Black Cat
Black Cat is the oldest registered U.S. consumer fireworks brand (trademarked 1952), manufacturing and licensing aerial cakes, reloadables, fountains, and novelty fireworks distributed exclusively through Winco Fireworks to independent retailers nationwide, with seasonal demand around July 4th and New Year's.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1940
- HeadquartersPrairie Village, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Black Cat does
Black Cat is the oldest registered consumer fireworks brand in the United States, with U.S. Trademark Registration #0615266 established in 1952 and origins in the 1940s. The legal entity, Black Cat Marketing, USA, operates as a brand licensor and consumer fireworks manufacturer, with 51-100 employees and is associated with Prairie Village, while the exclusive U.S. importer and distributor, Winco Fireworks, is headquartered in Missouri.
The company's core product portfolio spans aerials (200g, 500g, and up to 1,000g), reloadables (Diablo, Neon Diablo, Pro 8", The Patriot lines in 5" and 6" canister sizes), fountains, sparklers and handhelds, rockets, roman candles, novelties (including smoke products), assortments, spinners/wheels/wings, firecrackers, and daytime/parachute items. Notable signature products include Black Cat Finale, Diablo Select, Fiesta Grande, and The Patriot. Supporting the catalog are a Partner Program for wholesalers/distributors/retailers providing trademark guidelines, price cards, and marketing materials; an interactive 3D Show Builder tool launched in 2023 for designing custom fireworks displays; and a Google Maps–integrated Dealer Locator directing consumers to local sellers. Black Cat Threads extends the brand into apparel and collectibles via a dedicated e-commerce storefront.
Black Cat monetizes through consumer fireworks product sales and brand licensing royalties. Distribution is exclusively wholesale through Winco Fireworks to a network of independent U.S. retailers — stands, tents, and stores — with the company explicitly avoiding corporate-owned stores. End demand is highly seasonal, concentrated around Independence Day and New Year's Eve celebrations. Marketing channels span a content blog, social platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo), the Get Loud Fireworks Podcast, and a NASCAR primary sponsorship of Frankie Muniz at the June 2025 Pocono Raceway Craftsman Truck Series race. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is managed through the Partner Program and Winco distribution channel.
Black Cat firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Black Cat
- Legal name
- Black Cat Marketing, USA
- Website
- https://blackcatfireworks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1940
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Black Cat is the oldest registered U.S. consumer fireworks brand (trademarked 1952), manufacturing and licensing aerial cakes, reloadables, fountains, and novelty fireworks distributed exclusively through Winco Fireworks to independent retailers nationwide, with seasonal demand around July 4th and New Year's.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Black Cat is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Prairie Village
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Black Cat business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Consumer Fireworks Products: Black Cat designs and markets consumer fireworks products sold through a network of licensed independent retailers. Products include aerials, fountains, sparklers, roman candles, reloadables, novelties, and specialty items.
- Brand Licensing: The Black Cat brand is licensed to authorized dealers and distributors, with products distributed exclusively through Winco Fireworks.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Black Cat product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Black Cat designs, manufactures, and brands a comprehensive line of consumer fireworks products — including aerials, fountains, sparklers, roman candles, reloadables, rockets, novelties, and assorted collections — and distributes them exclusively through Winco Fireworks to independent retailers across the United States. The company supports its channel through a Partner Program, an interactive 3D Show Builder for product previewing, a Google Maps dealer locator, and the Black Cat Threads branded apparel line.
Product overview
Black Cat is the oldest registered consumer fireworks brand in the United States (established 1940s, trademarked 1952), offering a diverse portfolio of consumer fireworks products distributed exclusively through Winco Fireworks. The core product line spans multiple categories including Aerials (200g, 500g, 1000g), Reloadables (5" and 6" canister shell kits like Diablo, Neon Diablo, Pro 8", The Patriot), Fountains (200g and 500g), Sparklers & Handhelds, Rockets, Roman Candles, Novelties, Smoke Products, Assortments, Spinners/Wheels/Wings, Firecrackers, and Daytime/Parachute fireworks. Supporting the product portfolio is the 3D Show Builder platform for interactive 3D simulations, a Partner Program for dealer access to marketing resources and brand guidelines, a Dealer Locator powered by Google Maps, and the Black Cat Threads apparel sub-brand. Products are distributed exclusively through Winco Fireworks to independent retailers nationwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Black Cat Threads: Apparel brand selling shirts, hats, collectibles, and other branded merchandise
Products and services
- Black Cat Fireworks (Consumer Fireworks Brand Portfolio) Comprehensive consumer fireworks brand offering a multi-category portfolio including Aerials (200g, 500g, 1000g), Reloadables (Diablo, Neon Diablo, Pro 8", The Patriot), Fountains, Sparklers, Rockets, Roman Candles, Novelties, Smoke Products, Assortments, Spinners/Wheels/Wings, Firecrackers, and Daytime/Parachute fireworks, distributed exclusively through Winco Fireworks to independent retailers nationwide.
- 3D Show Builder Interactive 3D simulation tool that allows users to preview fireworks effects, design custom displays, add/remove/rearrange items, set custom start times, overlap effects, and save shows to their device. Built for end consumers and dealers designing pyrotechnic displays.
- Black Cat Threads (Apparel & Merchandise) Branded apparel and merchandise line including shirts, lighter mats, Richardson 112 hats, Black Cat collectible bobbleheads, custom knit socks, playing cards, and tumblers, sold through the blackcatthreads.com storefront to extend the brand year-round.
- Howl Yeah! 2026 aerial firework with 653 total shots across 3 compound cakes delivering green, blue, purple, red to chrysanthemum, brocade to chrysanthemum, magic sound tail effects, and gold brocade with red/green/blue glitter.
- Super Strobe Rocket 2026 rocket product in a 2-pack featuring silver strobe effect up to crackle, sized 30" x 3" x 1.5".
- Electric Hex 2026 aerial cake with 28 shots delivering flower brocade to red, flower brocade to red and crackle, and color spider effects, sized 9.5" x 17" x 11.5".
- Pyrothon 2026 aerial cake with 49 shots featuring gold brocade, green wave, chrysanthemum, red umbrella, blue peony, delay crackle, whistle, and crackle effects, sized 16.7" x 10.8" x 7".
- American Freedom Train 2026 aerial cake compound kit of 3 cakes (180 total shots) featuring chicken blood red umbrella, white flash, and sky blue umbrella effects, each cake sized 10.4" x 15" x 7.1".
Companies that use Black Cat
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Black Cat technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature2 records
Black Cat partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Frankie Muniz / Pocono RacewayminorBlack Cat Fireworks was announced as the primary sponsor for Frankie Muniz in the Reaume Brothers Racing No. 33 truck during the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Pocono Raceway in June 2025.
- Winco FireworkscoreWinco Fireworks is the exclusive importer and distributor of Black Cat products in the United States. Headquartered in Missouri, Winco handles all distribution operations to independent retailers nationwide. The relationship enables Black Cat to focus on brand development while Winco manages the supply chain and wholesale distribution.
- Black Cat Partner Program MemberscoreIndependent fireworks retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and importers authorized to sell Black Cat products. Partners receive access to marketing materials, advertising resources, trademark guidelines, price cards, and can list their retail locations on the dealer locator.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Black Cat competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Zambelli Fireworks: Pennsylvania-based consumer fireworks manufacturer and distributor offering aerial cakes, reloadables, fountains, and assortments to independent retailers across the U.S. Closely comparable product catalog and distribution model.
- Fireworks by Grucci: Iconic multi-generational American fireworks company based on Long Island, combining consumer fireworks production with large-scale professional pyrotechnic displays. Comparable brand heritage and consumer product overlap.
- Pyrotecnico: U.S. fireworks company with both consumer product lines and professional display services. Operates in the same aerial, fountain, and reloadable categories with overlapping independent retail distribution.
- Brothers Pyrotechnics: Family-owned U.S. consumer fireworks brand producing aerials, fountains, sparklers, and reloadables for independent retailers. Comparable mid-sized brand positioning and product mix.
- TNT Fireworks: Major U.S. consumer fireworks brand distributed by American Promotional Events, selling aerials, sparklers, fountains, and reloadables through independent retailers nationwide. Direct brand competitor in the same channel structure as Black Cat.
- Phantom Fireworks: One of the largest U.S. consumer fireworks retailers and wholesalers, headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio. Operates a vertically integrated retail and wholesale model selling comparable aerial, reloadable, and novelty fireworks to the same Independence Day and New Year's consumer.
- Cousins Fireworks: Regional U.S. consumer fireworks retailer and wholesaler offering aerials, fountains, roman candles, and reloadables. Comparable product mix focused on the July 4th consumer purchase occasion.
- World Class Fireworks: Smaller U.S. consumer fireworks brand selling reloadables, aerials, and assortments through independent retailers. Overlapping product categories and similar seasonal demand pattern.
Broad incumbents
- American Promotional Events: Parent company of TNT Fireworks and one of the largest U.S. wholesalers of consumer fireworks. Competes head-to-head with Winco Fireworks at the distribution layer and indirectly with Black Cat at the brand layer.
Others
- Winco Fireworks: Exclusive U.S. importer and distributor for Black Cat and a broader fireworks portfolio. Listed as a peer because of overlapping downstream retail relationships, though it functions primarily as Black Cat's channel partner.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Black Cat social profiles
Digital presenceBlack Cat compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Black Cat financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Black Cat leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Black Cat funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Black Cat 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 Black Cat
What does Black Cat do?
Black Cat designs, manufactures, and brands a comprehensive line of consumer fireworks products — including aerials, fountains, sparklers, roman candles, reloadables, rockets, novelties, and assorted collections — and distributes them exclusively through Winco Fireworks to independent retailers across the United States. The company supports its channel through a Partner Program, an interactive 3D Show Builder for product previewing, a Google Maps dealer locator, and the Black Cat Threads branded apparel line.
Is Black Cat a public or private company?
Black Cat is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Black Cat founded?
Black Cat was founded in 1940. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Black Cat based?
Black Cat is headquartered in Prairie Village, United States, in the North America region.
How does Black Cat make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Consumer Fireworks Products are the primary driver. The others are brand Licensing.
Who are Black Cat's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Zambelli Fireworks, Fireworks by Grucci, Pyrotecnico, Brothers Pyrotechnics, TNT Fireworks, Phantom Fireworks, Cousins Fireworks and World Class Fireworks. American Promotional Events is listed as a broad incumbent. Winco Fireworks is listed as an others.
Does Black Cat have an API?
No public API is recorded for Black Cat.