Artificial or real, Christmas trees get dearer, but that’s no dampener

Bengaluru: As shopping avenues decked up with twinkling lights kindle the yuletide spirit, Bengalureans are heading out to buy Christmas trees, their towering prices notwithstanding.Many stores in the city import artificial Christmas trees as they closely resemble the festive tree. While the authentic Christmas trees are not found in India, the artificial ones have a stark similarity to the real kind. To make the festival authentic and lively, these artificial trees are imported from various countries like the US, the UK and Korea, say store managers. According to them, the trees have become costlier by 10%. Nurseries across the city sell the real plants and trees, which can cost from Rs 10,000 and go above depending on their height and bushiness.

Raj Mohan, a resident of HSR Layout, said: “Our family and relatives don’t prefer the real trees that are available at the nurseries because they are scanty and don’t look Christmassy enough. Artificial trees look healthy and are easier to decorate, unlike the real trees on which we can barely put up a light and very few decorative items. So, there is huge preference for artificial trees.”Ninety-five per cent of customers prefer the artificial trees, says Sophia Carolina, founder of Santa Store. “An average seven-feet tall tree will retail for Rs 10,000, and the prices can be as high as Rs 75,000 depending on the type and height. Authentic Christmas trees cannot survive in our country’s weather, which is why there is a huge demand for the artificial ones. The artificial trees are easily reusable. Many of our customers reuse these trees, and donate them to the church when they want to go for a new one.”On the other hand, JK Mahendra, store in-charge of JK XMAS and gifting store on Infantry Road, tells TOI that the reason for increase in prices is import taxes. “The customs and duty taxes have been increasing since the pandemic. The containers which they are packed in are also expensive, which all adds up to the price of the tree. Over the years, there has been an increase in number of customers walking in to buy an artificial tree,” he said.You could also rent themFor many Bengalureans, the real question is what to do with a Christmas tree post-celebration. While some donate it to the church, many just store it in their attic or dispose it off. To address this dilemma, Naadia Mirza, founder and director of Dotted I Bangalore, rents out Christmas trees. “Many customers are not keen on buying trees due to various reasons. To tackle this, we came out with a plan where Bengalureans can take them on rent for a week, till the end of Christmas. However, there’s a catch. We rent out decorated Christmas trees, and the rate depends on the number of ornaments used for decoration,” said Naadia. The rent for an seven-feet-tall decorated tree is Rs 15,000. “If you compare it with last year, there has been a slight increase in prices because of more demand and the high-end quality of trees we rent out,” added Naadia. This year, the firm has already rented out all 25 trees it has.