Sari-sari stores in typhoon-hit provinces of the Philippines saw a significant jump in sales in the month after six typhoons struck late last year, according to data from a tech startup.
Sari-sari stores hit by storms between Oct. 23 and Nov. 18, 2024, posted a 27-percent increase in average daily gross merchandise value (GMV) and a 50-percent rise in sales transactions, data from Packworks.io showed.
The findings came from the company’s Sari IQ platform, which tracks transactions from 300,000 stores nationwide. The study covered Batangas, Cagayan, Isabela, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes—provinces that were among the hardest hit during last year’s record-breaking typhoon season.
The Bicol region drove much of the growth, with a 50-percent spike in transactions during the typhoons and a further 26-percent increase afterward. Camarines Norte saw the sharpest rebound, with its GMV up 105 percent after the storms passed.
Consumer spending shifted during the calamities, with gin and cigarettes topping purchases. Gin recorded a median 14-percent GMV increase across seven provinces, while cigarettes climbed 12 percent in six provinces. Powdered coffee rose 10 percent and biscuits 2 percent.
In the recovery phase, detergent became a top-selling item, accounting for 7 percent of GMV in five provinces as households focused on cleanup.
“These data findings challenge the common belief that microbusinesses are less resilient during bad weather conditions. Our store owners have figured out how to persevere and even positively thrive amid natural calamities,” said Packworks chief data officer Andoy Montiel.
