fishface

I love this programme and I did see the "how fireworks are made" segment, but to be honest you didn't miss anything -- it was just a guy assembling a shell from ready made components. The stars and comets were all pre-manufactured so all he did really was pour a few stars into the shell, stick a few comets in, add a fuse, and glue it together... nothing great really.

I'm in Glossop, Derbyshire (I think I've just met you Starsky on the UKFR forum too!)

Regarding the Saturday deliveries, I'm glad it sounds attractive, and that kind of re-distribution idea also sounds good. I do think one of the keys is to get delivery charges down as fireworks can be expensive enough without adding on ?20 or so.

Thanks Sizzle for a very helpful reply again. I did try DHL but they said they don't carry fireworks, when I asked them if they knew of any UK carriers who did, they said "Try the Yellow Pages"!! I kid you not...

I reckon what you've suggested here is the best bet - concentrate on the shop and if there is demand for local delivery I could employ the services of a "man plus van" (with suitable training for the man and signage for the van). Manchester is only an hour's drive away and if we could offer weekend deliveries at little or no extra charge I think that may be a good way forward, especially since mid-week deliveries are a pain in the behind for most people who work.

Thanks Sizzle/Karl, I'll look at DHL. What I'm doing at the moment (and one of the reasons for my applying to join this board) is looking at the viability of setting up a retail outlet in my home town in Derbyshire. It's not a huge place so clearly any way of increasing sales would be welcome, and mail order is an obvious way of doing that.

I see most mail order firms add figures in the region of ?20 or so for delivery, usually free if the order is over a certain amount, so I guess that's my next logical question -- what do members feel is a reasonable amount to pay for delivery?

I realise that's a pretty vague question because of the variables involved (ie. ?20 on a ?1,000 order isn't bad, but ?20 on a ?50 order is another matter). So does anyone have suggestions on what other delivery options might be more viable? Think "blue sky" here, the business isn't even up and running yet so all suggestions are welcome.

Thanks again in anticipation of your input. If anyone knows of any more delivery firms I can check out please do let me know!

Just proper use of the laws that already exist would sort any problem. At the end of the day, it is the police that decide who get magazine licences, less places selling fireworks and proper control of the places that do.

I couldn't agree more. Fireworks have big potential profit margins so unscrupulous retailers aren't bothered about who buys them. I'm not labelling all retailers here; just the majority who don't exercise common sense.

A good start would be for Trading Standards to increase the number of visits they make in the form of under-age kids trying to buy fireworks, and if the retailer sells to them, they should be banned from selling them for a period of time such as 3 years. It wouldn't solve the problem entirely, but it would send a powerful message to other retailers in the area.