1st Galaxy Fireworks
1st Galaxy Fireworks is a UK family-owned e-commerce retailer and professional display provider of consumer and commercial fireworks, operating four seasonal stores in the East Midlands, shipping nationwide, and serving weddings, corporate events, and public festivals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersNottingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What 1st Galaxy Fireworks does
1st Galaxy Fireworks is a UK family-owned retailer and professional display provider of consumer and commercial fireworks, tracing its origins to 1985 (as 'Firework Man') and formally incorporated as 1st Galaxy Group Ltd in 1994/95. The company operates a dual-channel go-to-market: an e-commerce storefront shipping nationwide across England, Wales, and Scotland, alongside four seasonal physical stores in the East Midlands (Nottingham, Matlock, Grantham, and Ilkeston). It serves two distinct customer sets — long-tail consumer buyers purchasing for weddings, garden parties, and seasonal celebrations (Bonfire Night, New Year), and event organisers booking professional displays through its dedicated service arm, which deploys 50-60 part-time pyro-technicians.
Its product portfolio spans 15+ categories including rockets, cake barrages, pro barrages, single-ignition barrages, roman candles, fountains, catherine wheels, mines, sparklers, safety gear, party items, and quiet/noise-sensitive options, supported by three proprietary sub-brands: Jorge, Riakeo, and Vulcan International. The platform differentiates via product video previews, a price-match guarantee, CE-marked compliance, and a £400 free-delivery threshold. Underlying technology is standard SaaS: Stripe and PayPal for payments, Mailchimp for email, Google Analytics and CookieYes for web analytics and consent. No proprietary technology, AI, or data flywheel is disclosed.
The business model combines one-time unit-priced consumer sales (range £1.50-£299 with bulk discounts) with custom-quoted professional display services for weddings, corporate events, festivals, and large public displays. Sales are driven through owned e-commerce, four retail stores, click & collect, and organic social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, Flickr). Leadership remains with the founding Smith family: Barrie and Lee Smith as co-founders, Kathleen Smith as co-founder, and Lee John Smith as current proprietor and copyright holder.
1st Galaxy Fireworks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 1st Galaxy Fireworks
- Legal name
- 1st Galaxy Group Ltd
- Website
- https://galaxy-fireworks.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- 1st Galaxy Fireworks is a UK family-owned e-commerce retailer and professional display provider of consumer and commercial fireworks, operating four seasonal stores in the East Midlands, shipping nationwide, and serving weddings, corporate events, and public festivals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
1st Galaxy Fireworks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Consumer Fireworks
- NAICS
- Explosives Manufacturing (32592)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Detonators, Initiation Systems & Fuzes (IMAEALAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Holiday, Seasonal & Christmas Markets (MPAGAFAL)
Keywords
Where 1st Galaxy Fireworks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nottingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
1st Galaxy Fireworks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Fireworks product sales: The company generates revenue through direct sales of fireworks products including batteries, rockets, fountains, roman candles, sparklers, and display packs. Sales occur through online store and physical retail locations. Pricing is per-unit with volume discounts available through bulk buy deals.
- Professional firework display services: The company provides professional firework display services for weddings, corporate events, private parties, festivals, and large-scale public events, with 50-60 part-time professional display operators available.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Free delivery threshold |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Minimum order value |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Consumer fireworks - entry level |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Consumer fireworks - mid-range |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium display fireworks |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bulk buy deals |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Professional display services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
1st Galaxy Fireworks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
1st Galaxy Fireworks operates as a UK-based consumer fireworks retailer and professional firework display provider. The company sells a broad range of consumer fireworks (rockets, cake barrages, roman candles, fountains, sparklers, mines, etc.) through an e-commerce store with nationwide UK delivery and four seasonal retail stores. It additionally provides professionally choreographed firework display services for weddings, corporate events, festivals, and public celebrations, supported by 50-60 part-time display operators.
Product overview
1st Galaxy Fireworks operates as a B2C e-commerce fireworks retailer and professional display provider. The product portfolio centers on consumer fireworks across categories including Rockets, Cake Barrages, Pro Barrages, Roman Candles, Fountains, Catherine Wheels, and Mines, alongside party items, sparklers, and safety gear. The company retails three proprietary/sub-brands: Jorge (batteries, roman candles, rockets, fountains, sparklers including premium Boom Line series), Riakeo (compound display batteries with high shot counts), and Vulcan International (sparklers, fountains, smoke devices). Services include professional firework display execution for weddings, corporate events, and public displays; nationwide tracked delivery with free shipping on orders over £400; and Click & Collect from four retail stores in Nottingham, Matlock, Grantham, and Ilkeston. The online store features video clips for most products enabling browse-before-buy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Rockets Single rockets and rocket packs including shell head rockets, whistling rockets, and display rockets for various aerial effects. Sold to individual consumers for garden and party use.
- Cake Barrages Multi-shot battery fireworks firing sequential aerial effects from cake-style units, ranging from compact 12-shot to 100+ shot batteries. Sold to consumers for garden and party displays.
- Pro Barrages Professional-grade display fireworks with higher shot counts, longer durations, and larger calibre tubes aimed at outdoor events and larger displays.
- Single Ignition Barrages Display fireworks that fire all tubes from a single ignition point, producing coordinated multiple effects from one fuse.
- Roman Candles Single-tube repeating fireworks that fire stars at regular intervals, including standard and barrage-format roman candles for consumer use.
- Fountains Ground-based pyrotechnic devices emitting fountains of sparks, coloured flames, and crackling effects. Includes conic, handheld, and battery fountains for garden and event use.
- Catherine Wheels Spiral-shaped fireworks that spin and emit sparks when mounted on a post, creating circular fire patterns.
- Mines Ground-based pyrotechnic devices that shoot a cascade of stars, sparks, and glitter into the air from a single ignition.
- Sparklers Handheld sparkler fireworks in various sizes (16cm to 70cm) for celebrations, weddings, and party events.
- Bengal Torches and Colour Smoke Pyro Handheld and stationary pyrotechnic flares producing coloured smoke and flames for visual effects and illumination at events.
- Quiet Fireworks Low-noise fireworks providing visual effects without loud bangs, suitable for noise-sensitive environments and pet owners.
- Discounted Display Packs Pre-configured display bundles and twin packs offering savings on multiple fireworks for complete consumer displays.
- Bulk Buy Deals
Quantifiable outcome
- 30+ years in business, delivering thousands of fireworks displays to millions of people
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use 1st Galaxy Fireworks
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
1st Galaxy Fireworks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature1 record
1st Galaxy Fireworks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
1st Galaxy Fireworks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fantastic Fireworks: Major UK online fireworks retailer offering consumer fireworks with nationwide delivery and seasonal promotional events - same retail, e-commerce, and display-services proposition as 1st Galaxy Fireworks.
- Kimbolton Fireworks: Established UK professional firework display operator running large-scale public and corporate displays plus a consumer retail offering - matches 1st Galaxy's dual retail + display-services model.
- Brookers Fireworks: UK fireworks retailer offering consumer fireworks with mail-order delivery and physical store presence, competing in the same seasonal peak (Bonfire Night) customer pool.
- Bright Star Fireworks (UK): UK-based online fireworks retailer shipping consumer-grade rockets, barrages, and sparklers nationwide - directly comparable product line and shipping model.
- Titanium Fireworks: UK professional display and retail fireworks operator serving weddings, corporate events, and consumer purchases - similar business mix across B2C retail and event services.
- Viking Fireworks: UK-based online fireworks retailer offering consumer fireworks across rockets, barrages, roman candles, and sparklers with nationwide shipping - directly competitive on assortment and pricing.
- Black Cat Fireworks (UK distributor): UK-distributed Chinese consumer fireworks brand with strong online and seasonal shopfront presence - competes for the same garden-and-display consumer purchase occasions.
- Monks Fireworks: UK fireworks retailer running both an online storefront and physical stores with nationwide delivery and Bonfire Night / New Year promotional campaigns - closely comparable channel model to 1st Galaxy.
Broad incumbents
- Event Supplier / Party City (UK): Larger UK party-supply retailer carrying sparklers, party items, and seasonal decorations including fireworks-adjacent SKUs - comparable end customer (party hosts) with broader event-supply catalog.
Regional players
- Wishes Events & Displays: Regional UK professional firework display company serving weddings and corporate clients, similar professional-services side of the business but operating in a different geographic catchment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
1st Galaxy Fireworks social profiles
Digital presence1st Galaxy Fireworks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
1st Galaxy Fireworks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
1st Galaxy Fireworks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
1st Galaxy Fireworks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 1st Galaxy Fireworks
What does 1st Galaxy Fireworks do?
1st Galaxy Fireworks operates as a UK-based consumer fireworks retailer and professional firework display provider. The company sells a broad range of consumer fireworks (rockets, cake barrages, roman candles, fountains, sparklers, mines, etc.) through an e-commerce store with nationwide UK delivery and four seasonal retail stores. It additionally provides professionally choreographed firework display services for weddings, corporate events, festivals, and public celebrations, supported by 50-60 part-time display operators.
Is 1st Galaxy Fireworks a public or private company?
1st Galaxy Fireworks is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was 1st Galaxy Fireworks founded?
1st Galaxy Fireworks was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 1st Galaxy Fireworks based?
1st Galaxy Fireworks is headquartered in Nottingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does 1st Galaxy Fireworks make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Fireworks product sales are the primary driver. The others are professional firework display services.
Who are 1st Galaxy Fireworks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fantastic Fireworks, Kimbolton Fireworks, Brookers Fireworks, Bright Star Fireworks (UK), Titanium Fireworks, Viking Fireworks, Black Cat Fireworks (UK distributor) and Monks Fireworks. Event Supplier / Party City (UK) is listed as a broad incumbent. Wishes Events & Displays is listed as a regional player.
Does 1st Galaxy Fireworks have an API?
No public API is recorded for 1st Galaxy Fireworks.
What industry is 1st Galaxy Fireworks in?
1st Galaxy Fireworks's product category is Consumer Fireworks. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEALAH, Detonators, Initiation Systems & Fuzes, with a secondary code of MPAGAFAL, Holiday, Seasonal & Christmas Markets. Its NAICS code is 32592 and its SIC code is 7900.