Ahmedabad’s Bamboo-less Market Is Growing: Gopal Patel
The trend of bamboo-less products such as dry sticks, wet dhoop, sambrani cups and cones is growing rapidly in Ahmedabad. As a result, the use of agarbatti has declined and now stands at 60%. A large number of consumers are demanding newer bamboo-less products. In this way, the share of bamboo-less products in the market has increased to around 40%. At the same time, the market for dry sticks is larger than that of wet dhoop and accounts for around 20%. Sharing this insight, Mr. Gopal Patel, head of Umiya Agarbatti, told Sugandh India that people also prefer dry sticks, cones and cups in dhoop. Umiya Agarbatti has two retail counters in Isanpur and Maninagar in Ahmedabad. Speaking to Sugandh India, Gopal Patel said that apart from the retail counters, he also handles distribution for 7-8 agarbatti companies.
Replying to a question from Sugandh India, Gopal Patel said that his father started the business in agarbatti trade in 2001. He opened the first counter in Isanpur in 2001. Later, a second counter was opened near Maninagar in 2024. He started working in wholesale, manufacturing and retail. Six years ago, I also joined the business. He said that Umiya Agarbatti has agencies for Nishan, Real, Balaji and Neev, besides 7-8 other companies, and supplies around 60-70 counters within a radius of approximately 5 kilometres. Replying to a question, he said that there is a good market for agarbatti and dhoop products here. Zipper packs priced at ₹10, ₹20 and ₹50 sell the most. The market for ₹10 and ₹50 products is growing the fastest, and Nishan performs well in this segment because it is available in the ₹10, ₹20 and ₹50 range.
He said that box packaging is less popular here, while zipper and pouch packs sell more. The bamboo-less market here is growing very rapidly. The wet dhoop market is mainly in the ₹20 to ₹25 range, with Manthan, Nishan and Punjab-based Himalaya Dhoop also selling well. Apart from these, some brands from Nagpur are also popular. Shah Fragrance also sells very well in the ₹10, ₹20 and ₹50 ranges. He said that Cycle has good sales at his counters. Regarding the popularity of sambrani cups, he said that they sell more during the festival season. However, they are now sold throughout the year. Answering a question about other puja materials, he said that branded and pouch-packed camphor sells more. Three Pine, Labh Ganga, Neev, Rajkot’s Bhanu and Mangalam are also popular.
Mangalam, Neev and Labh Ganga have good demand. Manohar is popular in sandalwood tika. Apart from this, Hari Darshan and Dev Darshan are also in demand. For puja oil, he keeps Cycle at his counter.
Gopal Patel told Sugandh India, that he wishes the era of handmade agarbatti would return. There is no comparison with handmade agarbattis. He said that both premium and economy markets are good here, but consumers want products that are affordable as well as good. This is why Ahmedabad’s products sell well.
However, products from companies in Bengaluru and Indore also have a good market here. He said that people here prefer strong fragrances. However, pineapple and other fancy notes are also popular. He said that there is also a sizeable market for loose agarbatti here. We produce loose agarbatti ourselves and maintain its quality.
Replying to a question, he said that a customer here generally purchases agarbatti and other puja materials worth ₹2,000 or more in a month. Out of every 10 customers, three purchase products by brand name. The rest are generally satisfied with whatever products we offer them.
