IDAHO GOES DOWN Bryan Brusman has been lowering the cost of pyrotechnics for families for the past eighteen years.
Every year, Red Box and Red Balloon Fireworks donates a batch of their firecrackers to a family in need while also selling them at a 60% discount. One is in Alta, Wyoming, while seven are in eastern Idaho. The three Red Balloon sites sell aerial fireworks, whereas the five Red Box locations sell safe and sane fireworks.
Together with Alexis Naylor, who became involved with her husband eleven years ago, Brusman runs the company. The three Red Balloon venues are operated by Naylor.
Bryan Brusman and his family are pictured at Red Box Fireworks on the left. On the right at Red Balloon Fireworks are Alexis Naylor and her children. | Being polite Brusman, Bryan
Last weekend marked the start of the seasonal operation, which ends on July 4 at 10 p.m. Despite its profitability, Brusman tells EastIdahoNews.com that this year’s consumers are a little more cash-strapped.
“I’ve been buying from you for eight years, and yes, it’s tighter financially this year more than it’s ever been, but I don’t want to get rid of the memories I have with my family in the backyard,” Brusman says of a man who recently approached the stand.
Customers return year after year because of those recollections, according to Brusman.
Red Box Fireworks patrons | courtesy of Bryan Brusman
On the last day of operations, Brusman and his colleagues typically provide fireworks to a family. The identity of this year’s recipient is still up in the air.
He claims that we actually pull up, let off fireworks on the porch, and then depart.
In order to assist families, Brusman’s father-in-law founded the fireworks stand in 2003. In addition to selling pyrotechnics at steep discounts, it also gives working families who are having financial difficulties an additional source of money.
In order to raise money for dental school, Naylor’s late husband, Kyle, who died in an aircraft crash in 2019, began operating the company in 2014.
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After a long day of selling them, Naylor says it’s satisfying to hear fireworks going off all around the town. She claims that working in the company is a blessing for her and her family and a great way to carry on her husband’s heritage.
Although he was young and in the middle of dentistry school, he tried to assist us get by for the year because he enjoyed business. According to Naylor, this was a fantastic chance for that. During his time here, he did his best to set me up, and that has been a blessing.
At Red Balloon Fireworks, Naylor’s children are holding up a sign. | Photo courtesy of Bryan Brusman
According to Brusman, they first offered pyrotechnics at a discount in part because they purchased an excessive amount of inventory.
We wanted to close on Sunday because we had too much inventory. We had to close on a Saturday because the Fourth of July fell on a Sunday. According to Brusman, the best way to get rid of everything was to sell everything at a discount.
Brusman and Naylor say it’s an honor to make fireworks cheap for families and enable them to celebrate each year, even if they earn less money selling them at a 60% discount.
They value the devoted clientele they have amassed over the years and intend to be involved in the community for as long as possible.
