‘Sari-sari’ stores seen resilient to typhoons

A sari-sari store in the neighborhood —PHOTO FROM PACKWORKS

Sales of “sari-sari” stores increased significantly despite the series of typhoons that ravaged many parts of the country, according to a study.

Local tech startup Packworks said sari-sari stores in some of the hardest-hit areas in the country had registered a 27-percent rise in average daily gross merchandise value (GMV) in 2024.

Based on the study, transactions rose by 50 percent in these areas a month after six typhoons had hit the archipelago between Oct. 23 and Nov. 18, 2024.

Provinces in Bicol primarily boosted sales, which saw a combined 50-percent increase during a typhoon and a further 26-percent growth in average daily GMV after a typhoon had hit.

Packworks also said cigarettes and gin were the top-selling items during typhoons. Gin posted the highest percentage change with a median increase of 14 percent in seven affected provinces, followed by cigarettes with a 12-percent median increase in six provinces.

Easy-to-eat items were also the most purchased goods. Powdered coffee sales went up by 10 percent in six provinces, while biscuits rose by 2 percent across seven provinces.

Furthermore, detergent was one of the most purchased items across five provinces with a 7-percent GMV share, causing a temporary spike in demand for cleaning supplies for typhoon-stricken households.

Packworks chief platform officer Hubert Yap said, “True to the idiom: ‘when it rains it pours’—understanding these just-in-time, on-the-ground realities is key to informing businesses and policymakers with a prepared plan and help realize a more agile supply chain logistics to better serve communities when they need it most.”

Packworks chief data officer Andoy Montiel said their study challenged the common belief that microbusinesses were less resilient during adverse weather conditions.

“Through presence and grit, our store owners have figured out how to persevere and even positively thrive amid natural calamities, creating real business value and opportunities while aiding in the community’s recovery,” Montiel said.