californiapyro Posted October 4, 2014 Posted October 4, 2014 (edited) Well, guys, this is the hardest post I've ever had to make. After three years supplying chemicals and tooling, I'll be closing up shop. The reasons for this include the following: 1. A string of bad luck has left me in an unfavorable spot financially. 2. After looking over my books this year (the first year I did this full-time), and working 12-14 hour days, 6 days a week, I figured out I would've been better paid working a min. wage, 40-hr job. 3. Legal concerns related to chemical storage and sale, and the limited expansion CNC was able to provide on the tooling side. 4. (most importantly) being a supplier has killed the hobby for me. Working so much on chemicals and tooling, the last thing I want to do when I come home from work is make fireworks. I love manufacturing, and it's too important a part of my life to give up. So, I'm choosing being a hobbyist over being a supplier. Where to go from here? Well, suffice to say, the mother of all pyro sales will be occurring in the next few days. Keep your eye on the agora for that, 5,000+ LB of chemicals and thousands of dollars in tooling will be for sale at discounted prices. To those who ordered ferroti (China took the money and ran) I'll be issuing refunds as soon as I'm able. If you need one right now, let me know and I'll mail you a check or money order. Sorry it didn't happen. And yes, I'll still remain active in the community. In fact, I hope to be more active, since I will now have more free time for building. I may occasionally post group buys on chem and tooling group buys, but they'll be few and far between. Only when I need some pyro-cash. As for fireworktools.com, the items I make and sell will be taken off. Items that are drop-shipped from other suppliers will be left on-line. I'd like to thank all of my customers who made this venture possible. It was a good run, I learned a lot, had some serious ups and downs, and found a family here. That's the silver lining in all this, personally. Much love, -Hunter Edited October 4, 2014 by californiapyro
Jordan Posted October 4, 2014 Posted October 4, 2014 Sorry to hear, hope you keep at least some of that stash for your own projects!
BurritoBandito Posted October 4, 2014 Posted October 4, 2014 That is pretty lame, but you have to do what's right for you. I regret never having the opportunity to buy from you, but am happy to hear you'll have more time to actually build. I'm really sorry that this has happened to you, but maybe in the long run you'll find yourself happier. It sounds like you worked very hard to keep your pyro business afloat and make a profit. I'm sure that your work ethic will lead you down more profitable roads. Best of luck to you.
TSO Posted October 4, 2014 Posted October 4, 2014 Sorry to hear this Hunter, but with your listed reasons I'm sure everyone here would do the same. Good to get out now while you still love the hobby so you can continue to pursue building and actually enjoy it. Good wishes to you in the future.
schroedinger Posted October 4, 2014 Posted October 4, 2014 Not fery nice to hear that you will need to getmout of consistent suppling but on the other hand you say that you will continue with the group buys, with doesn't sound to bad, now everyone just needs to buy in bulk from you whenever you have offers, but you aren't gone.
MrB Posted October 4, 2014 Posted October 4, 2014 2. After looking over my books this year (the first year I did this full-time), and working 12-14 hour days, 6 days a week, I figured out I would've been better paid working a min. wage, 40-hr job.Sadly, this is true for pretty much everyone starting out. With the string of bad luck you've had and the effect it has to have had on your money-flow, i can see how it would put someone on the fence. It's going to be sad to see you "close down", but it will be good to see you returning to a more active pyro status. Good luck, and all that.B!
dagabu Posted October 4, 2014 Posted October 4, 2014 Man Hunter, that SUCKS! All that time, effort, money et. gone. Take a moment and remember the benefits you had from this, the learning, the opportunities. You are young and healthy, the money part is easy to overcome, that will come with time and I applaud your decision to be the brave and courageous man you are in knowing when to stop and reassess. My wife and I closed our restaurant almost a decade ago with 500k in personal debt. We got past that and then almost a decade later got hit with my injuries. We made it through both hard times and are joyful and at peace with the hardships. Peace to you, grieve hard then make a defined plan to get back on your feet. I believe in you, you have been a great friend to me and to Pyro alike. Dave
mikeee Posted October 4, 2014 Posted October 4, 2014 Hunter, Good Luck on your future ventures, the last couple years has not been very good for many businesses out there. The wife and I have also had to close several business ventures in the last couple of years.The Pyro industry is a small market sector with very little growth potential considering state and federal regulations.With the national dept being out of control, it will also be a long time before the economy is anything ever to rely on.A growing segment of our society is having to make financial decisions with spendable income on every purchase.You can always make money the old fashioned way with Columbian Sodium Benzoate. :-) Take Care Hunter!
otto Posted October 4, 2014 Posted October 4, 2014 Being in business for yourself is always tough and the past few years have been extremely difficult even for established bigger businesses. 5 years is generally the benchmark of viability and if you can make that generally you've got something. Unfortunately you have chosen a very limited and highly regulated (legitimate) market. I made a foray into expanding a basement manufacturing business some time ago based on a hobby. I did well, too well, as all my fun time was consumed by meeting the obligations. I bailed before I ventured too far. Hunter, don't know you other than here, never had time to order 'cause I'm still busy learning.From perusing posts you seem to be a stand up guy. Best of luck to you on your future endeavors and welcome yourself back to what you loved to begin with..... /m
eekAmouse Posted October 5, 2014 Posted October 5, 2014 Hunter, Having only made one purchase from you that went flawless, it saddens me to to learn of this. However i can understand having to make tough choices to actually enjoy this life we live. I went through with the decision a few years ago to quit a job that was making me more money than i could have ever imagined at the cost of not one free second to enjoy any of it( in 17 months i had a weekly average of 89.4 hours) What I am getting at is judging by anything i have read about your business transactions even though the books didnt work out for you every thing else in your formula was working out. I see nothing but good things for you in you future should you continue to give the attention to detail that i have read multiple accounts of. Dan Ps i have been patiently waiting for more good deals from you, so i look forward to helping you regain your capital.
bob Posted October 9, 2014 Posted October 9, 2014 So sorry to hear about this Hunter. I wish you the best of luck with your renewed pyro ^hobbie^ and any future business ventures. bob
californiapyro Posted October 9, 2014 Author Posted October 9, 2014 Thanks for the support, everyone. I have a stack of PMs to answer, I'll get to those as soon as I can... really bad internet at the moment. Mega-sale coming on the 21st, for those interested.
MrB Posted October 9, 2014 Posted October 9, 2014 Thanks for the support, everyone. I have a stack of PMs to answer, I'll get to those as soon as I can... really bad internet at the moment. Mega-sale coming on the 21st, for those interested.Sure. Make sure you offer great international shipping, and discreet packaging... Remember. Don't sell EVERYTHING, you need to hold some back for your pyro needs. No sense in walking away empty-handed ;- )And, best of luck.B!
BurritoBandito Posted October 9, 2014 Posted October 9, 2014 And here I am broke, and with a wife who needs convincing that it's okay for me to return to pyro. What poor timing on my part.
MWJ Posted October 11, 2014 Posted October 11, 2014 Sorry to hear that Hunter. Your a good and honest person. 1
pyrojig Posted October 14, 2014 Posted October 14, 2014 Man, that is a shame indeed. I can understand though. Maybe your luck will be better ( can only go up from here) , and youll get another season of actually making some profits. I have always been super cautious of China and their F'N scams|!!!! it is too much hit and miss with them. Well keep me posted if there is anything I can do to help, or make your transition easier . I too am caught in that gap of supplier and builder , but lean on the builder side of things more so. I like being able to hook up a fellow pyro though!! :-)
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