Novel, inexpensive gifts woo shoppers

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In modern times, chocolate boxes, apparels, cash, collectibles, crystals and crockery items don’t seem to excite the receivers as gifting options and with inflation remaining high and stubborn, gadgets, gizmos, gold coins and even silver jewellery are slowly getting out of reach.

So this festive season it’s time to ditch those expensive presents for innovative, attractive yet affordable gifting items. And the market is just as diverse as you can imagine.
Suvir Jain, a young business entrepreneur, plans to present hookahs to his friends and colleagues. A good hookah starts somewhere from `1,000 and makes for an interesting gifting option. He says, “People are bored of the conventional gifts which are most likely to be passed on. Which is why gifts should come with utility and a ‘wow’ factor attached. Only then will they stand out in the clutter.”
Artworks are touted to be the most exciting option this season. Jabong.com is offering multicoloured paintings from Artjini, which come at an economical price of `1199.
Terracotta vases with hand-painted Madhubani human figurines in yellow, blue, green and white are also hot on this shopping site.
“Although we are expecting an almost 100 per cent growth in sales of home décor, apparels, accessories and even jewellery around Diwali, but products like paintings, vases in unconventional styles and types, lamp shades, journals are also registering a huge demand,” says Praveen Sinha, co-founder Jabong.com.
Princess Vaishnavi Kumari of Kishangarh, who creates hand-painted art and objects in the pichwai style, has hand-painted marble platters, wooden boxes, photo-frames, cushion covers and paintings on offer. The cushion covers start from as low as `500 while the reusable wooden mithai/chocolate boxes start from `800. She says, “People today are eco-conscious. They believe in sensible spending. So they pick gifts that come with multiple advantages.”
Adds Praveen, “A unique gift ensures that people remember you for a long time. Also when the sender has invested thoughts in a gift item, it automatically makes it special. So when you have multiple friends and relatives affordability is the main concern and it makes sense to spend wisely while experimenting at the same time.”
Himanshu Dogra, founder Play Clan seconds that a one of its kind item makes the connection special. Therefore, Play Clan is offering Diwali-friendly, kitschy and inexpensive Mughal-e-Azam playing cards, devi greeting cards, journals (`265 onwards), hip flasks (`1695), cow card holders (`1495), rooster ashtrays (`895) and colourful coasters. “These quirky gift items stand out. People are definitely experimenting with presents. They want to be unique so why not make it affordable?” says Himanshu.