By Shawn Dick, Tulalip News
Boom City brings to mind images of fireworks stands, delicious food, and evening pyrotechnic shows. But there is a culture of entrepreneurship at the foundation of the yearly fireworks market. From the youth who run food to and from concessions, to the stand owners and operators, everyone who works at Boom City is building an entrepreneurial mindset.
While all stand owners are Tulalips, only two wholesalers are. “Big John” and Lenetta Rivera, along with their daughter Roslyn, and George and Sonia Sohappy provide wholesale fireworks to stand owners.
Selling wholesale fireworks involves sourcing bulk products for resale. In addition to knowledge of pyrotechnics and permit requirements, wholesalers themselves need to buy from reputable distributors and then offer competitive prices.
Inspired by the price differences tribal members were being charged by other wholesalers at the time, “Big John” and Lenetta wanted to offer a higher-quality, cheaper product to their customers. Opening shop in 2007 under the previous name, Brickhouse Wholesale Fireworks, Sky High Fireworks is currently a thriving business at Boom City, offering a variety of products to its customers.
“I can give the best prices because I cut out the middlemen,” said “Big John.”
Sharing the same community values as her parents, Rozlynn, daughter of “Big John” and Sonia, is transitioning into a leadership role to ensure the business’s success in the years to come.
And speaking of success, growing up on the Reservation with a love of Boom City, “Geo” began his career early on by picking up cigarette butts for money. He moved on to delivering fireworks for wholesalers, to working in a firework stand, to eventually owning one.
In 2006, “Geo” and Sonia opened Pacific Northwest Pyro Wholesale, and have watched it grow considerably by serving Tulalip and six other locations. They currently have eight storage containers at Boom City, offering everything their clients need to fill their stands.
“Geo” hopes to pass the business down to his children. And his advice to young entrepreneurs? “Dream big”.
Both wholesalers offer lower prices and lines of credit to their clients. Boom City is located at 10274 27th Ave NE, Tulalip, WA 98271, and is open every day from 6 a.m. to midnight until July 4.