Remembering the Hergert Fireworks Stand






When Dave went to work for Harry Lloyd, House of Lloyd in 1978 we found out a big part of his business was importing fireworks and giving his employee's the opportunity to earn extra money operating their own fireworks stands. The other part of House of Lloyd was called Consigned Sales, Harry sold the fireworks to the employee's at a very reduced price and if you worked hard and the weather permitted you could make a lot of money in a few days! It was HOT, AND VERY HARD WORK! I compared it to running with the carnivals! 

The stand was open for 5 days to a week, depending on the local laws governing the sale of fireworks.  I recall it being fairly fun work, though ALWAYS HOT.  I mostly remember the customers, kids always got excited about fireworks, but many of the adults were just as giddy. There was the occasional ornery customer who would get mad if we didn't have a specific item, or would try to negotiate a better deal. Local kids would continually hound us to demonstrate the product for them. But for the most part the customers were pleasant. We were a part of their Fourth of July ritual, and that usually put everyone in good spirits. 
We finally closed the shop for good the night of the Fourth, having missed out on the celebration ourselves. All told, keeping the business in the family we could make a lot of money in a short period of time. Consigned Sales company would buy back the unsold inventory, so this allowed use to have an advantage over the other stands in town, we could keep our stand fully stocked to the end of the 4th. Every year we vowed we would never run a fireworks stand again!  But always did! We started our 1st stand in 1978 in Fort Scott Kansas, that year we earned enough for a down payment on a new home. ($34,000 house, FHA 3% down with 1/2 allowed in sweat equity, we painted the entire house inside and out ourselves) We did Fort Scott for 2 years I think, then we found a really good location in Manhattan Kansas and Marty was getting old enough to help run the stand. Over the next few  years Marty learned how to run his own stand as a teenager. I think we did Manhattan for until 1991 or 1992? Over the years my brother's Thurman and  Galen worked as well as Marty's friends Craig and Travis Feldman. The last year in Manhattan, My friend and employee at my gift shop in Blue Springs, Lora Bollinger helped us. After suffering a mild heat stroke, she took a scared oath NEVER TO DO THAT AGAIN!

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