‘Sari-sari’ stores heed school needs    

Sari-sari stores bring ‘tingi’ school supplies closer to schools – Packworks study

MANILA, Philippines — “Sari-sari” stores are opening and expanding their inventories to offer “tingi,” or small quantities, of school supplies, with the opening of the new school year.

This is the latest insight from Filipino tech startup Packworks.io, which analyzed more than a million monthly sales transactions from its network of 300,000 plus sari-sari stores nationwide via its mobile app and business intelligence tool, Sari IQ.

Packworks’ data reveal that the number of stores near schools, those within the 400-meter radius or about 500 steps away, grew by 31 percent from 71,000 in 2023 to 95,000 last year.

Data further suggest that sari-sari stores benefited significantly from their inventory strategies during the school season. In 2023, stores experienced a 30-percent increase in sales in August, which coincided with the start of the school year. The trend accelerated in 2024, with stores recording a 130-percent sales surge in July, ahead of the July 29 start of the school year. For the current school season in 2025, stores generated a 71 percent sales spike in June.

Packworks chief data officer Andoy Montiel explains that the data point to a trend of more frequent but smaller purchases.

“Our latest findings show that the country’s ‘tingi’ economy extends beyond household commodities to school supplies as well. The contradiction between the increase in sales transactions and the decrease in the overall GMV (gross merchandise value) between 2023 and 2024 indicates that sari-sari stores, especially those in rural areas, are not just participating in the back-to-school season but strategically adapting to it with a model that works for their communities,” Montiel says.

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Part of the community

The accessibility of sari-sari stores’ “tingi” business model becomes particularly vital as educational costs, including supplies, account for more than half of a typical Filipino household’s monthly income, according to a report by WorldRemit.

Packworks Chief Platform Officer Hubert Yap highlights the entrepreneurial capabilities of sari-sari stores in responding to seasonal demands and adjusting their inventories in response to various occurrences, including the back-to-school season.

“Our data is a testament to why sari-sari stores are the lifeblood of the Philippine economy. They possess a deep understanding of their communities, enabling them to seize seasonal opportunities. They are not just reacting to demand, but they are strategically positioning themselves and adapting to the needs of their communities, especially with the recent long suspensions of the first weeks of public school due to the torrential rains this season, ensuring neighborhood educators, parents and students have access to what they need, exactly when they need it, just in time for the back to school rush,” Yap says.

Among the school products analyzed, pad paper was the top-selling item at sari-sari stores with a 74 percent spike in GMV sales between 2023 and 2024, followed by colored pencil (+74 percent), bond paper (+71 percent), paper glue (+28 percent) and correction tape (+23 percent).

“Our report also serves as a valuable road map for brands and education services to realize their hyper-targeted market opportunities in partnering with sari-sari stores to effectively reach local communities,” Yap adds. /dda

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