Sari-sari stores expand school supply inventory as ‘tingi’ economy drives back-to-school sales boom
Sari-sari stores across the Philippines are adapting to the start of the school year by offering more “tingi,” or small-quantity, school supplies, as Filipino startup Packworks.io reveals a sharp rise in back-to-school transactions.
The company analyzed over one million monthly transactions from its mobile app and business intelligence platform, Sari IQ, across its network of more than 300,000 sari-sari stores nationwide. Its latest data shows a 31% increase in the number of sari-sari stores near schools, from 71,000 in 2023 to over 102,000 by June 2025.
Rural regions lead in sari-sari store growth
From 2023 to 2024, the most significant expansion occurred in rural areas. Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) saw a 77% increase in stores near schools, followed by the Cordillera Administrative Region (+70%), Northern Mindanao (+55%), Eastern Visayas (+52%), and Western Visayas (+50%).
This strategic proximity to schools allowed sari-sari stores to capitalize on school-year demand. In August 2023, sales surged by 30% during the start of classes. The following year saw a 130% spike in July, while in 2025, June recorded a 71% increase, aligning with the June 16 school opening.
Smaller but more frequent purchases define the trend
Despite a 9% rise in overall school supply transactions from 2023 to 2024, total gross merchandise value (GMV) slightly dipped from PHP 1.36 million to PHP 1.31 million. According to Packworks Chief Data Officer Andoy Montiel, this pattern highlights a growing reliance on the “tingi economy.”
“Our findings show the ‘tingi’ mindset applies to school supplies now. The increased transaction volume but lower GMV reflects more frequent, smaller purchases, particularly in rural areas,” Montiel said.
This aligns with a WorldRemit report noting that education costs now account for over half of a typical Filipino household’s monthly income, making accessible “tingi” purchases a necessity.
Highest GMV margins and top-selling items
Regions showing the strongest GMV growth from 2023 to 2024 include Bicol Region (+381%), Northern Mindanao (+256%), Cagayan Valley (+120%), Western Visayas (+87%), and SOCCSKSARGEN (+78%). For the first half of 2025 alone, sari-sari stores have already generated PHP 795,000 in GMV.
Among school supplies, pad paper led with a 74% GMV spike, followed by colored pencils (+74%), bond paper (+71%), paper glue (+28%), and correction tape (+23%).
Packworks Chief Platform Officer Hubert Yap praised the stores’ responsiveness. “Sari-sari stores are the heartbeat of local commerce. They’re adjusting to school schedules, weather-related class suspensions, and the needs of their communities with strategic inventory shifts,” Yap said.
He also encouraged brands and educational service providers to leverage these hyper-local networks for targeted campaigns. “Our data shows sari-sari stores are the gateway to local markets,” Yap added.
For more seasonal insights and data, visit Packworks.io or follow Packworks on Facebook.
