How are Indians Shopping this Festive Season: Inshorts Poll Insights

09 October 2024: Inshorts Group, which runs India’s leading news app, Inshorts, and the largest local content platform, Public, has released its latest poll, offering valuable insights into consumer behaviour and shopping preferences during the festive season. This survey, which garnered over 2.4 Lakh responses, highlights how various factors such as festive shopping triggers, timing preferences, budgeting habits, and platform choices influence consumer behaviour and purchasing decisions during the festive season.

Festive Shopping Triggers and Preferences

• The Poll revealed that 48% of respondents were more inclined to purchase festive-themed products during the festive season.
• Whereas, 67% of respondents are more likely to buy additional items when special seasonal discounts are available.
• In terms of platform comparison, 82% of respondents explore multiple platforms before making their final festive season purchases.

Last-Minute vs. Planned Shopping

• Additionally, 51% of respondents purchase festive clothes well in advance, while 49% tend to buy them last-minute, indicating a fairly balanced approach to shopping timing.
• For festive gifts, a notable 58% of respondents prefer to buy last-minute.
• When shopping for gifts last-minute, 39% prefer to make their purchases through quick-commerce or instant delivery services.
• Regarding festive decorations, 54% of respondents buy them last-minute.
• For urgent home décor items, a notable 34% of the respondents opt for quick-commerce or instant delivery.
• Festive gift hampers are typically purchased last-minute by 55% of respondents.
• For urgent festive gift hampers, 35% of the respondents turn to quick-commerce options.

Budgeting & Spending Pattern

• The poll also revealed that 59% of respondents do not set a specific budget for their festival shopping.
• Whereas, 60% of respondents prefer to invest in high-value items like electronics and appliances during festive sales.
• Additionally, 49% of respondents said they spend more on Home & Decor items during the festive season compared to other times of the year.

Online vs. Offline Shopping Preferences

• When it comes to festive clothes such as sarees, kurtas, and lehengas, 66% of respondents prefer to shop offline.
• For festival gift purchases, 44% of respondents favour buying gifts online.
• High-value purchases such as electronics show a more balanced preference, with 52% of consumers opting for online shopping and 48% choosing offline.
• In the category of festive home décor, including diyas, lights, and rangolis, 75% of respondents opt for offline purchases.
• For festive gift hampers, which include sweets and dry fruits, 82% prefer to shop offline.
• In terms of last-minute festive item purchases, 32% of respondents are more likely to shop from online options.
• Additionally, 65% of respondents would be more likely to purchase festive gifts online if custom gift packaging options were available.
• Finally, 75% believe that the ability to schedule delivery for a specific time during the festive season would enhance the convenience of online shopping.