With his father in the business, Richard Shields grew up playing with fireworks. To this day, Shields still plays with fireworks. Now he just gets paid for it.
Shields is the owner and president of North Central Industries, a local importer and wholesaler of consumer fireworks, located at 2627 South Walnut St.
Different from the display fireworks seen at places like Disneyworld and at community fireworks shows, the largest item he can sell is a one and three-quarter-inch shell.
With his main supplier in China, home of the firework, Shields carries over 600 different products – most of which sparkle, crackle and shine.
"But there are products that I sell that you probably wouldn't even think are a firework," Shields said.
Confetti poppers, popular favors at parties, and small hot air balloons made of rice paper, known as sky lanterns, are two of the additional items that he sells.
Other than that, he sticks to the consumer fireworks people can shoot off in their front lawn.
While people buy fireworks throughout the year, this week is certainly his busiest. He and the rest of his staff at the Washington Street warehouse as well those at his two local retail stores work throughout the weekend as people prepare for their Independence Day celebrations.
"Everybody in fireworks works on July 4," he said with a laugh.
Tina Miller, who runs the showroom at Boomers, the NCI owner's retail store on South Walnut, said she sees people buying various amounts at this time of year.
"We have some people that come in and just buy a few little things," she said. "We have some people that have five or six baskets up on the counter at a time. And then we have some people that come in and they just start making piles."
What began as a favor to a friend 15 years ago became an annual occurance as Miller works in the showroom just during the busiest month of the year. Her husband works there year-round.
Over the years, she has seen a variety of people buy fireworks. Some are repeat customers who come in three to four times a week as they prepare for their July 4 traditions.
The most popular items tend to be the The Griz artillery shells, any kind of roman candle, the larger Hoosier Daddy (a 500 gram aerial repeater) and Unicorn fountains, which spout a continuous flow of crackling colorful sparks for 90 seconds.
"I'm a kid at heart," Miller said, pointing out her favorite item in the store. "I like the Unicorn fountain and the crackling balls, anything that has the crackling effect."
Shields has different favorites though.
"I see a lot more fireworks than the average person so I'm probably a little more picky," he said. "For me it has to have good color and it needs to look exciting."
They both agreed that men and women tend to come into the store searching for different things. Men like the more noisy and explosive artillery shells, while women come in looking for anything that crackles with pretty colors.
No matter what they come in looking for, customers can be certain they will be greeted by shelves and shelves of colorfully packaged fireworks, each with a unique name. Supernatural Hysteria, Fright Night and Psycho Fury are just a few.
"Just to come up with the names for all the new items is sometimes a challenge," Shields said. "You have to have something that sounds exciting. You're not going to buy it if it had some mundane name."
Miller has even gotten to name a few such as the Trouble Maker, Tie Dye the Sky and Let's Get Lit.
Each year, Shields makes numerous trips to Asia in search for new products that will keep his customers entertained and coming back for more.
"Fireworks are a pretty big part of American culture," Shields said. "Whether it's things you can light yourself or a choreographed show that has a musical background, people like it."
Fireworks safety tips
Throughout his life, Richard Shields, owner of North Central Industries, has constantly been around fireworks. With plenty of opportunities for injury, the worst was a small burn by a butane lighter as he lit a fuse.
In handling these fun yet dangerous objects, Shields has learned several safety tips.
"To enjoy them, you don't have to be standing right next to them," he said. "As a matter of fact you shouldn't be."
Below are some more safety tips from NCI to keep in mind as you celebrate our country's independence:
- Don't let children near fireworks. Indiana law states that anyone younger than 18 years old must have someone older than 18 with them to shoot off fireworks.
- Though it may be tempting, do not consume alcohol while using fireworks.
- Use fireworks on a hard, flat surface in a clear open area.
- Only light one firework at a time and keep clear as it goes off.
- Have a bucket of water, hose or fire extinguisher close by for emergencies.
- Be cautious if the weather is windy.
- Make certain that pets are kept away from the fireworks. Keeping them inside away from the frightening noise and lights is best.
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