Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Diane Morin, behind the counter of Morin Fireworks, on U.S. 41 in Baraga, currently has a store-wide sale on fireworks of all kinds. Stickers identify sale items which span the entire store and a range of styles for any celebration.

For 53 years Morin’s has been a major provider of fireworks to the western Upper Peninsula. But, in all those years, owner Diane Morin said there has never been a sale like what is happening now.

Started by Peter Morin in 1970, who many in the community remember fondly. Peter passed away in 2018, but his wife, Diane, still operates the business. Currently, she said, the establishment has a store-wide sale in progress.

“We’ve never had a sale like this,” said Morin. “Ever.”

Some fireworks kits are marked down by as much as $435.

“There are sales items all over the store,” she said, “wherever you see the stickers, those are the sale items.”

Morin Fireworks has experienced the same shortage for the past two years that has plagued the many industries. The COVID pandemic that raged across the world in 2020 left shortages, supply chain interruptions and drastic increases in shipping costs.

“Last year, prices went up by $25 to $35 a case, plus the shipping,” Morin said. “This year, everything came way down in price, so I said I’ll give it another try.”

Morin said the store-wide sale will continue until the summer season ends, when schools start again in the fall.

The store is currently open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. but beginning two weeks before the Fourth of July, the store will be open seven days a week.

Although the demand may waver in cooler months Morin said she’s never really closed.

“During the winter, I usually have my phone number on the door, so if someone wants fireworks, they can just call me and I’ll come over and open up,” she said. “I’ll sell fireworks all year round, if someone wants them.”

Some customers know what display they hope to achieve, but do not always know what they want. For those situations Morin has a TV that will help them decide.

“If someone wants to know what a firework does,” she explained, “I can show them on the TV, then they can make their decisions that way.”

Something other fireworks stores do not do that Morin does is guaranteeing every product that she sells.

“If it doesn’t go off, bring it back with the receipt and we’ll replace it for you at no cost to you,” she said. “No other place does that,” adding if she does not have the replacement, she will offer something comparable to it.

“Those fireworks tents — they don’t do that. Once the Fourth of July is over, they’re gone. But I don’t believe in people losing their money.”

Morin, who is a 10-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and her husband, Pete, was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, offers discounts to service organizations, as well as individuals, such as:

• Military

• Fire departments

• EMTs

• Police and law enforcement agents

• Corrections

Morin offers everything from kits to cakes to mortars, as well as small fireworks.