Work out your real cost per piece
Include every cost, not only the wholesale rate. This is an example only, for a cotton short kurta. Your numbers will be different.
- Wholesale price: ₹280
- Transport from supplier, shared across the lot: ₹20
- Polybag and tag: ₹8
- Steam ironing and folding (your time and electricity, roughly): ₹7
- Allowance for slow sizes and returns: ₹25
- Total landed cost: ₹340
Set your selling price
If you sell this kurta at ₹599, you keep about ₹259 per piece before your own time and phone costs. Many resellers aim for roughly one and a half to two times landed cost, but this differs widely by product and city. Use it as a guide only.
Basics like plain shirts and polos are easy to compare online, so keep those competitive. Chikankari, block-print, festive silk-blend kurtas and jackets can usually carry a higher margin because buyers value the craft and the occasion.
Check what similar pieces sell for in local shops and online. If you charge more, make sure your fabric, fit and service are clearly better.
Keep a small price list for yourself with landed cost, selling price and margin for every design. When a buyer asks for a discount, you will know at once how much room you have, and you will not cut below cost on a busy day just to close a sale.
Pricing ideas for menswear
- Combos: kurta plus Nehru jacket, or 3 office shirts at a set price
- Family sets: father and son matching kurtas for festivals
- Colour packs: the same well-fitting shirt in 2 or 3 colours at a small discount
- MRP and offer price: show the MRP and your offer price so buyers see the percentage off, but keep MRP honest
- Gift-ready packing for birthdays, Father's Day and Raksha Bandhan at a small extra charge
Festive pricing and delivery charges
Men's ethnic wear demand rises around Diwali, Eid, Navratri, Durga Puja, Pongal, Onam, Holi and the wedding season. Buy early so you are not paying rush prices, and hold your price on festive pieces. Combos sell better than deep discounts.
Shirts and kurtas are light, so delivery is cheaper than for bags or shoes, but check real courier rates by packing one item. Many sellers charge a flat fee or offer free delivery above an order value, which encourages combos. Clearly say whether cash on delivery is available and if it has an extra charge.
When to raise your prices
Review prices every few months. Raise them when supplier rates rise, when designs sell out quickly, or when you add value through better fabric, fit or packing.
Change prices on new stock, not on items a buyer is already asking about. Give your regular buyers advance notice. Steady, honest prices help men trust you and keep reordering.