- A coconut stick broom (eerkuchi / thenna eeki) is stiff and pushes sand, leaves, water and heavier dirt. A grass broom (phool jhadu) is soft and lifts fine dust from smooth floors.
- Most households use both, so most general stores and provision shops sell both.
- For yards, mills and very rough outdoor areas, the palmyra broom (panai eeki) is the heavy-duty option.
- Ramnad Agro supplies only coconut and palmyra brooms. We do not supply grass brooms.
- Stock decisions should follow your customers: indoor-only flat dwellers, homes with yards, and commercial cleaners buy differently.
Coconut broom vs grass broom is one of the most common questions shopkeepers ask when they set up a cleaning-products shelf. Across India, the two best-known types of brooms are the soft grass broom, called phool jhadu in Hindi, and the hard coconut stick broom, called eerkuchi or thenna eeki in Tamil. They are not substitutes for each other. They do different jobs, and a customer who buys the wrong one for the job will not come back happy.
I am Gokul from Ramnad Agro in MPK Valasai, Ramanathapuram. We have supplied hand-tied coconut leaf stick brooms and palmyra brooms to shops and distributors since 1998. To be clear from the start: we do not make or supply grass brooms. This guide explains both types fairly so you can plan your stock, and then explains how to order the stick brooms from us.
What is a coconut stick broom (eerkuchi)?
A coconut stick broom is made from the thin midribs of coconut leaves. The leaflets are stripped off, the ribs are dried, trimmed and tied tightly at one end. Our standard coconut broom is about 75–90 cm long and weighs about 350–500 g. Because coconut groves are pruned regularly, supply is steady through the year.
The sticks are stiff but flexible. They scrape and push rather than lift. That makes them good for:
- Courtyards, verandahs, steps and the area in front of the house
- Bathrooms, washing areas and kitchens where floors are often wet
- Sand, dry leaves, small stones and food waste
- Shops, godowns and small workshops with rough cement floors
The same broom is called thenna eeki, eerkuchi, eerkil, ekel or simply “coconut broom”. If you are confused by names in quotes and listings, our guide to coconut broom stick price per kg vs per piece explains how sellers describe and price it.
What is a grass broom (phool jhadu)?
A grass broom, often called phool jhadu or soft broom, is made from the dried flowering stalks of a tall broom grass. The fine, soft tips are bound to a handle section. Most of this grass comes from hilly regions outside Tamil Nadu. It is light and gentle, and its fine tips pick up dust and hair that a stick broom leaves behind.
A grass broom is good for:
- Daily dusting of tiled, marble, granite and mosaic floors indoors
- Bedrooms, halls and offices with smooth, dry floors
- Collecting fine dust, hair and light litter
It does not like water. A wet grass broom loses shape and the soft tips break, and it struggles with sand, stones or wet leaves.
Coconut broom vs grass broom: side by side
| Feature | Coconut stick broom (eerkuchi) | Grass broom (phool jhadu) |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Coconut leaf midribs | Dried broom-grass flower stalks |
| Feel | Stiff, springy | Soft, fine |
| Best surface | Cement, rough tiles, yards, wet areas | Smooth indoor floors: tiles, marble, granite |
| Best dirt type | Sand, leaves, wet waste, heavier debris | Fine dust, hair, light litter |
| Wet floors | Handles water well | Not suited; loses shape when wet |
| Typical buyer | Homes with yards or open areas, shops, hotels, institutions | Flats and homes for indoor daily dusting |
| Supplied by Ramnad Agro | Yes | No |
The simple rule many shopkeepers use: “soft broom for inside, stick broom for outside and wet areas”. It is not perfect, but it matches how most South Indian homes clean.
Where the palmyra broom fits in
There is a third natural option that is often forgotten: the palmyra broom, or panai eeki. It is made from the thick ribs of palmyra leaves, about 85–105 cm long and 500–750 g each. It is stiffer than a coconut broom and is built for rough work: mill floors, copra yards, roads, cattle sheds and large courtyards. It is not meant for polished tiles or marble.
If your customers include farms, mills, municipal contractors or institutions, a small stock of palmyra brooms fills a gap neither the coconut broom nor the grass broom covers. Our detailed coconut vs palmyra brooms guide for retailers compares the two stick brooms.
We supply coconut leaf brooms in bundles of 10 or 25 and palmyra brooms in bundles of 10. Minimum 100 bundles per broom type. Ask for the current godown rate.
Which should your shop stock?
The answer depends on who walks into your shop. Here is how we see different shop types plan their broom shelf.
| Shop type | Main customer need | Suggested focus |
|---|---|---|
| Provision store in a town or village | Homes with yards, open bathrooms, cement floors | Coconut brooms as the main line; a few grass brooms; palmyra brooms if farmers buy from you |
| Supermarket in a city | Flats with tiled floors, plus some independent houses | Grass brooms and coconut brooms both on the shelf; coconut brooms for bathrooms and balconies |
| Hardware and cleaning-supply shop | Contractors, housekeeping teams, small factories | Coconut and palmyra brooms in bulk bundles; grass brooms for office cleaning |
| Agri-input or farm-supply shop | Farms, cattle sheds, poultry sheds, threshing yards | Palmyra brooms first, then coconut brooms |
| Online seller | Customers searching by type and use | List each type with clear photos and the right use; ship in bundles where possible |
Watch your own sales
No table beats your own sales data. For the first month, write down how many of each broom type you sell every week and what customers ask for that you do not have. Within a few weeks you will know your ratio. Stock to that ratio, and keep a small buffer before festivals and the monsoon, when cleaning demand often rises.
Selling tips at the counter
Customers often ask the shopkeeper which broom to buy. A few quick questions help you sell the right one and avoid complaints:
- “Where will you use it?” Inside rooms with tiles points to a grass broom. A yard, bathroom, balcony or shop front points to a coconut broom.
- “Is the floor often wet?” If yes, a coconut stick broom is the better choice.
- “Is it a big open area, a farm or a mill?” If yes, suggest a palmyra broom, which is stiffer and longer.
- “Do you need both?” Many families buy one soft and one stick broom together. Displaying them side by side makes the pair sale easy.
Hang a small sign above the broom shelf, in Tamil and English, with the simple rule “soft broom for inside, stick broom for outside and wet areas”. It saves time at the counter and reduces returns from customers who bought the wrong type.
Commercial and institutional buyers
Hotels, hostels, schools, temples and housekeeping companies clean large areas every day: corridors, kitchens, washing areas, parking areas and grounds. They usually need coconut brooms for wet and outdoor areas, soft brooms for rooms and offices, and palmyra brooms for grounds. If you supply these buyers, bulk bundles of 25 coconut stick brooms are convenient because they are counted and stored easily.
Quality checks for coconut brooms
Whichever supplier you use, check a sample bundle before you commit to a full order. For coconut stick brooms we look for:
- Dry ribs with no leafy waste left on them.
- Uniform length within one bundle.
- Firm binding. Shake the broom; sticks should not fall out.
- Consistent weight. Weigh a full bundle and divide by the count. Rib thickness varies naturally, so weights vary slightly, but the average should match what you were quoted.
For grass brooms, ask your grass-broom supplier about their own checks. Common ones are tightly bound bristles, a firm handle section and dry, unbroken tips.
Storage on the shop floor
Both broom types last longer on the shelf when kept dry and ventilated. Stand finished brooms upright with the sweeping end down, or hang them, so the sticks do not bend. Keep bundles off the floor on pallets or racks. In the monsoon, check stock for damp and musty smells. Our article on storing mats, brooms and rope without mould has a full checklist.
How to order coconut and palmyra brooms from Ramnad Agro
We sell ex-godown from MPK Valasai, Ramanathapuram. You send your enquiry, we quote the current rate, and you pay a 50% advance to book. Coconut and palmyra brooms are usually ready in 3–5 working days. You then arrange your own lorry, mini-truck or transport company and book a loading slot on our pickup booking form. When your vehicle arrives, you pay the balance and our team loads the bundles free, 6 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week.
A minimum order of 1,000 coconut brooms weighs roughly 350–500 kg, and 1,000 palmyra brooms roughly 500–750 kg. Brooms are bulky for their weight, so plan vehicle space as well as weight. See the Delivery & Pickup page and our guide on arranging transport from a Tamil Nadu supplier for vehicle sizes. If you are just starting out, how to start a broom and mat wholesale business is a good next read.
Tell us the broom type, bundle size and quantity. We quote the current godown rate and load your coconut brooms and palmyra brooms free when your transport arrives.
