Best Practices – Seller

Knowing your Responsibilities – 
Responsibilities of Store Owners, Managers, Supervisors and Staff 

Everyone who sells consumer fireworks must know the law.  

Ensure:  

• Fireworks are properly displayed;  
• Only authorized fireworks are sold;  
• No customer handles individual fireworks until after sale;  
• If fireworks are not in consumer packs, they must be inaccessible to the public; (we need to explain what this means) 
• Meet with employees regularly. 

• Educate and remind staff of the law. 
• Have staff review this information on a regular basis and check that they understand what is required by law;  
• Ask if they have any questions or concerns;  
• Keep this information where all employees can see it and refer to it (Perhaps turn this info into a guide that they can print?) 
• Share this information with all new employees and inform them of the certification process;  

• Tell your employees to I.D. everyone who appears to be 18 or younger;  
• Teach staff to be familiar with acceptable Government I.D.;  
• Tell staff, “IF IN DOUBT, DO NOT SELL”;  
• Inform employees that they can be charged if they sell consumer fireworks to anyone under 18. The store owner or corporation can also be charged. 

Staff Safety in case of an incident 

• If there is any type of incident involving fireworks, please notify the Local Fire Department and the ERD immediately (ie. fire, accident, theft, etc.)  
• Do not fight a fire that has reached the fireworks –EVACUATE AND CALL 911. Let the emergency responders handle the situation.  
• You may fight fires near fireworks to prevent the spread of the fire to the fireworks; however, only do so if you can do it safely and feel confident to use a portable fire extinguisher.  
• Your safety is more important than saving fireworks or other goods. 
• Best Practices  

   

  Sales  – KYC – Know Your Customer 

  Selling fireworks is such a fun and rewarding process. Here are some steps and ideas, to help ensure you are selling to the right people and making sure they come back to you repeatedly for all their firework needs. 

  • Ask them why they want them? Is it a party or anniversary? Is it a special fundraiser? This can help you narrow down who they are entertaining and why. Maybe is a 25th wedding anniversary and they want to do as much silver as they can. 

  Who are they entertaining? 

  Is this for a childs birthday party, or a retiree/work milestone celebration? 

   

  How big is the area they will be working in? 

  Ask them about where they will be shooting off the fireworks. 

  • Is it a big open field? Or a small city backyard? 
  • If you ask them questions, it engages them and starts to create a relationship of trust, but also brings out knowledge that allows you to advise the purchaser on the best fireworks for their needs. 
  • Is it a big open field? Or a small city backyard? 

  How old they are (if they look under 18)? 

  Its ok to ask for I.D. 

  • If you are not sure, ASK! Anyone that gets carded because they do not look 18, will be flattered you asked! 
  • ID should be government issued. 
  • This is also a great time to ask them about their experience with fireworks. Have they ever set up and lit fireworks before? 
  • If not talk to them about all the ways they can set up the fireworks (in a wheelbarrow of sand, or a pail of sand) to make sure they have a proper lighting stick or torch (Lighters do not work well because after lighting a few visco fuses, the composite plugs the lighter). 
  • Its also a great time to remind them to wear safety gear (Safety glasses, and a jean jacket, or other more fire repellant materials). 
  • Have a hose or bucket of water near by. 
  • Check for local fire bans, bylaws, permits etc? 
  • Don’t forget to explain verbally any restrictions and/or guidelines prior to their purchase for your local or provincial bylaws. Also include minimum clearance recommendations by the manufacturers of the products you sell.