Quality vs. 'Cheap'?

[Tony]

Bron: www.pyroplanet.com

Recently AM Pyrotechnics wrote an open letter to the members of the WPA to talk about quality of firework displays. We at PyroPlanet.com loved the letter so much that we asked to reproduce it here.

Aaron Mayfield writes about how the public does know the difference between a 'cheap' show and a quality one. He points out that the common misconception in the industry is that a company would need to use cheaper products to win the contract when all you do need is to have good choreography through timing and quality effects.

Dear Winterblast members

I would like to open a short discussion regarding the direction I believe the fireworks industry in the United States appears to be heading. First I would like to acknowledge that many of you have been in this industry much longer than I, and I am by far no expert on these matters. Therefore I welcome and hope to gain from the responses to my comments from those in the club whom have been in this industry and "seen it all".

As some of you may know I represent La Rosa from Sicily here in the US and I sell exotic fireworks from Japan and Europe (and some Chinese). As I have expanded into many parts of the US, I deal with, sell to, and see displays from a lot of companies here. What I am finding throughout the country are responses that are similar everywhere I travel. That response, and I quote from companies, is the same: "we have to use the cheaper product to compete around our area". Now I find that when they say "cheaper", they really mean it. So many companies seem to think in these terms. Another term I hear is: "the general public does not know the difference".

It is my opinion that these views are flawed and opposite of the truth. As I view displays they all seem to appear the same anymore. It seems as though you can go to any club display setting and see five displays in a given week and the only difference (with a few exceptions of mine and comet use) is one may have a lot more product than the other, or one or two scenes may be applied in a different way, and here comes 1000 salutes then the end. Generally, if you have seen one, you have seen them all. I see the same in big public displays as well. The art has escaped us.

I want to tell you that the general public notices this as well, especially after they have seen a really great show. I have personally proven this theory time and time again. And I am NOT the only one out there proving this. Some of the more successful companies out there that have been around a long time know this and do the same. What I have noticed is that those companies that only apply average product to there shows do not grow outside of their "back yard" without a lot of expensive marketing. The truth of the matter is that most entities purchasing displays can buy what I call a "Liuyang City" fireworks display usually within a three hour radius of there location. So the only way companies seen to think they can compete is price wars. This is destroying our industry folks!!!!! This causes a company to use twice the product needed, twice the equipment, twice the man power, and have TWICE the risk exposure. And no one really makes a profit. Anywhere I travel I see the same thing. Companies that work with this train of thought end up back biting each other constantly and in financial trouble in five years or barely making it. But, those companies that refuse to turn to 100% average product do very well. In Europe, Parente' from Italy, Caballer from Spain, and La Rosa from Italy work displays around the world. You simply do not hear of these companies bad mouthing each other and their displays are fabulous!!!!!!! The same could be said here in the US about Rozzi fireworks, one of the few remaining American manufacturers and they recently took second place in the Montreal competitions.

In closing, I was recently in Germany at the international symposium. Parente' displayed a show on the closing night and were followed by a show using inexpensive low quality product, but twice the amount. Each display was 10 minutes. The thousands of public attendees walked away in amazement and awe of the Parente' display and I doubt they can even tell you the name of the other company. You could have walked up to any public attendee there and stated " the first show had 1000 shells, the second had 2000, which show would you choose for your city display"? The response would have been "I don't even remember the second display"!! So I challenge all of you to give the "high quality" concept a try. Do your homework and get out there and look for that extra special product to buy. Produce a few shows with that product and see where it takes you.

Sincerely,

A M Pyrotechnics

 

[Starsky72]

hmmm

The letter certainly raises some interesting points.

Whilst I agree that perhaps the guy who only sees fireworks once a year would be able to tell the difference between a Cabeller shell and a lower costing chinese shell I think that the price difference between the two means that the "premium" material is reserved for LARGE budget shows - and even then its used sparingly.

Yes, the colours are more vivid, the stars burn longer and the delays between candle shots are more accurate and reliable but an Italian or Spanish shell would easily cost 400% more than an equivelant sized Chinese shell here in the UK and with that price difference its just not viable to use the material throughout a display.

In the UK we also have the issue of availablity, I'm not sure we have an official Parente or Cabeller distributor in the UK?? Perhaps if we did (or it was more widely known) then they would be used more, driving the cost of the premium material down, leading to it being used more etc etc


Stu

 

[brayno]

That's the issue then isn't it? Cost. When products come very cheap people tend to use them a lot. In America the firework products are so affordable they can "carpet bomb" the skies. The problem is that the audience falls asleep. Too much input for the senses to handle therefore they shut down. If you add in a nice shell and remove all the others from the sky it can be appreciated.

In Canada we were only recently introduced to Chinese imported products. (past few years) Therefore the mentality in most of the display companies is to use them but sparingly, to allow the appreciation of exotic shells. I wonder what the ratio of "filler to quality" would be? 70:30, 60:40 or 85:15 ?

Bill
PyroPlanet.com

 

[Starsky72]

I'm not sure what the quality is of the chinese material over the pond but in the UK the quality is improving all the time, don't get me wrong there is still a difference but I think its wrong to class our chinese material as "filler"

 

[brayno]

Yes true and most big brand names are going to China in any case, even Japanese. But the term "filler" can be used for anything that bares no choreography. Cakes are often called "filler" as well but with companies like Shogun who are creating modular cakes this is also becoming a controllable effect. Look to www.pyroplanet.com soon for an interview of John Werner, an actual firework designer who invents concepts like these.

 

[giovanniforli]

I completly agree with the theory "Quality vs. Cheap". As everybody knows in Italy the production of fireworks has a long tradition since many generation. Now the problem is this tradition is suffering an hard period. In effect the chinese competition contributes to the diminishment of passion in continuing the manufacture by the new generations (that every day are constricted to fight vs a lot of small companies that use only chinese products) and consequentely is causing the death of italian fireworks production.
A very great thanks go to Aaron and to all other peoples that have decided to promote italian fireworks all over the world, getting so a "glimmer of light" to the future of italians manufacturers.
Ah...Only a thing Aaron, probably in Berlin you haven't seen all the shows displayed, because I think that Vaccalluzzo's show was a very great pyromusical show that involved a lot of great italian style shells and candles.


Giovanni Forli

 

[meggsy]

I do hope that the European manufacturers don't get too profit motivated and give up.....its all but dead in England.

Last year 'Orzella' from Italy turned up at Shugborough to fire a short demo....(Shug is a significant firework event in England) they will be appearing firing a full display this year...the quality of the shells was instantly apparent....the problem we have in England as Starsky says is availability and the cost of European shells, they are just so high what can you do apart from get real when designing a show.....you just use as many as you can I guess, with the budget you have. Chinese multibreak shells are just not as good IMHO....

Some pics of the Orzella boys displaying their goods last year.....

Steve

 

[Starsky72]

I'm sorry Giovanniforli but that just sounds like the larger more established companies complaining about competition.

While I sympathise with the situation the italian market finds itself in I think they could do a LOT worse than try to branch out a little, get some official agents in other countries, like ours!

Stu

 

[xavier]

I'm a professional fireworker too. I prefer quality before sheap.
The most important is "how you shoot" and not the quantity.
We have a lot of low budget fireworks display like 2.000, 3.000€.
Ofcourse we shoot a lot of Chinese shells and compacts but we use also Spanish fireworks too and with succes. We are a professional fireworkscompagny, so our costumers get a professional display. I saw a lot of displays from other compagnies and when I see their display I'am achamed to be a professional shooter. Bad quality and no scenario.

 

[Starsky72]

I agree with you 100% that its VERY important to consider HOW you put the show together.

All I am saying is that its wrong to say that Chinese/far eastern shells cannot be used throughout a show and that show be of a HIGH quality.



Stu

 

[mat]

Agree Stuart.

I think people stating that all Chinese material is lower quality to European is quite an insult to the Chinese.

You cannot compare cheap Chinese product to European, apart from price. You can however compare premium Chinese product to European - and in most cases it comes out better (even when ignoring the price).

Mat

 

[999]

Agree Stuart.

I think people stating that all Chinese material is lower quality to European is quite an insult to the Chinese.

You cannot compare cheap Chinese product to European, apart from price. You can however compare premium Chinese product to European - and in most cases it comes out better (even when ignoring the price).

Mat

Perfectly said.

 

[Tony]

Agree Stuart.

I think people stating that all Chinese material is lower quality to European is quite an insult to the Chinese.

You cannot compare cheap Chinese product to European, apart from price. You can however compare premium Chinese product to European - and in most cases it comes out better (even when ignoring the price).

Mat

Thats True,
i have seen Chinese shells from LIDU Fireworks used by some Spanish companys and the quality is very high. Its getting better and better but thats 1 of 1000.

 

[mat]

Hiya,

There are several Taiwanese and Japanese companies who manufacture in China, and the quality of those is very high indeed.

P.S Tony - ask Jose, he will tell you I've seen AM pyro stuff being made at one of them!

Mat

 

[Tony]

Hiya,

There are several Taiwanese and Japanese companies who manufacture in China, and the quality of those is very high indeed.

P.S Tony - ask Jose, he will tell you I've seen AM pyro stuff being made at one of them!

Mat

I know thats why i took Lidu for example. Very High Qaulity shells.

 

[999]

Hiya,

There are several Taiwanese and Japanese companies who manufacture in China, and the quality of those is very high indeed.

P.S Tony - ask Jose, he will tell you I've seen AM pyro stuff being made at one of them!

Mat

Perhaps talking about SanTai, Yung-Feng? I've read that SanTai and Yung-Feng have plants in Taiwan. Although they have plants in those locations, everything I've seen still says Made in China. When they are made in the original Taiwanese plant, I'd assume they are labeled as such? As you've stated, they are great shells - so it shouldn't even matter where they were made.

My favorite is on the Yung-Feng cases. They say in HUGE black letters "JAPANESE SHELLS". Then, the other side of the box says in small letters "Made in China". hehe

Crazy global market. In the end, a good product is a good product. There are many in China that are good. Lidu has made some great shells, and some very average ones too. I don't normally think of them as a high end mfg. but it's true that some Lidu made shells are very good. The differences would lead me to believe that they will produce different quality work depending on what the customer demands and is willing to pay for.

Fun discussion here.

 

[mat]

Hiya

Yes San Tai and Yung Feng are two good examples. Yung Feng certainly has factories in Taiwan and Mainland China.

Funny you say that, I have also had this discussion a few times about the "Japanese shells" "Made in China"... well compare it to when you go and buy "Chinese food" from the local take away

Mat

 

[meggsy]

Yung Feng shells and Lidu shells are very good I've used them a lot, but even they are quite expensive to buy over here compared to others, so you get what you pay for.....or the customer pays for.

Steve

 

[xavier]

China has very good sphericals shells. The effect is perfectly round.
Spanish or Italien sphericals shells are not perfectly round because of the chemical composition they use and using plastic compounds of the shells.
It is too expensive to fabricate sphericals shells like China (many paper cover).

The difference of prices between China and Europe will increase. The costs of transport from China still growing every year.

 

[Tony]

I have a movie of a Japanese shell made in China. I think this one is very good.
I cannot tell you from wich brand there are. Anomenous sender.