Difficulties Encountered by Selected Sari-Sari Store Owners in Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

Abstract

A sari-sari store is an essential neighborhood store that provides goods to the locals in the area. Anyone with a small amount of capital can start a sari-sari store, which is a helpful beginning to get income. This study examines the difficulties selected sari-sari store owners encounter in Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija and their motivation to overcome their problems. The researchers used a phenomenological design that determined the experiences of selected eighteen respondents from Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija using purposive sampling techniques to determine the respondents. A semi-structured interview and audio recording were used to gather data from the respondents. The challenges the Sari-Sari store owners encountered were Debts, Thefts, and High Competition. Most respondents mentioned that family was the primary motivation for the respondents to overcome problems.

In conclusion, Sari-sari store owners experience debt due to their business operations. This is because there are customers that did not pay them back. Additionally, Sari-Sari store owners experienced being robbed by someone (Theft). The store can rob easily because of its lack of employees. Lastly, another problem that Sari-sari store owners encountered was High Competition because there are many sari-sari stores nowadays. Their motivation to continue opening a sari-sari store was their family. The sari-sari store was their source of income to feed and sustain their everyday needs.