New Delhi: Just as the Diwali festive rush had only begun to lessen, a Christmas frenzy has gripped the wholesale markets in the city. The demand for festive decorand props like Christmas trees, bells, artificial snowflakes, Santa Claus and reindeer cutouts and red and green adornments are in big demand. Putting up a Christmas tree now transcends religion and has become an annual activity in the capital’s households.Businessmen say that Christmas now brings in the mostrevenues after Diwali.
Kunal Pahwa of Pindi Rubber Works, a wholesale store in Sadar Bazar, claimed customers from across India order Christmas decor items from his store. Bulk orders start coming right after Diwali while retail demand peaks after December 15, revealed Pahwa. He says there is a strong demand from north and northeast India and he also sells online to meet the demand.
Retailers disclosed that while institutions placed orders early, individual buyers decorated their homes only after the winter break in schools and colleges. Salil Chaudhary of Sports and Gifts Emporium in Panchsheel Enclave said that Christmas trees are in most demand and the orders also include decor items for the trees. He said that people ordered trees measuring up to 8 feet for homes, 8-12-feet trees for restaurants and offices and those taller than 12 feet for use in malls and hotels. At his shop, the cost of a decorated tree starts at Rs 3,500 and goes up to Rs 12,000.
Many people recycle their trees year after year, but they keep buying decor items such as adornments for the tree, wreaths for entrances, walls and gates, fake snowflakes, bells, ribbons, lanterns and stars. Store owners in Khan Market started displaying such items recently. They said festival events in schools, embassies and residential societies lead to high sales.
A shopkeeper said tree decorating at home has become a big party theme, especially among school students who visit each other to decorate their Christmas trees. For this, they are forever searching for newer and unique items. Pahwa added, The demand cuts across regions and religions. We prepare for this festive demand from May onwards. We have to source products from all over the world and keep global trends in mind.
Gifts and deliveries also show an uptick. Vikas Gutgutia, founder and MD, Ferns n Petals, which delivers gifts across 19,000 pincodes in India, revealed that floral orders start picking up as Christmas approaches. He said that apart from the most popular flowers and plants, Santa caps and socks, candles, miniature Christmas trees, secret Santa gifts and dry cakes are most ordered at this time. Our sales are 50% higher in Christmas than in a normal month, said Gutgutia. Innumerable customers choose us to deliver Christmas gifts in 80 foreign countries too.
