Most people shopping for Diwali, wedding or Christmas gifts have a number in their head before they start: “something under ₹500 for my colleague”, “under ₹1,000 for my sister”. If your price sits just outside that number, you lose the sale, however good the product. Here is how to price festive products so they land in the right band and still make you money.
Know the common gift bands
In India, festive gift budgets cluster around a few round numbers:
- Under ₹299: office gifts, secret Santa, return gifts for kids’ parties.
- Under ₹499: friends, colleagues and teachers.
- Under ₹999: close friends and family.
- ₹1,500 and up: spouses, parents and corporate hampers.
Pick one band for each product and design the product to fit it, rather than adding up costs and hoping.
Work out your real cost first
Before choosing a price, list every cost for one unit:
- Materials or product cost.
- Packaging, including box, tissue, ribbon and a card.
- Delivery or courier charges if you include them.
- Platform or payment-gateway fees (often a small percentage).
- GST, if you are registered.
- Your time. Even ₹100 an hour matters when you make 50 orders.
If the total cost leaves you less than about 30 to 40% margin inside your band, change the product (smaller size, simpler packaging) rather than squeezing your profit to nothing.
Use bundles to raise value
Bundles let you move up a band honestly. A ₹349 candle becomes a ₹799 “Diwali glow set” with two candles, a diya and a hand-written card. Buyers see a complete gift; you sell more per order. Keep each bundle easy to understand: three or four items, one theme.
Show the full price up front
Hidden delivery charges at checkout are one of the fastest ways to lose a sale, and adding surprise charges late is now listed as a “dark pattern” by India’s consumer regulator. Show the price including delivery, or say clearly “free delivery above ₹599”.
Price endings and discounts
- Prices ending in 9 (₹499) still work for gifts, but round prices (₹500) can feel more premium for hampers.
- A small, real festive discount (“₹50 off till 31 December”) beats a big fake one.
- Never inflate a price just to show a bigger “discount”.
This guide is part of our holiday series. For the bigger picture, read Your Holiday Side-Income Plan.
