eNews
Indians’ shopping trends this festive season revealed by Inshorts poll
Mumbai: Inshorts group, a news app, Inshorts, and the local content platform, Public, have released their 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 per cent of respondents were more inclined to purchase festive-themed products during the festive season.
● Whereas, 67 per cent of respondents are more likely to buy additional items when special seasonal discounts are available.
● In terms of platform comparison, 82 per cent of respondents explore multiple platforms before making their final festive season purchases.
Last-Minute vs. planned shopping
● Additionally, 51 per cent of respondents purchase festive clothes well in advance, while 49 per cent tend to buy them last minute, indicating a fairly balanced approach to shopping timing.
● For festive gifts, a notable 58 per cent of respondents prefer to buy last-minute.
● When shopping for gifts last minute, 39 per cent prefer to make their purchases through quick-commerce or instant delivery services.
● Regarding festive decorations, 54 per cent of respondents buy them last minute.
● For urgent home décor items, a notable 34 per cent of the respondents opt for quick-commerce or instant delivery.
● Festive gift hampers are typically purchased last minute by 55 per cent of respondents.
● For urgent festive gift hampers, 35 per cent of the respondents turn to quick-commerce options.
Budgeting & spending pattern
● The poll also revealed that 59 per cent of respondents do not set a specific budget for their festival shopping.
● Whereas, 60 per cent of respondents prefer to invest in high-value items like electronics and appliances during festive sales.
● Additionally, 49 per cent 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 per cent of respondents prefer to shop offline.
● For festival gift purchases, 44 per cent of respondents favour buying gifts online.
● High-value purchases such as electronics show a more balanced preference, with 52 per cent of consumers opting for online shopping and 48 per cent choosing offline.
● In the category of festive home décor, including diyas, lights, and rangolis, 75 per cent of respondents opt for offline purchases.
● For festive gift hampers, which include sweets and dry fruits, 82 per cent prefer to shop offline.
● In terms of last-minute festive item purchases, 32 per cent of respondents are more likely to shop from online options.
● Additionally, 65 per cent of respondents would be more likely to purchase festive gifts online if custom gift packaging options were available.
● Finally, 75 per cent believe that the ability to schedule delivery for a specific time during the festive season would enhance the convenience of online shopping.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
