MANILA, Philippines — Sari-sari stores are opening and expanding their inventories to offer “tingi,” or small quantities, of school supplies, in response to the start of the new school year.
This is the latest insight from Filipino tech startup Packworks.io, which analyzed over a million monthly sales transactions from its network of over 300,000 sari-sari stores nationwide via its mobile app and business intelligence tool, Sari IQ.
Packworks’ data reveals that the number of stores near schools, those within the 400-meter radius or approximately 500 steps away, grew by 31% from approximately 71,000 in 2023 to 95,000 last year. As of June 2025, the company has 102,058 partner stores operating near schools, according to its latest data.
From 2023 to 2024, Packworks saw that most sari-sari stores near schools are located in rural regions, specifically in Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) (+77%), CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) (+70%), Region X (Northern Mindanao) (+55%), Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) (+52%), and Region VI (Western Visayas) (+50%).
Data further suggests that sari-sari stores benefited significantly from their inventory strategies during the school season. In 2023, stores experienced a 30% increase in sales in August, which coincided with the start of the school year on August 29. The trend accelerated in 2024, with stores recording an impressive 130% 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% sales spike in June, with the school year starting on June 16.
While total sales transactions of school supplies increased by 9% from 2023 to 2024, the overall gross merchandise value (GMV) last year was PHP 1.31 million, a 3% decrease from PHP 1.36 million in 2023.
Packworks chief data officer Andoy Montiel explains that the data points 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 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 said.
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.
Regions with the highest GMV margins from 2023 to 2024 were recorded in Region V (Bicol Region) (+381%), Region X (Northern Mindanao) (+256%), Region II (Cagayan Valley) (+120%), Region VI (Western Visayas) (+87%), and Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN) (+78%). So far in 2025, stores brought in PHP 795,000 worth of GMV during the first six months of the year alone.
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 said.
Among the school products analyzed, pad paper was the top-selling item in sari-sari stores with a 74% spike in GMV sales between 2023 and 2024, followed by colored pencil (+74%), bond paper (+71%), paper glue (+28%), and correction tape (+23%).
“Our report also serves as a valuable roadmap 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.
For info about Sari IQ and to uncover more seasonal data trends in sari-sari stores, you may visit http://packworks.io/ or Packworks’ Facebook page to learn more.
