

2011 Catalog

2011-01-04T09:54:00.005-06:00

We have officially started on our 2011 catalog. There is a long way to go, and a lot of products to fit in. We have over 150 new items this year, including lots of 500 gram cakes, multi shots, artillery shells, and '76 Pro Line items.

We already have 3 new items in stock now! GM463 Blue Boom - 10 Shots is a LOUD 500 gram cake from Cannon. GM459 Let There B Zoom - 25 Shots is a great single-effect 500 gram from Winda. TB228 Single Shot Collection is a great set of pre-loaded tubes from Firehawk that have some serious bang, but at a lower cost than some other tubes.

Video at www.76wholesale.com (Beta)

2010-11-09T17:15:00.003-06:00

Last week I embedded a bunch of youtube videos on our website. Most of the items shooters would be interested in (500 gram cakes, multi-shot cakes, artillery sells, 9-shot racks, etc) are available. Unfortunately, we do not have much video from 2010, so a lot of '76 Pro Line items do not have video on our website or youtube. However, video of most of these items is available at the Pyro U gallery.

To see the video now on our website, visit www.76wholesale.com and choose a category on the left. Pick an item from the list and the video should appear at the bottom (you may need to scroll down) of the description pop-up.

I know the presentation is not ideal, but this is a temporary solution as we are planning on using a new website for 2011, and I don't trust my php skills enough to make major changes to our current website.

Shogun and Brothers Video

2010-11-03T16:02:00.003-06:00

We added about 7 videos of samples we shot from Brothers and Shogun. The video isn't great, but the fireworks were amazing. We should have some great new products for the 2011 season.

Spirit of '76 YouTube channel

2011 Brothers Sneak Peek

2010-10-04T12:39:00.003-06:00

Last week we shot off samples of Brothers' new products for 2011. It was great! I have been having trouble uploading the files, but here is one that I was able to post:

Sahara Twilight - 16 Shots Spirit of '76 wholesale fireworks

Happy Fourth of July!

2010-07-04T07:07:00.005-06:00

Happy Independence Day - U.S.A! We hope that you all have an amazing stash of fireworks to celebrate with today. Remember to obey all laws and to put fireworks safety into practice.

National Council on Fireworks Safety

Low Stock Warning

2010-06-23T10:16:00.001-06:00

Just a reminder to all of you fireworks fans, the time to order and receive your fireworks by the Fourth is running low, as is our stock on many popular items. Place your order today!

'76 Pyro - Issue #12 Available

2010-06-09T14:44:00.002-06:00

The latest issue of '76 Pyro fireworks magazine has shipped out. Subscribers should be receiving their copies over the next couple weeks. If you want to buy this issue or subscribe, visit 76 Pyro Fireworks Magazine.

This issue includes part 4 of "How to Make Money Selling Fireworks" in addition to photos and stories from South Africa, Macau, Alaska and more. This issue also includes an interview with pyro legend Vincinte Caballer.

Georgetown, SC Demo - April 24, 2010

2010-04-20T13:29:00.002-06:00

We are getting ready for this weekend's demo. Fireworks are shipped out, and a couple of our guys will be shipping out soon as well. Here is the shootlist:

Spirit of '76 Fireworks Demo - Georgetown, SC April 24, 2010

Demo Top 10

2010-03-17T12:34:00.004-06:00

Hey gang,

Here is a list of our top 10 items as rated by those attending the demo. This is from last weekend, Saturday, March 13th, 2010.

10) GM375 War Stopper
9) RL151 Smoke N Mirrors
8) GM384 Feud
7) MS115 Attack
6) MS202 Bling Bling
5) GM264 Spicy Hot
4) MS116 Home on the Range
3) GM401 Star Chamber
2) RL225 Supernova Cans
1) TB215 Khaotic Kaboom

For those of you looking to put shows together, here are the top 5 items from '76 Pro Line.

5) GM429A Blue Peony – 8 sec fan
4) GM428A Silver Peony – 8 sec fan
3) GM427A Red Peony – 8 sec fan
2) GM434 Quick Crackle – 8 sec fan
1) RL225 Supernova Cans

We hope to see you at a future demo.

Georgetown, South Carolina - Saturday, April 24th
Columbia, Missouri - Friday, May 7th
Columbia, Missouri - Saturday, May 8th

Click here to register for an upcoming demo

Download our Fireworks Catalog

2010-03-01T10:51:00.003-06:00

Spirit of '76's 2010 Wholesale Fireworks Catalog is at the press. If you are a customer, or have filled out a catalog request form, you should receive your copy in 2-3 weeks. If you can't wait that long, download your copy here:

Spirit of '76 2010 Wholesale Fireworks Catalog.pdf - 22.9MB

Spirit of '76 2010 Wholesale Fireworks Catalog ZIP file - 16.8MB

2010-02-24T14:36:00.002-06:00

Issue #11 of '76 Pyro has gone to the press! Please visit www.76pyro.com - THE Fireworks Magazine to subscribe. In this issue, we were fortunate to have some amazing contributors come through for us. Jackie Whedbee and Mark Stadsklev gave us some great photos and info on fireworks in Alaska. Cindy Chueng of Shogun provided a great interview with the founder of Kimbolton Fireworks, and Phil Grucci recounts his amazing experience shooting fireworks for China's 60th Anniversary.

Articles Include:
Let Your Life Burn - Fire Dusk - The French Performance Troupe
Alaska: Fireworks in the Land of the Midnight Sun
The (Air)Plane Truth - by Dr. Worsey
China's 60th Anniversary - interview with Phil Grucci
Finale Fireworks Scripting Software
How to Make a Lot of Money Selling Fireworks (Part 3 of 4)
Excelsior Fireworks
Upcoming Pyro Events
The Martyniak Memorial Shoot - John Sagaria and the Crackerjacks pay their last respects
PROFile: Reverend Ron Lancaster - interview by Cindy Cheung of Shogun
Mid Atlantic Fireworks Festival

2010 Fireworks Catalog

2010-02-01T13:50:00.003-06:00

Spirit of '76 is just a couple of weeks away from releasing their 2010 catalog. This year's catalog features the entire product line for this Spring, including products from Brothers, Winda, Firehawk, Mighty Max, Shogun, Cannon, and '76 Pro Line. To get your copy, go to Spirit of '76 Wholesale Fireworks and fill out a catalog request, or log in to ensure that your address is up-to-date.

Early Order 2010

2010-01-13T13:38:00.002-06:00

Get the lowest prices on your Spring or Fourth of July fireworks NOW! Have your fireworks ordered, paid, and shipped by March 15th to save 12%! With our volume discounts, you can save up to 22%! This is the lowest prices we will have until after July 4th, so don't miss this sale! Buy wholesale fireworks from Spirit of '76

January Demo

2010-01-13T13:35:00.002-06:00

Sorry for the late post:

Fireworks Demo - Saturday, January 16th, 2010

Come on out to the Spirit of '76 Fireworks Demo, this Saturday at 5 PM. We will have chili, cornbread, and hot new items for 2010! Be the first to see new items for this year, and some of our best sellers from 2009. You must RSVP to attend, so call us today at 573-447-1776.

New Year's Early Order Ends Tomorrow

2009-12-09T14:50:00.002-06:00

Our Early Order Sale for New Year's 2010 ends tomorrow (12/10). This means that you need to have your order in tomorrow at the latest (today is better) to save 5% on the product price (save even MORE with our volume discounts) and save 20% on the cost of shipping.

Our fireworks demo in South Carolina this past weekend was amazing. We here at Spirit of '76 would like to give a big thanks to Bernie and Marge Rissell for their help and hospitality. The fireworks were a big hit, and the new 2010 product looked amazing! Sorry to all of those who could not make it. You missed out!

For those closer to the midwest, we will be having a snowmelt demo on Saturday, January 16. Come enjoy a nice hot bowl of Chili before being one of the first to see the hot new items for 2010. It will be a great time, and those who come get bragging rights on seeing the items first! Khaotic Kaboom, Pyrobot, Star Chamber, Stimulus Package, and others will shot. Visit www.76wholesale.com/fireworks-demo.php for more information

Early Order Sale Almost Over

2009-12-02T15:09:00.003-06:00

Hurry up and get your order in for New Year's! Our Early Order Sale ends December 10th. Get 5% off (up to 15% with volume discounts) product cost, and 20% off shipping. Place your order now at: Spirit of '76 Wholesale Fireworks. Buy fireworks online!

Social Media

2009-11-10T12:37:00.004-06:00

Spirit of '76 and '76 Pyro are reaching out across the internet. Here is a list of ways you can keep in touch with our products and specials:

www.76wholesale.com
www.76pyro.com
twitter.com/SO76
76fireworks.blogspot.com
www.youtube.com/spiritof76fireworks

You can also search for Spirit of '76 Fireworks and '76 Pyro pages on facebook.

Tenth Issue

2009-10-29T13:53:00.002-06:00

76 Pyro is currently in production on issue #10. To celebrate, we are selling collector's gift sets featuring the first 10 issues of the magazine. Details and pricing will be available when the magazine launches Nov. 1st. To subscribe, visit www.76pyro.com.

2009-10-15T10:03:00.003-06:00

The Summer '09 Edition of '76 Pyro has been released. As you can see, the cover has changed from the preview I posted in August. This issue covers:
Western Winter Blast
The Crackerjack's summer shoot
Firework Art by Rosemarie Fiore
Fireworks from Croatia
The history of Well's Fireworks by John Bennett
Jake Walther - Pyroplegic
India fireworks manufacturing
...and more!

Visit www.76pyro.com to learn more and to see the new site design.

Prospective Cover - '76 Pyro

2009-08-18T12:49:00.002-06:00

Today I thought I would post a picture given to me by our editor - Michael Richards. This is a prospective cover for the next issue of '76 Pyro featuring beautiful artwork from Rosemarie Fiore. It is unlikely that this will be the final cover, so I thought I would share a rare glimpse of the magazine during production.

Our big After-the-Fourth sale ends Thursday, so get your order in quick! Spirit of 76 Wholesale Fireworks

After the Fourth Sale

2009-07-10T13:44:00.002-06:00

The Fourth is over, and we are ready to clear out what is left. Get in by July 31st for Gold prices, no minimum, bonus discounts, and free shipping over $1,000. Click here to see how you can save big money on fireworks.

2009-06-24T12:36:00.003-06:00

Our two fireworks tents are up and open for business. If you are in the Columbia, Missouri area, stop by. Click here to win $700 worth of fireworks. That's right, $700 worth of free fireworks could be yours, just register for the drawing.

*Note: fireworks cannot be shipped. Winner must pickup fireworks in Columbia, MO.

2009-06-21T14:48:00.002-06:00

Above is a great picture of Jeff Cellucci's pyromusical shot at the Midway Fireworks Festival, photographed by Michael Richards of '76 Pyro Magazine. The shows have been unbelievable this weekend, with one more to go tonight. Everyone who comes out has been thoroughly impressed with the choreography Jeff put together, and by the power and beauty achieved with 1.4G consumer fireworks. Click here to learn more about the Midway Fireworks Festival.

Midway Fireworks Festival

2009-06-17T11:31:00.004-06:00

This weekend, (Friday, Saturday, AND Sunday), Spirit of '76 is sponsoring the Midway Fireworks Festival. Each night will feature a 15-minute pyromusical scripted and shot by Jeff Cellucci. The prices are as follows:

$40/person for Pyro Club pass
- Premium Seating, FREE food and drink, FREE subscription to '76 Pyro
$20/car for VIP parking
- Best view of show, best listening area for accompanying music.
$10/car for general parking

I would highly recommend paying the extra for VIP parking or Pyro Club passes. Jeff has put over 100 hours into making this an unbelievable show. The choreography is amazing, and with all of the cars we are expecting, it pays to be front-and-center for a great view and listening experience. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! The show is going to be amazing, we are going to have a wall of fire each night with 64,000 firecrackers, and it is a cheap way for you and your family to enjoy a beautiful summer night outdoors. Buy your tickets today!

New Shirts

2009-06-17T11:29:00.000-06:00

Our new t-shirts arrived today. They look pretty cool, even better than the picture. We have lots of sizes, just call your account executive at 573-447-1776 and ask for a price.

Fireworks for Firefox

2009-06-01T13:35:00.004-06:00

There is a neat add-on for the Firefox web browser called "Personas". I have installed it and used it to change the colors of my window. Last week, I took a few minutes to create a fireworks persona. I think it turned out pretty well for my first try. I hope to create one or two more this week.

Be the First

2009-05-20T15:33:00.004-06:00

Next week, Spirit of '76 will be receiving its first shipment of TB213 Johnny B's Comets, and RL224 Desert Eagle Mines. These items have been discussed all winter and spring on Pyro U. Fireworks enthusiasts have been waiting patiently since the first sightings on the 2009 price list, and on through the teasing pictures in the 2009 Spirit of '76 catalog. At long last they are about to arrive in Columbia, MO where they will quickly be distributed around the country.

Both of these items are highly anticipated by our faithful customers, and we expect that both items will sell out the first week of June. If you want to get your hands on single-shot comets or reloadable mines, call Spirit of '76 (573.447.1776) to reserve your fireworks.

Demo Results

2009-05-12T15:44:00.005-06:00

Our demo on Saturday was GREAT! I really don't think it could have gone any better. The hog was a huge success, and the line for a slice of it went all the way around the display tent. The weather was fantastic, and most importantly, the fireworks were AMAZING! Thanks to Ryan Adams for shooting the demo, Ron "Big Daddy" Silva for an outstanding show, and Joe Marchetti for giving the show a kick with some big, loud, 1.3G shells.

The top rated product of the night was Spicy Hot! This 10-shot cake is getting low on inventory, so make sure to grab a few while you still can.

Here are the overall results:
Spirit of '76 Fireworks Demo - May 9th 2009 PDF
Spirit of '76 Fireworks Demo - May 9th 2009 Excel

Come to the Demo

2009-05-07T09:01:00.005-06:00

Come one, come all to the Spirit of '76 fireworks demo. We will be serving up bbq at 7 PM, and shooting fireworks at 8:30 PM. The event is totally FREE, all we ask is that you call us at 573-447-1776 and let us know who you are and how many people you are bringing. All items being shot will be on display for you to look over before the demo. We will also be selling the pieces on display for you to take home after the demo.

The popular carbon-copy shoot lists return, so that you may rate and take notes on your favorite fireworks, as well as providing us valuable feedback that will help us in our ordering decisions for 2010. If you have not been to see us for a while, this will be your chance to check out the '76 Pro Line, pick up a new catalog, and chat with your account executive. See you at the show!

Casual Demo

2009-04-29T13:31:00.005-06:00

Last night we had a great casual demo. We fired off a lot of items that have just arrived from China. Everything shot well, and most of the items from last night will be featured at our main demo on May 9th. There are always a few items that stand out though, and last night they were:

GM264 Spicy Hot - 10 Shots
GM376 Reach for the Sky - 12 Shots
GM375 War Stopper - 12 Shots
GM383 '76 Select Series (4 unique 12-shot cakes)

We also shot the '76 Pro Line Flame Torch fountains. They are really bright!

Buy wholesale fireworks online at www.76fireworks.com

New Fireworks

2009-04-09T09:32:00.004-06:00

Containers are arriving all the time, and each one brings us a few new items. Right now, we are excited about our new assortments from Brothers. MS363 Three Kings contains Attack, Home on the Range, and Scarecrow. These are all powerful 7-shots with extremely loud, big breaks. MS364 Amazing 8 takes our two best assortments, All-Star Action and Brothers Choice, and puts them all into one box. Get yours while you can.

2009 Fireworks Catalog

2009-03-27T15:13:00.005-06:00

Our 2009 catalog is now available. With over 480 items, and the lovely '76 Bombshells, who wouldn't want a copy? You can get yours today by calling us at: 573-447-1776.

We also have a couple fireworks demos coming up: April 18th in Georgetown, SC and May 9th in Columbia, MO

Fireworks Demo

2009-03-05T10:42:00.003-06:00

Despite the rain, last Saturday's demo went off without a hitch. Thanks to the Rissell's for hosting and doing a lot of the leg work to get the demo set up. The stars of the night were Ranger's Pride and Crazy Commander. Both of these shot great at our January demo as well and look to be the stars of 2009. Oh Say also performed magnificently, overshadowing the best of the 9-shot racks.

We are all extremely busy this week, wrapping up early order (ends Tuesday!) and getting ready for this weekend's demo. We just finalized the shootlist today. Click here to see our fireworks demo shootlist.

BIG HINT - buy Crazy Commander and Ranger's Pride while you can. We ordered a lot, but these items will sell out by May. Remember, up to 22% off and free shipping ($2k or more) if you buy by Tuesday March 10th.

Publications

2009-01-30T15:54:00.003-06:00

The new issue of '76 Pyro is at the printer! In a couple weeks, people all over the country will be reading all about the Pyro U shoot in St. Louis, the Iron Pyro competition, Ned Gorski - PGI Grand Master, Dr. Worsey's Propane Cannon, and more. This issue has some of the best photography we have ever published, including fireworks over the Story Bridge in Brisbane, Australia - the most beautiful fireworks picture I have ever seen.

The catalog is still underway - it is a daunting project that will keep Michael chained to his desk for a long, long time. We are currently in the middle of our Early Order sale, which will be the lowest prices we offer in 2009. If you would like to see a pricelist, call us at 573-447-1776 or visit: Spirit of '76 Wholesale Fireworks

Working, demos, working

2009-01-20T10:11:00.004-06:00

This seems like a busy time of year, but each week is more and more so up to the Fourth. We held a winter demo on Jan. 10th, and had an amazing turnout! About 80 people braved the cold and were rewarded by with seeing 60 new items for 2009. We were all really impressed with products, so this should be a great year for fireworks! Mythical had a great performance, especially considering how cheap it is. Air Show Sensation, Ranger's Pride, Oh Say, Jail Bait, Double or Nothing, and Shootin' Iron were among the favorites of the night.

We are also going to hold two more smaller demos before our major spring demo.

February 28th - Georgetown, SC
March 7th - Columbia, MO

The Georgetown demo will be our second off-site demo (the first was the Pyro U shoot in St. Louis last fall). We are also pre-selling fireworks for WPA Winter Blast, and will be shooting off some of our products during open shooting for people to check out.

In addition to planning out the demos, we are working hard on the 2009 catalog. We are pushing for a February printing, so we have a lot of work to do.

Assortments

2008-12-09T15:50:00.004-06:00

John and Jeff recently sat down and put together three really great sets of fireworks, for those not sure of the best way to spend their hard-earned pyro dollars. Here is the line-up:

Franklin Assortment
MS309 Big 8
MS310 Feats of Strength
MS276 Accelerate
GM100 Da Big Bomb Box
GM101 Homeland Trio

Jefferson Assortment (Franklin Assortment PLUS)
GM282 Wrestling Championship Assortment
GM315 Adrenaline Fix
GM316 The 6 Pack
RL118 Serious Equipment
TB118 Prime Knockout

Washington Assortment (Jefferson Assortment PLUS)
GM104 Our Country - 4 different 500 gram cakes
TB109 Power Show - 2 big 3" tube racks
TB204 Pyro Candy/Texas Hold'em - 2 more incredible 3" tube racks

Drought

2008-11-03T09:47:00.002-06:00

I have not seen live fireworks since the NFA Expo (I missed the Pyro U shoot in St. Louis). That is almost two months with no pyro. I am really starting to miss it. I was just thinking the other night about my first summer of fireworks. I had three "WOW" moments that summer which still live in my mind.

The first was my first night of fireworks. Growing up in Iowa, seeing "the good stuff" was pretty rare. We went down to Missouri and picked up fireworks a couple times when I was a kid, but a cheap multi-shot was the best I ever saw. My first day at Spirit of '76 I got to see an impromptu fireworks show staring the Brothers' classic Major Combat. I had no idea so much firepower could be packed into one cake! It was an $800 fireworks show in a (at that time) $100 retail package. Amazing!

That summer, we shot off a lot of cakes at our tent. All of it was more than necessary as product research. The one that always stood out to me was Blue Blitz. It is the first 'Z' cake I remember seeing, with great blue and green colors. Now I prefer Wicked Cool and Combat Zone, but that cake was my favorite for two years.

The last thing I remember is the finale on July 4th. The staff gathered at the tent for a fireworks show that night, firing off single pieces between customers. The show stopper that night was a case of Yeah Baby Yeah spread out over 30 or 40 yards. Watching the cakes build from 1 shot, to 2 shots, up and up and up... it was an intense experience. The 28-shot finale was huge!

Shipping Woes

2008-10-22T15:30:00.003-06:00

Due to shipper consolidation, the number of shipping lines transporting fireworks out of China is going down. MOL is no longer transporting from Shanghai to the West Coast. Beihai port was shut down for a while, but should be up and running again. These events might make it hard for 1.4G suppliers to be fully stocked for New Year's, but they should still be fully prepared for the Fourth of July. 1.3G is continuing to struggle with getting fireworks out of China and into the US. However, some big names have come together to form a group called Professional Pyrotechnic Standards Association, Inc. Hopefully this organization can improve the shipping situation for display companies here in the US.

Success

2008-10-02T09:55:00.005-06:00

The St. Louis shoot was amazing this weekend. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but I have heard nothing but the highest praise for the event, the shows, and all who helped put it together. Our chief pyro Jeff Cellucci and his partner in crime Ryan Adams put on a killer show (though we are still trying to get video footage). There were other great shows as well on Saturday night. Friday night, the Pyro U crew shot a great demo, managing to fit in over 200 products! From what I have heard, the weekend went off without a hitch and everyone was glad they went.

Photo by Noel Emge

Saint Louis

2008-09-17T13:27:00.004-06:00

We are getting ready for the Pyro U shoot in St. Louis next weekend. Friday the 26th we will be demoing about 30 items, and Saturday the 27th our resident pyros Jeff and Ryan will be putting on an amazing show. I have seen bits and pieces of their plan, and it will blow people away.

If you are in the area, you should definitely come out. There will be 11 demos on Friday night, and several Class C and Class B shows on Saturday, so it is well worth the drive. Hope to see you there!

NFA Expo

2008-09-09T12:00:00.003-06:00

Sunday morning, the 76 crew returned to Columbia, MO. This year's Expo was amazing! Billings is a great city, small and easy to get around, with some great restaurants. The demos were at a great location, and the trade show location was terrific as well. The turn-out was fantastic, and everyone seemed to be getting a lot of business taken care of.

The expo was my first chance to catch a show by Aaron Mayfield in person. One of the best in the business, A.M. Pyrotechnics (http://www.ampyro.com) has a reputation for going above and beyond. Saturday night's show was no exception! It was a great way to end an astounding week of fireworks.

If you are a member of the NFA, thank the board members for putting together such a great conference. If you are not a member, you should be. You can join for as little as $30 and help support the fireworks industry. Click here to join the NFA. Next year's expo will be in WI, which should have an even better turn out than this year. I'm looking forward to it.

PGI

2008-08-15T08:21:00.004-06:00

It has been a busy week for me, taking care of my normal day-to-day work while covering the phones while everyone else is at PGI. Wish I was there! HMNPG has put up some video from PGI at Pyro Universe, and it looks fantastic! 16" shells, a fourteen foot diameter girandola (sp?), looks like a great time. From what I have heard, the shows have been amazing as well.

Our guys have been meeting a lot of pyros up there in Gillette. They have sold a bunch of subscriptions to '76 Pyro Magazine and some of the back issues too. I can't wait to hear all of the stories when they get in next week. It really makes me look forward to visiting the NFA Convention all the more!

Conferences

2008-08-06T09:46:00.002-06:00

This Sunday will be the beginning of the 2008 fireworks conference season. Our owner and sales staff will be making the trip to PGI in Gillette, WY this weekend. For those of you not familiar with PGI, it is a convention focused on the end consumer of fireworks, the people who truly enjoy lighting (or e-firing) the fuse. There will classes, competitions, vending, and open shoots all week. Our graphic designer and photographer Michael Richards will be there snapping THOUSANDS of pictures, and we will also have a couple guys there writing articles for '76 Pyro.

The next convention will be the NFA in Billings, MT. The NFA Expo is focused mainly on the business end of fireworks, with product demos for three nights and a great trade convention. However, there are unfortunately no fireworks for sale at the event. It is a great event though, in that it allows wholesalers a chance to meet with most of their suppliers, as well as give prospective suppliers a chance to show their products and meet with buyers. It is also when we will start seeing all the 2009 products, receiving 2009 catalogs, and hearing all the news and events effecting fireworks for 2009.

I believe the last event will be the APA in Orlando, FL. I have volunteered to go down and ~~play lots of golf~~ meet with suppliers, but I don't think our company will be making the trip this year.

'76 Pyro Update

2008-07-22T13:49:00.002-06:00

I have just uploaded the new version of www.76pyro.com to the server. The look of the website is a bit improved, and I have added a few things:

- translation options
- foreign subscription options
- more information on each issue
- faster load time for the video page

I hope to make even more changes to the site over the next few months. If you get a chance, check out the new site.

A Great Fourth

2008-07-07T08:26:00.002-06:00

The Fourth of July weekend is now over. What a weekend it was! Our tent, and many others in the area have had record sales this season. Everything turned out just how we had anticipated. People stayed home due to high gas prices, July 4th and 5th being on a weekend with great weather really boosted sales, and our incredible products brought a lot of people around 2...3...4 or more times. Hope everyone's Fourth went as well as ours did. Now it is time for sales and gearing up for PGI.

Almost here

2008-06-27T09:58:00.003-06:00

The Fourth of July is only a week away. We are starting to wrap things up on the wholesale end. Today is the last day for most people to order outside of the midwest and still get their fireworks by the fourth. Many of us have been putting in 12-14 days the past couple weeks, and some people have been working even more. Its been crazy, but business is great! We have lots of great products this year, and have dealt with a lot of good people in the fireworks business. Hope everyone has a great 4th!

Shipping Frenzy

2008-06-18T08:32:00.002-06:00

The Fourth of July is almost here! We are swamped with orders, and shipping out thousands of cases every day. If you want to make sure your fireworks are delivered by July 4th, order soon!

We also shot off more fireworks last night. We shot Our Country by Brothers for the first time this year. It is a really great set! I would recommend it to anyone putting on their own show this year.

Its Here!

2008-06-04T08:33:00.002-06:00

We just received two more containers this week. That means our product line for 2008 is basically complete. There have been a lot of problems for fireworks suppliers this year, but we work with the best companies in the business, and they have really pulled through for us this year.

As a side note - we have been bringing in a lot of new and amazing products this year, but if you are still looking for one last piece to your fireworks show, I would recommend TB207 #3000 Tubes from Winda. We shot these two weeks in a row, and everyone agreed they were the best of the night. Call us at 573-447-1776 for other recommendations.

New Video Added

2008-05-22T14:39:00.002-06:00

I have linked more of our YouTube videos on www.76pyro.com - The Fireworks Magazine. Now you can see most of the 500 gram multi-shots, 200 & 350 gram multi-shots, fountains, and 500 gram fountains. I will be working hard to have our tube items and artillery shells up within a week.

May 3rd Demo

2008-05-06T08:28:00.002-06:00

Our demo was a success! I am more amazed by what my awesome co-workers can pull off every demo we shoot. Last time we lost hours of set-up time due to rain, and still had a great show. This time, we had to work with 1/3 of our sales team gone, and most of our dock workers out-of-town. The ones that remained helped to pull more cases than we have ever shipped out for a demo weekend, and pulled off everything without a hitch.

Here are our top ten from the demo:

10) Saturday Night Special - 36 Shots - Brothers - 4/1 - 500 gram
9) Shoot the Moon - 9 Shots - Winda - 2/1 - NoaB
8) Stockade - 16 Shots - Brothers - 8/1 - 200 gram
7) Attack - 7 Shots - Brothers - 6/1 - 350 gram
6) Blond Joke - 36 Shots - Brothers - 4/1 - 500 gram
5) Home on the Range - 7 Shots - Brothers - 6/1 - 350 gram
4) Matrix Pyro - 16 Shots - Brothers - 12/1 - 350 gram
3) Quake - 9 Shots - Brothers - 4/1 - 500 gram
2) Super Kung Fu - Winda - 4/1 - 500 gram
1) Super Stunt - Winda - 4/1 - 500 gram

'76 Pyro now has video

2008-04-28T15:07:00.002-06:00

www.76pyro.com now has video! Just click on "Extra" at the top and choose video when the screen refreshes. Currently, the page takes a while to load, but there are already 100+ 500 gram cakes to watch. More fireworks will be added as my time allows.

Product Video

2008-04-23T09:16:00.003-06:00

We are now making our 2008 product videos available on YouTube! I will be uploading the files over the next couple of weeks, and should have a link sheet on www.76pyro.com in the beginning of May. In the meantime, click below to see Vengeful Texan, or Click here to watch our other fireworks

2008 DVD

2008-04-16T13:29:00.002-06:00

Hello All,

Our 2008 DVD is being produced, even as we speak. The disks should arrive at the Spirit of '76 main office around May 1st. We are not going to mail any out from the press, so if you would like a copy, please request one here:
https://www.76wholesale.com/customer_questionnaire.php

April 9 Demo

2008-04-14T09:26:00.002-06:00

We had another great weekday demo last Wednesday (twice postponed due to weather). It was one of our best demos to date! All of the products were unbelievable. Pyro Candy and frwrX were two of the best items shot. Every time I see frwrX it seems better than the last. We shot Showdown artillery shells for the first time, and they were truly impressive. They even outscored Tycoon, which was our best assortment last year. It is going to be a great year for fireworks!

2008 Catalog

2008-03-18T13:53:00.002-06:00

Our 2008 catalog has been printed. We should receive a few cases of them tomorrow. The rest will be mailed out this week. Call us at 573-447-1776 to find out if you were on the list. If not, we will send you one out this week.

First Demo

2008-03-12T10:22:00.005-06:00

Hello All,

Last night, Spirit of '76 held its first weekday demo. We shot off about 35 items and had a great time. The highlights of the shoot were RL201 Titan triple-break shells (Brothers), GM205 New Dimension (Golden Bear), and TB201 Kick Ass Cajun (Golden Bear). After the shoot, Jeff set off his own fireworks. Two excellent cremora bombs, 24 Smoke N Mirror shells in an angled rack, and a few other things.

Merry Chirstmas

2007-12-26T09:12:00.000-06:00

It's a day late, but Merry Christmas everybody! This season has been a success at Spirit of '76 as we have continued or rapid growth with another record season and another record year! Even with the price increases from Chinese suppliers, people overwhelming choose to celebrate their holiday with fireworks. If you are still looking for fireworks for New Year's, call us now (573.447.1776)! We can still deliver fireworks to over 80% of the U.S. if we receive the order today, and most of the mid-west if we receive the order tomorrow.

2008 Products

2007-11-19T11:46:00.001-06:00

Containers of fireworks are starting to arrive at Spirit of '76! Starting next week, we will start receiving new 2008 products from Brothers and Cannon. MS293 Stockade should be in the last week of November, and GM270 Triple Whammy should be in by Christmas! SK118 Smoke Squad and SK119 Eternal Smoke from Cannon should also be in by Christmas. Make sure to check back often to see what new products are in stock. GM264 Spicy Hot, a 500 gram from Firehawk that is new to us, will be here by Christmas, along with a safe and sane version of AT134 Pyro Station.

'76 Pyro #2

2007-11-05T11:55:00.000-06:00

Hello Everybody,

The second issue of '76 Pyro is finished! Our second issue is a great magazine filled with content from the PGI convention, an article by Bob Weaver, and much more. There is a great article explaining the price increases on fireworks, and another one covering the 5 families of fireworks. Visit www.76pyro.com to learn more.

Spirit of '76 Fall Demo

2007-10-29T13:21:00.001-06:00

Hey Everyone,

We held our fall fireworks demo on October 13th, and despite the rain during the day, the demo ended up going off great! We had the chance to shoot off a lot of 2008 products for our customers, and everyone had a great time. Here are the top ten as rated by our customers:

1) GM270* Triple Whammy - 15 Shots Brothers
2) GM291* Mythical Triangle - 21 Shots Cannon
3) GM294* Cyborg Duel - 25 Shots Cannon
4) GM286* Chest of the Pirates - 37 Shots Cannon
5) MS303* Hooray USA - 10 Shots Cannon
6) GM247 Quake - 9 Shots Brothers
7) MS116 Home on the Range - 7 Shots Brothers
8) MS202 Bling Bling - 36 Shots Brothers
9) GM269* Vengeful Texan - 22 Shots Brothers

All of the items with a "*" are going to be new for 2008. We should even have a few of these items in by New Year's. Check in at www.76fireworks.com to see our current inventory.

Meetings with suppliers

2007-08-27T08:06:00.000-06:00

This month we have been meeting with all of our suppliers to talk about the New Year and next July 4th season. We have seen lots of new products from our suppliers and will be making decisions over the next month on which items to carry. Brothers has a lot of new big cakes. They have a lot of new 9, 12, and 15 shot cakes. They are also making some great saturn missile batteries. Cannon has developed some new unique cakes too. Hop Kee (Mighty Max and Firehawk) has really improved the quality of their labels, and have a few really great items that should be available at a good price.

New 2008 Items

2007-08-14T11:20:00.000-06:00

Hello Everyone,

We are just starting to receive information from our suppliers about their new items for 2008. Some of them were on display at PGI, and Brothers and Cannon will be having demos at the NFA in September. There is already a buzz about Brothers' new 12 and 15 shot cakes, and Cannon has some new great fan cakes that I can't wait to see in person. I read on pyro universe that Leeca has posted video of the new Brothers products, but I don't know if video is up for the Cannon items.

Raising Prices

2007-08-14T11:08:00.000-06:00

Hello all,

It is that time of year again, time to start setting our prices for New Year's items. This year, there will be big increases industry-wide. Here are some of the factors:

- Chinese tax rebate for fireworks exporters has been reduced 8%.
- High demand for space on cargo ships going from China to the US (and little demand for space going the other way) has made the prices of importing go up, especially on items, such as fireworks, that have higher insurance rates for the shipping company.
- Increase in the cost of raw materials, mostly the metals used to give fireworks their color.
- The RMB has been severely undervalued the past few years and is starting to appreciate against the US dollar.

As always, we are going to do our best to keep costs as low as possible. We will also be offering our import program, platinum, and early order discounts to help you save as much as possible on your fireworks.

June Fireworks Sale

2007-06-01T12:16:00.001-06:00

Hello All,

This month, Spirit of '76 is having a great deal for Silver customers. Take advantage of one of the following deals:

Spend $500 or more and get a FREE case of RL155 Eagle Artillery Shells OR GM255 The New Hotness ($58 value)

Spend $1,000 or more and get a FREE case of RL127 Mega Plus Howitzer AND GM125 Uncle Sam's Answer ($206 value)

Spend $1,500 or more and get a FREE case of GM125 Uncle Sam's Answer, GM179 Noizy Boyz, AND GM111 Baby Boomers ($230 value)

All orders also get a FREE Spirit of '76 T-shirt ($15 value)

May Deals

2007-05-17T14:05:00.000-06:00

This month Spirit of '76 is offering some great deals to Silver customers. Place your order before June to take advantage of the following:

$500 gets a FREE case of RL155 Eagle Artillery Shells ($49 value)
$1,000 gets a FREE case of RL 155 Eagle Artillery AND a FREE case of GM255 The New Hotness ($107 value)
$1,500 gets a FREE case of AT180f Colossal Aerial Display ($189 value)

We are also planning on weekly e-mail only specials in June for our Silver customers, so create an account or fill out a survey to get the latest updates on what is going on at Spirit of '76 Fireworks.

April Demo Results

2007-05-09T15:48:00.000-06:00

We had our last spring demo on April 28th, and it was amazing! The weather was great, the food was great, and the fireworks were fantastic. A good time was had by all. We have finished going through all of the scores from the crowd, and these were the 5 highest rated items:

1) Airboss - 37 shot, 500g, Brothers
2) Attack - 7 shot, 350g, Brothers
3) Firefly - 16 shot, 500g, Brothers
4) Smoke N Mirrors - Artillery Shell, Brothers
5) Atom Bomb - 36 shot, 500g, Brothers (part of Da Big Bomb Box)

That was our last demo for the spring, but we will probably be having a small fireworks show for our fireworks tent this summer.

'76 Pyro

2007-04-19T08:31:00.000-06:00

Our new fireworks magazine, '76 Pyro, is coming out in May. Each issue is going to be $15, but we are giving out the first issue for FREE! Just email: service@76wholesale.com and let us know you want your free magazine. In our first issue, we discuss Smoke N Mirrors artillery shells, have an interview with Rocco Vitale, and tell you how to build a Wall of Fire like we do at our demos.

April Deals

2007-04-04T12:24:00.000-06:00

For April, Spirit of '76 is offering two deals to our Silver clients, and one final discount this season for our Gold customers. Silver clients will receive a free case of RL155 Eagle Artillery Shells (a $48 value) for your order of $500 or more. Orders over $1,000 will instead be given $50 off of shipping. Our gold customers will continue to receive a 3% discount for orders picked-up or scheduled to ship out in April.

March 31st Demo Results

2007-04-04T08:21:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone,

Our demo on Saturday night went great! It was cold and windy, but the fireworks were outstanding. The food (from W.G. Grinders) was also a hit. Here is a sample of the top rated items:

1) MS116 Home on the Range - 7 Shot (Brothers)
2) GM131 Openfire - 33 Shot (Brothers)
3) GM130 Roboshot - 15 Shot (Brothers)
4) RL151 Smoke N Mirrors (Brothers)
5) GM248 Gamma Glow - 16 Shot (Brothers)

"Home on the Range" was by far the leader with an average rating of 4.9 (out of 5). Many people compared "Home on the Range" to a 500 gram. This piece, "Scarecrow", and "Attack", all have incredibly high shells with massive bursts that dwarf other 350 gram cakes.

Click here to register for our next demo, Saturday April 28th 2007.

Fireworks Sale and Demo

2007-02-27T09:22:00.000-06:00

Our Early Order Sale is reaching the final month. Feb. 28th is the last day to qualify for the 5% early delivery discount. Good news though, we will be replacing that with a 3% early delivery discount. This will be on top of our 3% early order discount and our 2% pre-pay discount. This adds up to an easy 8% discount until March 31st.

We are also starting to gear up for our Spring Demos. The first will Saturday, March 31st. The second will be Saturday, April 28th. Anyone is free to attend, just register here or call us at: (573) 447-1776.

Catalog Release

2007-02-16T15:51:00.000-06:00

Our catalog has finally been printed. The first batch arrived here yesterday, and they look amazing. The pictures are fantastic, and the layout is great. Michael also threw in some special design pages, such as the firecracker page and the sparkler page. They really stand out and help break up the catalog.

New catalog

2007-02-08T15:36:00.000-06:00

Our new catalog is currently being printed! We have all been working long and hard to get this done. We will have over 80 new items in the catalog, with improved descriptions and packing information. We have also updated many of the fireworks images, so the products look great. The catalog should start going out around Feb 22nd, so hopefully it will start hitting mailboxes before March.Publish

Spring 2007

2007-02-07T12:34:00.000-06:00

Hello all. This year is off to a great start for our company. We are currently in the middle of our Early Order sale, which ends the first stage on Feb. 28th, and the second stage Mar. 31st. It really is our best sale of the season. We sent out a bunch of really nice looking postcards to give people a heads up, and have also been sending them out with our price list and DVD. If you didn't get one, just let me know and we will send you one.