Diwali and Festive Season Sales Tips for Small Business
Diwali, Navratri, Rakhi and wedding season are when many home sellers get most of their orders for the year. The rush is good news, but only if you plan stock, prices and delivery before it starts. These tips help you prepare without getting overwhelmed.
Updated 25 October 2026 · ShopShare Guides
Quick answer
Start festive preparation four to six weeks early. Pick your best sellers, make ready gift combos, buy packaging and raw material in advance, announce order cut-off dates, and post daily on WhatsApp Status and Instagram. Keep payment and delivery rules clear so the rush does not turn into missed orders or unhappy customers.
Plan four to six weeks before the festival
Gift combos and hampers sell faster than single items
Announce a last order date and stick to it
Collect advance payment for custom or bulk orders
Follow up every enquiry within the same day
Step by step
Check last year or last monthLook at which products got the most enquiries. Those are the items to stock more of, not new experiments.
Build festive combosGroup items into gift sets at a few price points, for example an approximate ₹499, ₹999 and ₹1,999 hamper. Combos make buying decisions easy.
Buy supplies earlyRaw material, boxes, ribbons and tags often get costlier and harder to find close to the festival. Buy in advance and keep some spare.
Update your shop and photosAdd festive photos, clear prices and stock status. Mark items as sold out quickly so buyers do not get disappointed.
Announce datesTell customers the last date for orders and the last date for delivery. Repeat it on Status every few days.
Follow up and deliverReply to enquiries fast, confirm each order in writing, and send a short thank-you message after delivery.
What sells during festivals
Buyers look for gifts, home decoration, sweets and snacks, ethnic wear, pooja items and return gifts. Even if your usual product is not festive, you can often add a festive version, such as a gift-wrapped pack or a limited edition colour.
Corporate and bulk gifting also picks up before Diwali. Offices and housing societies may want 20 to 100 identical hampers, so keep a simple bulk price ready.
Pricing and offers without losing money
Festive offers should still leave you a profit. Instead of deep discounts, try a free gift wrap, a small add-on item or a combo price. If you show an MRP and a discount, make sure the MRP is real and honest.
Remember that your costs rise in festive weeks because of extra packaging and delivery. Work out your cost per order before you announce any offer.
Promote early and often
Start posting festive products two to three weeks ahead. Share one product a day on WhatsApp Status, a short reel on Instagram and a message in your customer broadcast list. Ask happy past customers to share your shop link with family groups.
With ShopShare you can share one shop link that shows every festive item with prices, and buyers tap Order on WhatsApp to message you directly.
Handle the rush calmly
Keep a simple list of every order with name, item, amount, payment status and delivery date. Stop taking orders when you reach what you can actually make and deliver well. A polite no is better than a late gift that missed the festival.
Get the free ShopShare app
Open your shop in a minute, show up for buyers near you on ShopShare Market and Google, and take orders on WhatsApp. No commission, ever.
Start about four to six weeks before Diwali. This gives you time to plan products, buy raw material and packaging before prices rise, take festive photos and begin promoting. Customers who plan gifts often start asking two to three weeks ahead, and corporate buyers may ask even earlier.
What products sell the most during the festive season in India?
Gift hampers, sweets and dry fruits, diyas and candles, home decor, ethnic wear, jewellery and pooja items usually see strong demand. What sells best for you depends on your area and customers, so look at your own past enquiries and ask regular buyers what they plan to gift this year.
Should I give discounts during Diwali?
Give offers only if you still make a profit after costs. Many small sellers prefer value-adds like free gift wrapping, a combo price or a small free item instead of big discounts. If you show a percentage off, it should be calculated from a genuine original price.
How do I handle bulk festive gifting orders?
Agree on quantity, contents, price, packaging and delivery date in writing before you start. Take an advance payment, often a part of the total, so you can buy material without risk. Share a sample photo for approval and keep the final balance due before or at delivery.
How can I deliver festive orders on time?
Set a clear last order date and plan delivery routes by area. For local orders, batch deliveries on fixed days. For courier orders, ship early because couriers get busy before festivals. Tell customers the expected delivery date when they order, not after.
How do I get more festive orders from WhatsApp?
Post festive products daily on WhatsApp Status, send one clear broadcast with your catalogue link, and reply to every enquiry quickly. Keep a list of people who asked but did not order, and send them a polite reminder a few days before your cut-off date.
