A recent survey by Filipino tech startup Packworks found that more than 102,000 sari-sari stores operate within 400 meters of schools nationwide.
The report noted that the number of these outlets has surged alongside a 71-percent jump in school supply sales in June 2025, ahead of the June 16 school opening.
In the first half of 2025 alone, these stores generated P795,000 in gross merchandise value (GMV) from school-related sales.
Packworks said the figures underscore how the “tingi,” or small quantity model, is meeting seasonal demand even amid recent class suspensions caused by heavy rains.
“They don’t just react to demand, they strategically position themselves to meet seasonal needs,” Packworks chief platform officer Hubert Yap said.
“Even with recent class suspensions, stores have ensured that teachers, parents, and students can get what they need, when they need it,” said Yap.
The 2025 totals extend a trend observed in previous years. From 2023 to 2024, the number of stores near schools rose 31 percent from about 71,000 to 95,000.
Rural areas saw the fastest growth, led by the Zamboanga Peninsula with 77 percent, the Cordillera Administrative Region with 70 percent, Northern Mindanao with 55 percent, Eastern Visayas with 52 percent and Western Visayas with 50 percent.
Packworks data also shows the back-to-school rush moving earlier each year with a 30-percent sales rise in August 2023, a 130-percent spike in July 2024 and a 71-percent jump in June 2025.
While total school supply transactions increased by 9 percent between 2023 and 2024, GMV slipped by 3 percent to 1.31 million pesos from 1.36 million pesos, pointing to smaller but more frequent purchases.
“Our latest findings show that the ‘tingi’ economy now extends to school supplies,” Packworks chief data officer Andoy Montiel said.
“The increase in transactions alongside lower GMV tells us sari-sari stores are adapting with models that fit their communities, especially in rural areas,” said Montiel.
Top-selling items in 2024 included pad paper, colored pencils, bond paper, paper glue and correction tape.
The highest GMV growth rates in 2023–2024 were in the Bicol Region with over 381 percent, Region X with 256 percent, Cagayan Valley with 120 percent, Region VI with 87 percent, and SOCCSKSARGEN with 78 percent.
Packworks also cited a WorldRemit report noting that education costs, including supplies, consume more than half of a typical Filipino household’s monthly income, making the accessibility of sari-sari stores essential.
“Our report is also a roadmap for brands and education services to tap hyper-local markets by partnering with sari-sari stores,” Yap said.
