Shooting for the Stars
Think the sky's the limit? Not when fireworks are involved.
As a young boy, Ken Lantis dreamed of going into space, until
NASA cutbacks made him rethink the possibility. So he reached for
the stars the only way he knew how—through fireworks. He
learned about the colorful, explosive world of the fireworks
industry at the age of 5 by helping his father clean up their
family-run fireworks stand. Now, 54 years later, he has taken over
his father's business and holds the title of vice president of
Lantis Fireworks & Lasers, a fireworks/laser business that puts
on displays for events ranging from concerts to funerals.
The company has warehouses in Denver; Phoenix; Reno, Nevada; and
Salt Lake City and has done shows in nearly every state and in
approximately 20 countries. However, with the tendency to dream
big, Lantis is taking his father's small business to new
heights and is hoping to have franchisees in 40 states within the
next five years.
The startup costs, which include inventory and an initial
franchise fee, run approximately $180,000. Franchisees get started
with a bang by completing four weeks of training covering
regulations, setting up the fireworks and conducting displays. No
previous experience with fireworks is necessary, but a personal
touch and the right attitude are keys to success. "If you stay
at home and don't call people to see how the show went,
you're not going to make it," Lantis says.
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Looking back, he's proud of the way he and his team have
developed the business his father started. Most of all, he's
proud of the effect his displays have on spectators—even at
funerals. "They'll be sobbing, then you shoot off the
fireworks, and they'll say 'Martha would love
that—that's the only way to go' and walk to their
cars smiling," says Lantis. "That really makes a
difference."