11 replies to this topic

[David]

Having seen some fireworks in action, many You Tube videos and some catalogues/website I thought I would share some early thoughts on Firework brands.


Brothers- Looking good. Some really interesting pieces, and some nice mixed effects and sequences. Watch out for inflated "RRPs" though.

Planet/Great Northern- they obviously have put a lot of effort in, aiming at sme very powerful and flashy effects. Rather pricey, and no discounts available.

Epic- A newer brand, some really crazy looking SIBS and some good value pieces too.

Men shun- Seem to be lagging a bit. Catalogue is full meaningless prattle rather than descriptions of effects, not many videos online.

TNT- some decent selection boxes, but some horribly overpriced "big stuff" They have a 19, yes, 19, shot cake for about £65!! ouch!!! Look out for small tubes in big boxes etc.

Panda- apparantly been taken over, not sure if we will se anything from them.

Fireworks International/Kimbolton- Old favourites still look good, but I havn't seen much new stuff from them

Bright Star-?????????????????? I havn't seen anywhere that sells this.

Fireworks Emporium- some attractive new stuff and some clever packaging too.

Edited by David, 22 September 2007 - 09:22 PM.

[sizzle]

Panda has indeed been taken over, they will however still be producing.

[David]

Panda has indeed been taken over, they will however still be producing.

In time for this season? I heard conflicting reports.

[sizzle]

As far as I've been told, they have remaining stock that they will be selling off for this season, future plans are currently unknown.

[broadsword]

Brothers- Looking good. Some really interesting pieces, and some nice mixed effects and sequences. Watch out for inflated "RRPs" though.

Really good stuff, cat 3 designed to perform like cat 4 but as you say some can be a little expensive.

Men shun- Seem to be lagging a bit. Catalogue is full meaningless prattle rather than descriptions of effects, not many videos online.

Always been abit vague with descriptions, best advise jhoin www.firework-review.org.uk

TNT- some decent selection boxes, but some horribly overpriced "big stuff" They have a 19, yes, 19, shot cake for about £65!! ouch!!! Look out for small tubes in big boxes etc.

IMO the TNT stuff is not to my taste

Panda- apparantly been taken over, not sure if we will se anything from them.

SUppliers finding it hard to get hold of Panda stuff. Its not going to be around for long!

Fireworks International/Kimbolton- Old favourites still look good, but I havn't seen much new stuff from them

Lake of sapphires has been changed... for the worse IMO!

Bright Star-?????????????????? I havn't seen anywhere that sells this.

Have been rebranded as Star Burst.

Fireworks Emporium- some attractive new stuff and some clever packaging too.

Local stuff to me. All really good stuff but can be abit dear. Lucky i have contacts

[David]

[Bright Star] Have been rebranded as Star Burst.

I still havn't found anywhere that sells it, thought. No great loss, to be honest- it was very similar- some pieces identical- to Panda and Men Shun. Not attractive unless at a significant discount.

[RangerOfFire]

That may explain the huge discount on Bright Star stuff Epic Fireworks were offering, Imperial selection box RRP £100 for £40 w/ free pack of rockets.

Who own Panda now? I have a couple of posters from 2002 which say "Panda Fireworks - Superior Light, Colour and Sound performance for Bright Star Fireworks UK Ltd".

And as to TNT... first saw them for sale in Asda so a saying about first impressions springs to mind... it's pretty average stuff and the packing looks really tacky IMO.

Minster make very nice mines, but I don't have the space or guts to try one... Also their website seems to redirect to fireworks emporium.

Edited by RangerOfFire, 24 September 2007 - 06:48 PM.

[David]

And as to TNT... first saw them for sale in Asda so a saying about first impressions springs to mind... it's pretty average stuff and the packing looks really tacky IMO.

It seems to be a weak brand, designed to sell to "supermarket shoppers." Unimaginative , small tubes, limited number of shots, shockingly high RRPs . Kinda sad, seeing as they took over millenium, which at one time was a nice, local brand.


I realise in my Opening Post I never even mentioned Black Cat/Standard. They just seem rather average.

Edited by David, 24 September 2007 - 08:33 PM.

[broadsword]

Minster mines are imported from China! The old ones FE used to sell were Kimbolten handmade mines but i cant remeber the reason but i think it was because they have stopped making them in the uk now or they are too expensive.

[sizzle]

That may explain the huge discount on Bright Star stuff Epic Fireworks were offering, Imperial selection box RRP £100 for £40 w/ free pack of rockets.

Who own Panda now? I have a couple of posters from 2002 which say "Panda Fireworks - Superior Light, Colour and Sound performance for Bright Star Fireworks UK Ltd".

And as to TNT... first saw them for sale in Asda so a saying about first impressions springs to mind... it's pretty average stuff and the packing looks really tacky IMO.

Minster make very nice mines, but I don't have the space or guts to try one... Also their website seems to redirect to fireworks emporium.

I'm not at liberty to say much about Panda, but we do have a lot of involvement in them, Panda is in the process of being taken over by another company but no one in the industry really knows their intentions yet. I know Panda stock will still be available but prices to trade will apparently rise.

[broadsword]

Yes, prices have raised.

Some companys have been able to get stock for this year. But Panda temporally halted all orders to all suppliers.
These are now being restored but with a new range in the pipeline and too late for this year most suppliers wont bother with Panda and Panda themselves dont seem to bothered about supplying everyone this year.

I have a suspicion they are waiting for next year!

[David]

My own personal opinion is that Panda was a pretty average brand- of course, if you disagree please say so! Some decent effects, but nothing outstanding- mostly standard peony bursts, bangs etc with some fan cakes etc. For years there was also a rather ambigious similarity to Bright Star - they shared a webpage- and some identical products with Men Shun.

Hopefully we will see some innovation from the new owners.