i

LIVED EXPERIENCES OF SARI-SARI STOREOWNERS:

A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY

A Research Paper
Presented to
The Faculty of Senior High School
UM Ilang High School
Davao City

ANGEL NICOLE ESTANILLA

KHYLE DEBREIL Q. GRANDE

DANNA P. PUNZALAN

RHEIA B. UDARVE

March 2020
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APPROVAL SHEET

This study entitled “LIVED EXPERIENCES OF SARI-SARI STOREOWNERS:

A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY”, prepared by Angel Nicole Estanilla, Khyle
Debreil Q. Grande, and Rheia B. Udarve in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
Senior High School, has been examined and is hereby recommended for approval
and acceptance.

MARIVA S. COLITA
Research Teacher

PANEL OF EXAMINERS

APPROVED by the Panel of Examiners on Oral Examination with a grade of

PASSED.
ROAR A. CALLAMAN, PHD-MATH
Chairperson

NAZIMA Y. BASILIO, PHD RAMILITO A. PORIO JR. MAEd

Member Member

________________________________________________________________
ACCEPTED in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Senior High School.

JULIETA C. PERNES
Principal
March 2020
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The researchers would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude and deep

appreciation to the following people who helped them to complete this endeavor, and

without them it would not be possible to write this thesis:

To our Research 3S teacher. Mrs. Mariva S. Colita, for the effort and knowledge

to teach them and imparted them to start the study.

To the Panel of Examiners, Dr. Roar A. Callaman, Dr. Nazima Y. Basilio, Mr.

Ramilito S. Porio, for their Valuable ideas and positive observations which have helped

them greatly to enrich this undertaking.

To their loving parents for their spiritual and financial support and to the rest of

their communities who have always been there as well as to be our motivation.

To all the respondents, the sari-sari storeowners, during the interview for their

precious time and effort for answer the questions.

Above all, glory and gratitude to our Lord above, our loving God that this analysis

would never have been done without His support and grace.

To all, the researchers are forever indebted!

T.R.
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ABSTRACT

This study aimed to develop a deeper understanding on the lived experiences of sari-

sari storeowners. Purposive sampling was used which included 8 female sari-sari

storeowners in Barangay Tibungco, Davao City, aged 30-35 years old as

participants. This study utilized a qualitative research design through interviews,

specifically, phenomenological, through the use of a validated interview

questionnaire. It was found out that extra income and family influences were the

common factors that the owners led to build up a sari-sari store. In addition, results

showed that customer debts, customers’ behavior and fatigue were the challenges

encountered by the storeowners and it further revealed that storeowners cope up

with challenges by understanding customers, store management and dividing

expenses.

Keywords: sari-sari store, storeowners, phenomenological, Davao City

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE i
APPROVAL SHEET ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii
ABSTRACT iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS v
LIST OF TABLES vii
DEDICATION viii

Chapter Page

1 INTRODUCTION 1

Rationale 1

Purpose of the Study 2

Research Questions 2

Scope and Delimitation 3

Significance of the Study 3

Theoretical Lens 3

Definition of Terms 4

Organization of the Study 5

2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 6

3 METHOD 15

Research Design 15
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Role of the Researchers 15

Research Participants 16

Data Collection 16

Data Analysis 17

Trustworthiness and Credibility 17

Ethical Consideration 20

4 RESULTS 22

Participants In-Depth Interview and

Focused Group Discussion 23

Gathering Information 24

Categorization of Data 25

6 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION 34

Implication for Practice 46

Implication for Further Research 46

Concluding Remarks 47

REFERENCES 49

APPENDICES

A. Interview Guide Questionnaire

B. Informed Consent Form

C. Interview Script

D. Validation Letter

E. Validation Sheet

CURRICULUM VITAE
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LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

1 Participants Information 25

2 Themes and Core Ideas on the Factors that lead the

sari-sari store owners to put up a small
business 28

3 Themes and Core Ideas on the challenges the sari-

sari storeowners encountered 32

4 Themes and Core Ideas on how the sari-sari

storeowners cope up in their business 36
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DEDICATION

With great respect and honor, we dedicate this study sincerely to our family

and friends who gave us inspiration, motivation and encouragement to accomplish

this study.

We also want to devote this work to our dear teachers for their invaluable

efforts, encouragement, relentless help and patience in teaching us essential

knowledge we need in our studies.

We dedicated this noble work to our beloved Alma Mater where we were

molded and prepared to meet the realities of our life, and to face the future.

To God, our Father, who is the source of wisdom, truth, power and life, who is

always on our side to help and direct us through all that we do.

T.R.
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Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Rationale

Before convenience stores and other big stores sprouted all over the country,

one only had to walk a few blocks from home to buy soap and shampoo from the

nearest sari-sari store. These neighborhood variety stores, opening early morning

and closing late at night just to keep their customers or suki happy, had been living

by the word convenience for consumers even before big business used the word to

describe their stores. But these beloved sari-sari stores are facing great challenges.

More convenience stores are opening, redefining what convenience means with an

expanded selection of products and store hours that extend beyond the usual

operating time of sari-sari store owners (Canivel, 2017).

Sari-sari in English term means various or different. In a sari-sari store, they

sell various kinds of food products. These products can be in the form of canned

goods, snacks, cookies, breads, chocolates, candies, and anything that can be eaten

and can be stocked longer and will not suddenly expires. There are lots of sari-sari

store all over the country. But, unlike other big stores, sari-sari store do not have

limitations. It is more convenient for public particularly to poor people. It offers or sells

to its customers retail products on its possible lowest price which others don’t

(Marrow 2010).

Sari-sari stores had spread practically everywhere in the Philippines. The only

places where they are hardly visible are in posh villages and subdivisions occupied
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by the very rich families who purchase their supplies of convenience goods at

supermarkets. Evidently, the sari-sari store is a phenomenon that is here to stay and

it is one, if not the main, source of livelihood for a great number of Filipino families

(Sanchez, 2004).

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to find out the lived experience of sari-sari store

owners and to find out the ways in which entrepreneurs overcome their challenges in

running their small business. Also, this study aims to motivate aspiring entrepreneurs

to strive harder to reach their goals in business. As a result, this research may

convey the different experiences, lessons, and skills developed by the small business

entrepreneurs before they reached the level of success they have right now.

Furthermore, this study can also determine the factors that a successful entrepreneur

considers in striving harder in order to achieve his / her goal in business.

Research Questions

This study aimed to develop a deeper understanding about the lived

experiences of the successful sari-sari store owners in a Barangay located in Davao

City. Specifically, this study sought to answer the following questions:

1. What are the factors that lead people to build up a sari-sari store?

2. What are the challenges encountered by sari-sari store owners?

3. How did the sari-sari store owners cope up with those challenges?
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Scope and Delimitation

This study focused on determining the factors that serves as a reason on how

a sari-sari store owner becomes successful. The participants of the study were eight

(8) sari-sari store owners from Brgy. Tibungco. Thus, the limitation of this study is the

circumstance that is only limited to the sari-sari store owners of the said Barangay.

Moreover, a relatively short amount of time and different schedules of the participants

and researchers delimits the study. Also, the researchers acknowledge the condition

that the owners had less time to do the interview because of some matters since they

are busy of their dealings.

Significance of the Study

The findings of this study are beneficial to the owners of sari-sari stores for they

may also learn from the experiences of sari-sari store owners on how to manage their

small business successfully in the future, which may consider as a motivation to

strive more for the success of their business which, helps to stimulate economic

growth. Moreover, this study is also beneficial to potential entrepreneurs because this

may help them on the factors that they may have to consider when they create or

manage their own business. Hence, this study is also beneficial to the future

researchers because this may help them ponder on making research or having an

idea about this certain topic.

Theoretical Lens

This study is anchored on the Theory of Scientific Management Principles

which states that there are factors that can affect the success of small business. In
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fact, their survival depends essentially on their ability to participate with other large

firms in the market. Growth decreases small business closure opportunities (Rauch &

Rijskik, 2013).

In addition, a study states that marketing is important for small-scale

businesses such as sari-sari stores because low-scale businesses such as these are

generic, which need to be known to patronize and sell people. Such businesses'

success depends on the owners' sales capacity and promotional efforts to keep the

company competitive (Sims, 2013).

Moreover, a study showed significant factors that can affect a small business

and there are the influence of industry, gender, location, and the capital of the owner

to attain the success of the small business (Gashi & Kume, 2009).

Definition of terms

The operational definitions of the important terms are as follows:

Sari-sari store. In this study, it refers to a small-medium size store selling small

quantities of products to locals with everything from daily food necessities to cleaning

supply.

Success. It is defined by setting the goals that his/her wanted to achieve by

creating a strategy on how to achieve his/her own success (Lyle, 2019). In this study,

success is based on how entrepreneur examines himself/herself in terms of running

the business.
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Organization of the study

Chapter 1. It features the problem situation that gives justification of why the

study was conducted. In this chapter, the purpose and the objective are stated and

also the limitation and delimitation of the researcher were clearly stated.

Chapter 2. It contains the review of related literature wherein various related

articles and different supporting viewpoints of the different authors were enumerated

and highlighted on the study.

Chapter 3. It contains the method and procedures using the data collection

and analysis including the researchers and the data collection procedures. The

trustworthiness and ethical considerations were also clearly emphasized. Credibility

and trustworthiness ensures that the researcher has truthfully evaluated the data

collection. An ethical consideration was done by protecting the rights of participants

towards privacy.

Chapter 4. It presents the result and analysis of the data, themes and core

ideas are represented in tables.

Chapter 5. It includes discussion of the researcher’s findings in the themes

that were generated according to the owners who were interviewed and to know the

live experience of successful sari-sari store owners.

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Chapter 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This section includes readings and written works from journals, books,

websites, articles, proposals, theses and dissertations. It starts with the definitions

and themes of the study.

Sari-sari Store

The local sari-sari store is a vital part of a day by day life for the normal

Filipino. Any fundamental household good that may be missing from one’s pantry -

from essential food items like coffee and margarine, to different necessities like

mosquito curls, soap, and matches – is mostly helpfully acquired from the sari-sari

store nearby at affordably-portioned quantities, some of the time even using a credit

card. Aside from the wealthiest communities, the sari-sari store is a steady element

of private neighborhoods in the Philippines (McIntyre, 1955; Bonnin, 2004), and are

regularly worked from a segment of the proprietor’s home (McIntyre 1955; Silverio

1982; Chen 1997; Bonnin, 2004).

Furthermore, what most dumbfounds outsiders in the Philippines is that this is

a country, perhaps the only one in the world, where individuals purchase and sell one

stick of cigarette, a large portion of a head of garlic, a touch of grease, some portion

of the substance of a can or bottle, one single egg, one single banana (Joaquin,

1970). In addition, all sari-sari stores use retail methods either by takal or tingi

referring to the division of products into quantities smaller than its normal accessible

in the commercial center (Malapit, 2007).

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Furthermore, tingi has permitted desperate customers to keep purchasing

things that their budgeted spending plan could afford. Thus, food and culture, without

a doubt, are personally related and commonly constitutive. In addition, it is frequently

showed that one can know a people by what they eat and by their techniques for

nourishment and planning (Aguilar, 2005).

Extra Income

Putting up a business can prompt monetary achievement. Moreover, dissimilar

to an occupation where your income are constrained to what your organization is

eager to pay you or a foreordained pay scale, the cash you win from a business is

regularly dictated, maybe you are content with your present employment yet might

want to enhance your pay. However, on the off chance that you have an uncommon

expertise or a leisure activity you appreciate, you can utilize these to begin a private

venture as an afterthought. In the event that you appreciate composing, for instance,

you can search for outsourcing open doors for the nearby paper or on the web

independently and business shrewd. On the off chance that your underlying

endeavor is fruitful, you can add to your profit through extension (Joseph, 2020).

You cannot deny everything you need, however most by far business people

get into the game at any rate incompletely in view of the possibility to make parcels

and heaps of cash. Furthermore, tales about pioneering masters like Richard

Branson and Mark Zuckerberg make it appear to be workable for any excited resident

with a smart thought to turn into a medium-term tycoon. However, this is not actually

valid, yet any devoted business person with a smart thought and extraordinary
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planning can get much more cash-flow than they ever could in a customary position.

In addition, there is nothing amiss with seeking after cash, however on the off chance

that the appeal of riches is the main thing driving you hazard (Alton, 2015).

Family Influences

Family is the most important factor as a good example. However, there are a

few affecting elements found to impact the basic transitional time among training and

profession improvement, to be specific, sexual orientation, social capital, monetary

scene, profession dynamic, verifiable foundation, attribute character; perspectives

and encounters, parental or family good example what is more, government interest

in training and business start-up (Wilson, 2007)

As indicated by social learning hypothesis (Bandura, 1977) good examples

provide opportunities for people around them to gain from their practices, models,

direction, and that people incline toward good examples they accept help them obtain

new learning of assignments and aptitudes (Gibson, 2004). Moreover, chance to gain

from positive pioneering models improves pioneering movement in others (Fornahl &

Brenner, 2003). In addition, learning by help, expanding innovative self-viability and

motivation or inspiration are likewise recognized as significant saw elements of good

examples (Bosma, 2012).

Customer’s Debt

Customer debt is an individual debt that can come in the form of credit card

debt, home mortgage, student loans, auto loans, and other loans. Often known as

household debts. Analysts warn that this unsustainable level of debts possess a
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significant risk to global economies’ financial health and, more specifically, the

developing treatment of household debt (Chugh & Nandi, 2014). For examples, in

poorer communities, where customers are also more likely to accept credit, the

motivation to credit will be greater (Silverio, 1982). Although, substantial share of

sari-sari store sales are actually made on credit (Chen 1997; Bonnin, 2004). In

addition, areas in Metro Manila shows a high level of informal employment, reports

that most sari-sari store are made on credit, accounting for 23% of store’s sales

(Bonnin, 2004).

Moreover, the very poor communities are the most in need of credit and are

more often cannot borrow even from the sari-sari store. Nevertheless, as already

stated, this approach is only effective if borrowers can afford to pay back loans on a

regular basis and only in communities where there are more personal relationships

between neighbors. Furthermore, stores in low-income communities do not extend

credit to their customers at all because of lack of confidence in borrowers’ payment

capacity, while stores in a similar community extend credit to foster good

neighborhood relationships and thus increase sales (Silverio, 1982).

In addition, selling products on credit is one way for stores to compete for

customers – a patronage – based approach. Moreover, the sari-sari stores and its

loyal customers are like a consumer’s savings club. Thus, the savings household, the

sari-sari stores, advances consumption for other households, which then repay their

advances depending on the level of their income flows (Bonnin, 2004). For instance,

there is no regular credit payment, although the planned pattern is weekly or bi-

monthly payments, corresponding to the debtor’s paydays. However, high prices

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would then include some imputed interest rate for the debt in these arrangements

(Silverio, 1982).

Customer Behavior

Customer behavior was termed by a researcher as a jay customers, this

refers to customers consciously or intentionally disrupt a product or service and even

violently attack employees that can negatively affect in the business (Estelami &

Hooman, 2000). Hence, a researcher said that most of the customers who are

dissatisfied used violence and aggression (Prim & Pras, 1999). Similarly, a study

explains negative behavior of customer happens due to failed service encountered

and dissatisfaction of the products or services (Lovelock, 2001).

In addition, when the customers are dissatisfied they tend to express

theirselves as an aggressive both verbally and emotionally, aggression can be

manifested direct or indirect physical aggression (Randall & Neidermeyer, 1999).

Moreover, researchers found out that the behavior of rude customers can affect the

behavior of other customers, when the owner mistreat the customer the witnesses

customers will no longer feel empathetic towards the owner and no longer feel to

compensate for the rude behavior of fellow customer (Hershcovis & Bhatnagar,

2017). However, business who encountered rude customers claimed that it has a

positive impact of thei business it is to improve the level of understanding and

performance (Kovach, 2002).

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Fatigue

As defined by the literature, Physical fatigue shows up because of

unnecessary muscles overload (Schultz D.P and Schultz, S.E, 2011). There are two

kinds of fatigue: focal and fringe one. The central fatigue alludes to the sentiment of

muscle torment what's more, challenges in the work performed. This kind of

weariness is liable for the lessening in fixation, consideration, inspiration and

psychomotor productivity. The other way around, the fringe exhaustion prompts a

diminishing in muscle quality what's more, muscle constriction because of weariness

(Koradecka, 1999).

Fatigue does not increase gradually during the working day; in any case, it

shows up and vanishes at specific occasions. As indicated by the consequences of

the so far performed investigate, if there should be an occurrence of the first move,

most by far of manual laborers experience the best fatigue toward the beginning of

the move, before the lunch break and toward the day's end. Along these lines,

physical work requires breaks giving recuperation before the workers would be fully

overcome by fatigue (Schultz, D.P and Schultz, S.E, 2011).

Researchers have conducted many studies of fatigue in the past couple

decades to better understand how and why fatigue affects workplace and

transportation safety there are studies that fatigue is a significant contributing variable

to work environment and transportation occurrences, however the genuine causes

furthermore, sorts of exhaustion are once in a while part of episode information, and
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there is a continuous discussion as to which segment bunches are all things

considered hazard for fatigue (Gander, 2011).

A review of the literature found that there was no agreement on the meaning of

working environment fatigue and that it is a multidimensional construct which refers

to the researchers that generated a considerable debate and this debate creates a

dilemma for researchers who want the breadth and comprehensiveness of

multidimensional constructs and the precision and clarity of their dimensions (Harnett

& Kumagai, 2019). To harmonized discussion, researchers has proposed that fatigue

be seen from a few various measurements including the inception of fatigue, the

organic condition of fatigue, and the potential outcomes or on the other hand results

of being exhausted. There are not many instances of upheld fatigue the executive

measures when all is said in done, and points of confinement to clinician work hours

are frequently left to a person's own judgment (Harnett & Kumagai, 2019).

Understanding Customer

Understanding customer is a relationship among the owner and customer,

thus, it is a combination of people and processes that emphasize on how to

understand them (Chen, & Popovich, 2003). Study shows that the ultimate goal of all

business is to satisfy the customers as well as to understand them (Huber, 2001).

Researcher, said that a better understanding to customers are essential in a

business to become successful (Woodruff, 1997)

It is also stated that customer experiences are important to understand the

customers demand and make their buying process easier (Meyer & Schwager,
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2007). In addition good communication is effective to avoid problems and issues

between the owner and customers, as well as to satisfy existing customer and to gain

potential customers (Rice 2010). Hence, owners should classify what are the

perceptions and preferences of customers to help them to achieve their goals

(Woodruff, 1997).

Store Management

Inventory accuracy is an accepted component of operational plans to

guarantee item accessibility on the rack. Stock incorrectness, in this way, is

perceived to be an unmistakable case of poor store execution, or the inability to do

the operational arrangement (DeHoratius and Ton 2009). Changes in both

technology and management theory set the stage for integrated supply chain

management. One purpose behind the adjustment in the management theory is the

force move from producers to retailers. Wal-Mart, for example, has constrained

numerous producers to improve their management of inventories, and even to

manage inventories of their items at Wal-Mart (Forrester, 1961).

It is sometimes said that success is the result of a good plan and well manage.

For retailers, plans are generally figured at corporate headquarter and executed in

their stores. Corporate arranging capacities incorporate picking the variety of items to

convey in each store at each point in time, setting store stock levels and item costs,

setting staffing levels, deciding what number of stores to have and where they are

found and making the physical structure of stores and planograms that determine the

area of all items inside each store (Fisher, 2004).

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Dividing Expenses

Inventory diversion to household consumption seemed to be a universal

practice among sari-sari stores. Furthermore, source that what belongs to the

business and what belongs to the house is often a gray area and that it was common

for household use stocks to be divided (Bonnin, 2004). In addition, there is no

differentiation between the store’s inventory and the household resources of the

family, because family members simply take what they need from the store without

paying or listing it. Hence, these findings suggest that a significant aspect of the sari-

sari store is this fluidity of capital that enables the household to balance the goals of

production and consumption (Silverio, 1982).

Furthermore, income-related transactions cost are also an important

determinant of production. Otherwise, transaction costs include transport costs and

the opportunity cost of travelling from home to the nearest shopping center or market.

Moreover, the sari-sari store’s accessibility provide ease, which becomes more

important as the owner is further away from business areas. This explains why sari-

sari stores cluster in residential communities’ interior parts (Chen, 1997).

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Chapter 3

METHODOLOGY

This chapter discusses the methodology and development of the study as well

as the procedures for data collection and analysis. It also includes the role of the

researchers, participants, trustworthiness and credibility of the study and ethical

consideration.

Research Design

This study employed the qualitative research design. This research takes on

the constructive word view in its attempt to describe the lived experience of the

successful sari-sari storeowners of Barangay Tibungco, Davao City. Hence, this

phenomenology aimed to identify the factors that lead to a successful business

specifically, the sari-sari stores. Moreover, the study used a phenomenological

research method which concentrates on the study of structures on consciousness as

experienced from the first-person point of view. The core structure of an experience

is its intentionality, its attitude towards something, as it is an awareness of some

entity, or about it (Smith, 2003). Thus, this study aimed to develop a deeper

understanding about the lived experiences of the successful sari-sari store owners.

Role of the Researchers

The job of the researcher in qualitative research is to attempt to get to the

considerations and sentiments of study members. This is not a simple assignment,

as it includes getting some information about things that might be extremely close to
 16

home to them. In some cases the encounters being investigated are crisp in the

member's mind, while on different events remembering past encounters might be

troublesome.

Research Participants

The study set qualification for the involved participants which can control the

data and generate uniform ideas. The participants listed in this study were eight (8)

sari-sari store owners located, specifically in Barangay Tibungco, Davao City. They

had been successful in a long run in the field of the entrepreneurship and had the

ability to communicate. There was a given qualification for the participants.

The participants were asked permission to conduct an in-depth interview and

focused group discussion related to the topic the researchers had chosen. Results

were based on the ideas generated from the answers of the selected participants.

The participants agreed with the researchers in order to start the in-depth interview

and focused group discussion as well. The researchers also considered the

delimitations of the participants.

Data Collection

Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data on the issue among

successful sari-sari store owners, which were made up of open-ended questions to

identify successful sari-sari store owners. The interview items were translated and

pilot tested to ensure that the owners of the sari-sari store could easily understand

and respond. The interview was done in a face-to-face manner.

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Data Analysis

A qualitative data analysis method was applied using thematic analysis. Once

the data were labelled the analysis was conducted with the open group discussion.

The responses of the participants were classified into different themes with the

specific thought.

Trustworthiness and Credibility

The researchers guaranteed that the dependability and believability of the

information were considered and it centered on the legitimacy just as its materialness

unwavering quality. The members were educated and had an intentional substance.

There was no security data shared and they were educated regarding the members

and interdependency at the end of the day, this implies the discoveries depended on

the members' reactions and not just conceivably inclination or individual inspiration of

the specialists.

Just as a qualitative study cannot be valid unless it was reliable, a qualitative

study cannot be transferable unless it was reliable and it cannot be credible unless it

is dependable. In this study the participants were carefully selected. The result of the

study were convincing and reliable from the standpoint of the participants.

Triangulation was observed, wherein expanding more than the process to gather

data on the similar subject. A study was undertaken to explore the living experience

for store owners in Tibunco, Davo City. Data were coded and thematically analyzed.

The observations of store management identified the complexities of the decision-

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making process related to the context. The observations were supplemented by the

interviews and focus groups. Each research method exposed one aspect of reality.

Trustworthiness. It had turned out to be an important concept in this study

due to the fact that we were allowed to describe the qualitative terms. The

researchers clarified first the dependability of the participants in the beginning of the

interview and told the witnesses that all that they had admitted would stay

confidential. The researchers continually put into contemplations the reactions of the

participants’ witnesses. The techniques used to determine the accuracy of the

findings is data triangulation (Decrop, 2010). After the researchers themed the

following data gathered, the researchers came back to the participants and asked if

the themes formulated by the researchers was agreeable. Furthermore, the

researchers find another sari-sari store owners who was not belong in the research

participants and been asked if the themes or the responses was also experienced.

Credibility. In qualitative research, the results of the study is persuading

reliable from the standpoint of the participants in the research itself. The researchers

did not highlight the names of the participants and secured the confidentiality of their

identities. The profile of the respondents or the genuine character was not expressed

rather their pseudonym was represented. The credibility is involved in establishing

that the results of the research are believable. This is a classic example of ‘quality not

quantity’. It depends more on the richness of the information gathered, rather than

the amount of data gathered (Licoln & Guba, 2011).

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Transferability. It refers to the degree in which the research can be

transferred to other contexts; this section is defined by readers of the research. The

reader takes note of the particular details of the examination circumstance and

strategies, and looks at them to a comparable circumstance that they are increasingly

acquainted with. If the specifics are comparable, the original research would be

deemed more credible. It is essential that the original researcher supplies a highly

detailed description of their situation and methods (Guba, 2011). As a result, the

prospect of transferability should not be immediately rejected. (Shenton, 2004). In

order for the researchers to triangulate first they locate and specify who participants

were there. The participants of the study were the sari-sari store owners. Each

participants will be asked by the researchers for the last time if the themes were

related by their experience. In the final analysis, the researchers were able to analyze

and validate different types of responses.

Dependability. The researchers guarantees that the exploration

discoveries are steady and could be rehashed. This is estimated by the standard of

which the exploration is led, broke down and introduced. Each procedure in the

examination ought by the researchers to be accounted for in detail to empower an

outside reliable source to rehash the request and accomplish comparable outcomes.

The research steps taken from the start of a research project to the development and

reporting of the findings are described transparently. Research trail records were

maintained throughout the study (Korstjens & Moser, 2018).

Conformability. This is a procedure to build up whether the specialist has

been predisposition during the investigation; this is because of the presumption that
 20

subjective research permits the examination to carry a remarkable point of view to

the investigation. An outer reliable source can pass judgment on whether this is the

situation by examining the information gathered during the first request. To improve

the conformability of the underlying end, and review trail can be finished all through

the investigation to exhibit how every choice was made (Guba, 2005). The

researchers introduced the gathered data to some of reliable authority that has an

ability to provide suggestions and check if there were some errors performed by the

researchers on analyzing the data gathered.

Ethical Consideration

Throughout the understanding of social research, the researchers must

consider fundamental ethical principles (Denscombe, 2007). This study was

conducted in an ethical manner, including fairness with respect to results,

accountability for overall analysis, confidentiality, aspects of the decision of the

participants, voluntary participation, all of which were taken into consideration.

Participants were assured their dignity and their rights must always be respected

when undertaking all information.

Across the writing process of this research topic, the limitations of

trustworthiness, limitation across the data collection and analysis process, the

authors suggest that researchers are only human and bound to make mistakes

nonetheless, these elements of trustworthiness can be missed, and all data analysis

method could be better trustworthiness. Moreover, participants’ identity was hidden

using pseudonyms in order to protect their security and to keep their anonymity.
 21

Hence, the researchers ensured the confidentiality of the participants’ responses in

order to secure the privacy of their data. All participants was given enough time to

think on their insight on the research paper questions.

Thus, the researchers indorsed an Informed Consent Form (ICF) to

participants in order to have a proof that they agreed to be interviewed and give them

an enough of period time to read the ICF. In addition, the works of other authors were

cited in APA referencing classification was observed by the researchers. Hence,

there was no conflict in the course of discussion in the research and any form of

misrepresentation of the data and information, and plagiarism were avoided.

 22

Chapter 4

RESULTS

This chapter shows the collected data that were analyzed by the researchers

with the guidance and consultation of the analyst. The data were gathered from the

in-depth interview and focused group discussion. Furthermore, all were documented

and recorded to ensure the safe-keeping of the details. The respondents’ answers

were carefully transcribed. Tabular format was used to present the summarized

relevant theme that occurred during the in-depth interview. The following questions

were raised:

1. What are the factors that lead people to put up their sari-sari store?

2. What are the challenges that sari-sari store owners encountered?

3. How did the sari-sari store owners cope with those challenges?

The participants were identified using the purposive sampling since the study

focused on specific participants among the sari-sari storeowners from Barangay

Tibungco, Davao City. Informed consent was also given to the participants to indicate

his/her role in the research. They were asked to read and sign the terms and

conditions. It was stated that they were not forced or threatened in any way to

participate in the activity.

This chapter was divided into four parts. The first part is all about the profile of

the respondents from which qualitative data were gathered. The second part includes

methodology of gathering relevant data through in-depth interview. The third part
 23

discusses the categorization of data including data analysis and emergent of themes

based on the collected information from the in-depth interview and the focused group

discussion of the participants. The last part shows the participants’ responses to the

questions during the interview.

Participants

To further provide the reader a better understanding of the participants of the

study, here is a short background of the research environment. The primary

participants of the study are the seven key informants who are sari-sari store owners.

They were identified using the purposive selection among the sari-sari storeowners of

Barangay, Tibungco, Davao City. They were pre-determined through survey based

on the pre-set qualifications set by the researchers. Qualitative analyses typically

required a smaller sample size than quantitative analyses. Each participant was

given specific pseudonyms to hide their identities and to freely express their opinions

and knowledge related to the study as presented in Table 1. All participants

answered the same set of interview questions.

The participants were responsive in answering the interview questions. In the

beginning of the interview, some of the participants manifested nervousness by

stammering and stuttering but still were able to manage and answered with certainty.

On the other hand, there were few participants who felt very comfortable in

answering the interview questions from the start until the end.

In the conduct of the in-depth interview, the researchers asked relevant

information based on the enumerated profile of the participants. These questions

 24

established the participants’ identification although some of them were hidden

through codes or pseudonyms for the name of their stores and age. Before the

interview, the researchers humbly introduced themselves to the informants and had

an outline of the study and let the informants read the informed consent form. The

researchers then asked the participants some questions and later answered it.

Gathering information

The interview was composed of eight (8) participants for in-depth interview

and focused-group discussion. The participants were sari-sari store owners who

encountered different experiences on managing their small business. In the in-depth

interview, it was agreed by both the participants and researchers that the study will

be conducted on the place where their sari-sari store was located.

 25

Table 1

Participant’s Information

Name Age Length of business Study Group

(in years)

Miya 30 2 In-depth interview

Layla 34 3 In-depth interview

Nana 32 2 In-depth interview

Esmeralda 36 2 In-depth interview

Eudora 32 3 In-depth interview

Odette 35 1 Focused-grouped

discussion

Pharsa 33 1 Focused-grouped

discussion

Lesley 30 3 Focused-grouped

discussion

Categorization of Data

The recorded answers of the interviewees were then transcribed, translated

and analyzed. It was done in three steps during data analysis. These were done in
 26

order to determine the core and significant themes which were extracted and

formulated through the gathered responses.

In data reduction, responses were transcribed, translated and analyzed. It was

utilized to convert data into significant and logical materials, which may be easily

understood by many. On the other hand, in data display, findings were presented in

tables. The length and large volume of data collected come to be consolidated and

manageable, easier to control and understood.

More importantly, drawing of conclusions and verification was done for

qualitative analysis. The data were reviewed repetitively and verified several times to

ensure the quality and validity of the data gathered. Triangulation of data was done to

come up with the saturated ones that are relevant for the study. It was concluded

then as a result of analysis and translation to sum up the responses being collected.

The data conversed through the emergence of conceptual categories and descriptive

themes.

Paradigms and research lens were presented to guide the researchers in the

procedure of the study and conceptualizing as the bases of their descriptive themes.

Establishing credibility and trustworthiness was done through triangulation and

verifications extracting saturating responses and ideas. Triangulation allowed

confidence in concluding the study.

Furthermore, the study was ensured through the guidance and assistance of

the researcher adviser by keeping records and notes about the procedure. As with

respect to its conformability and dependability, this was employed to examine how
 27

verification was done, whether alternative plans were considered in verifying

interpretations and assumptions.

Research Question No. 1: What are the factors that lead people to put up a sari-

sari store?

The statement of participants in this qualitative research refers to their ideas

about the factors that led them to put up a sari-sari store. Based on the participants’

responses, the data analyst arrived with two (2) most common themes. The four

themes are as follows extra income, personal savings, family and self-interest. The

descriptions of the themes were gathered from the in-depth interview and focus

group discussion conducted by the researchers.

 28

Table 2

Essential themes and Core ideas of the factors that lead people to put up a

sari-sari store.

Essential Themes Core Ideas

• “I need to earn extra income to

supply our daily needs and
expenses.”
• “The sari-sari store is for extra
income and additional budget to
Extra Income
meet the daily needs.”
• “My first capital expenditure was
from my husband’s salary and
personal savings. Additional to the
revolving fund was the profit
gained from selling charcoal.”
• “My children encouraged me to
put up this sari-sari store.”
Family Influence
• “My husband and I decided to put
up a store.”
• “My father influenced me.”

Extra Income

The need for additional source of income is rampant nowadays in every

household here in the Philippines especially in Davao City. The high cost of daily

necessities for food, transportation allowance and the like are some of the many

triggering factors that every Davaoeño experience. That is why it is an undeniable

reality that people really need extra source of income because of these shortages.

Here are some common responses from the participants.

 29

Miya said:

"Una na kahuna-huna mi sa akong bana na magtukod ug tindahan kay syempre wala

pud koy trabaho diri ug tapos sa panahon karon kailangan sa asawa na nay kita para

pud makadugang sa gastos sa balay"

“First of all, my husband and I decided to put up a sari-sari store of course because I

am unemployed and nowadays housewives needed to earn profit in order to add the

finances needed for the daily expenses.”

Eudora stated:

"Extra income ug kanang sariling gamit sa pang adlaw-adlaw diri nalang magkuha"

“To earn extra income and also, get things from the sari-sari store for our daily

consumption.”

Esmeralda testified:

"Para naa koy income"

"For me to have my own income"

Layla stated:

"Nag-ipon hantod na katigum kog gamay na puhunan hantud sa lumagong lumago"

“We saved up a small sum of money for the capital until it flourished and earned large

amount of profit.”
 30

Nana testified:

"Ang kapital kay gikan sakong bana"

“The capital came from my partner’s salary.”

Family Influence

Filipinos are known for being family oriented and in most cases the family is

one of the primary motivating factors for everyone especially in making decisions and

aspirations for greener pastures. We cannot deny the fact that most actuations are

basically driven by Filipinos’ deep love for their loved ones. To amend the present

economic status of the family, one is even more than willing to sacrifice even to the

point of facing inconvenience, disruptions and worse danger. Here are some

common responses from the participants.

Lesley said:

"Ang akong mga anak ang naka impluwensya para nako sila mabuhi”

“My children are the ones who influenced me in order for me to let them survive.”

Odette stated:

"Katung nagsabot mi magti-ayon"

“When my husband and I decided.”

 31

Pharsa testified:

"Ang akong papa ang nag-impluwensya nako"

“My father influenced me”

Research Question No. 2: What are the challenges that sari-sari store owners

encountered?

Participants’ responses in this qualitative study refer to their ideas about the

challenges they encountered in running the sari-sari store. Based on their responses,

the data analyst arrived at four (4) most common themes. Customer’s debt,

customer’s attitude, tiring and budgeting are the generated themes in this section.

The descriptions these themes were gathered from the in-depth interview and focus

group discussion conducted by the researchers.

 32

Table 3

Essential themes and Core ideas of the challenges encountered by the sari-sari

store owners.

Essential Themes Core Ideas

• “In this community, it is inevitable

to incur debts.”
• “There are some customers who
incur small amount of debts.”
Customer’s Debt
• “Customers’ debt is a concern but
I limit it to a thousand only and if it
exceed to the limited agreed
amount then I will not allow them
again.”
• “There are some customers treat
us unkindly.”
Customer’s Attitude • “When they suddenly yells.”
• “Customers who incur a lot of
debts become irate when asked to
pay for the debts.”
• “It’s very tiring especially when our
Fatigue suppliers ran out of stocks, we
also ran out.”
• “It is definitely tiresome.”

Customers Debt

By definition, debt is an obligation that requires one party, the debtor, to pay

money or other agreed-upon value to another party, the creditor. Debt is an amount

of money borrowed by one party from another. Debt is used by many corporations

and individuals as a method of making large purchases that they could not afford

under normal circumstances. A debt arrangement gives the borrowing party

permission to borrow money under the condition that it is to be paid back at a later

date, usually with interest, Chen, James 2019. Debt if managed well may result better
 33

business deals but if it is mismanaged, it may lead to bankruptcy eventually. In small

scale entrepreneurs like that of the sari-sari store owners who started up with

minimum capital, debt is a concerning reality because revolving funds is greatly

affected. Here are some common responses from the participants.

Eudora stated:

“Ang mga customer mu-utang jud pero gina limitahan jud hantud Php 1,000 pero ug

malapas na sa limitaasyon then di na nako sila pausbon.”

“Customers’ debt is a concern but I limit it to a thousand only and if it exceed to the

limited agreed amount then I will not allow them again.”

Odette said:

“Sa ingun ani nga lugar di jud maiwasan na nay mangutang”

“In this community, it is inevitable to incur debts.”

Pharsa said:

“Naa may mangutang pero ginagmay”

“There are some customers who incur small amount of debts.”

Customer's Attitude

Customer care policy is one of the most successful strategies to be applied to

make customers do repeat orders or purchases. There is a great need for sari-sari

store owners to keep themselves updated on the proper way of handling customers.

Poor customer handling may affect the operation of the business as a whole aside
 34

from the good image and reputation that the store owners uphold. Common

experiences of the participants are as follows.

Layla said:

“Naa juy usahay na mag minaldita lang ug kalit, usahay sad labaw nag di pa

utangon”

“There are some situations that the customers treat us unkindly, especially when their

request for credit purchase is not granted.”

Lesley stated:

"Kanang kalit rag maningka usahay"

“When they suddenly yells.”

Miya stated:

"Kana lang jud mag sige ug pangutang unya masuko panilngon"

“Customers who incur a lot of debts become irate when asked to pay for the debts.”

Fatigue

Hard selling is part of the nature of this business. One seller cannot deny that

it is very tedious to sell and earn. There is a tear and wear scenario that one must

face and perseverance is one great factor in order to succeed. Here are some

common responses from the participants.

 35

Eudora stated:

"Kapoy labaw na pag ang planta mahutdan ug stocks mahutdan sad mi, unya

kailangan pa namo mangita ug laing kapalitan"

“It’s very tiring especially when our suppliers ran out of stocks, we also ran out.”

Nana stated:

"Kapoy jud uy"

“It is definitely tiresome.”

Research Question No. 3: How did the sari-sari store owners cope up with

those challenges?

The statement of participants in this qualitative research refers to their ideas

about the coping mechanism in facing different challenges. Based on the

participants’ responses, the data analyst arrived with three (3) most common themes.

The themes that were generated were the understanding customers, store

management and dividing expenses. The descriptions of the themes were gathered

from the in-depth interview and focus group discussion conducted by the

researchers.
 36

Table 4.

Essential themes and Core ideas of coping mechanism of sari-sari store

owners in facing challenges.

Essential Themes Core Ideas

• “I just have to extend my patience

and understand them.”
Understanding Customers • “Just extend my patience.”
• “I just let them come and if they
buy something, I accommodate
their purchases.”
• “Just always guard the store.”
• “Just always watch the store in
Store Management order to continue the business and
expand more.”
• “We just need to look for the store,
that’s all.”
• “We both had a deal about our
store so we should just budget.”
• “My husband and I have divided
Dividing expenses the expenses.”
• “The most important expenditures
should be priorities.”

Understanding Customers

One of the strategies that will make your business grow is to understand

customers. Although they may also cause headaches but they are part of the

business cycle being the seller because it is an undeniable fact that without them the

store would not have its income. Here are some common responses from the

informants
 37

Eudora said:

“Patas on lang jud ang pasensya ug sabton”

“I just have to extend my patience for them.”

Odette stated:

“Pahabaan ng pasensya”

“Extend my patience.”

Nana stated:

“Wala man pasagdan lang nako sila mamalit diri ug papalitun sila sailang gusto”

“I just let them come and if they buy something, I accommodate their purchases.”

Store Management
While management per se is a set of principles relating to the functions of

planning, organizing, directing and controlling, and the application of these principles

in harnessing physical, financial, human and informational resources efficiently and

effectively to achieve organizational goals, store management is concerned with

ensuring that all the activities involved in storekeeping and stock control.

Proper management of store systems provides flexibility to absorb the shock

variation in demand, and enable purchasing to plan ahead.

The liquidity of the business funds relies on the trust and honesty of the store

keeper or manager. In that way one can maintain the profitability of the business.

Here are some common responses from the informants.

 38

Miya stated:

“Bantayan lang dapat ang tindahan”

“Just always guard the store”

Nana stated:

“Depende basta bantayan lang jud ang tindahan para mapadayon human mulago”

“It depends, just always watch the store in order to continue the business and expand

more.”

Esmeralda stated:

“Bantayan lang jud namo mao lang”

“We just need to look for the store, that’s all.”

Dividing Expenses

An allocation is an amount of something, especially money that is given to a

particular person or used for a particular purpose. One of the most effective ways to

manage income is to separate household expenditures from store expenses. This

way one will not be able to manage which income is for which and for what. Envelope

system is also a good approach in managing incomes because it is easier to access

and update. Here are some common responses from the informants.

Odette stated:

“Naa mi sabot para samong tindahan kaya mag budget lang jud mi”
 39

“We both had a deal about our store so we should just budget.”

Lesley stated:

“Tunga mi sakong bana sa gasto”

“My husband and I have divided the expenses.”

Pharsa stated:

“Ang pinaka importanteng gastusan dapat gastusan”

“The most important expenditures should be priorities.”

 40

Chapter 5

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

This chapter provides debate, conclusion, and implications for future research

based on the data provided in this paper in which important themes and analyzes

were taken from the research question.

The goal of this phenomenological study was to develop a deeper

understanding on the lived experience by sari-sari store owners which led to

business’ success. This study also aimed to determine the coping mechanism of the

owners after having experienced failure.

The informants or participants of this study were business owners from

different parts of Barangay Ilang and Tibungco, Davao City. The participants went

through an in depth interview wherein they shared the challenges they encountered

in running their business. During the interview, the researchers felt awkward in asking

questions at first knowing that they were talking to the small business owners. But as

time went by, we were able to build a connection with the informants that made us

feel comfortable in carrying out our study.

Factors that lead the sari-sari store owners to put up a small business.

The findings were classified into major themes which generated ideas on the

phenomenon. Their ideas concretized the factors that lead the sari-sari store owners

to put up a small business. The first theme revealed was Extra Income. It was found

out that most store owners associated their factors with additional income that will let

them sustain their daily needs. In fact, it was one of the main reason why other small
 41

business owners initiate to put up a business because of the income that they will

easily gain from it every day.

This is parallel to the statement of Dave Ramsey that the worst thing you can

do is get a second job. And the best thing you can do is to start a home based

business. In which, it simplifies the idea of being a businessman is better than a

worker itself. In addition, philosophy also stated that every job from the heart is,

ultimately, of equal value. The nurse injects the syringe; the writer slides the pen; the

farmer plows the dirt; the comedian draws the laughter. Monetary income is the

perfect deceiver of a man's true worth.

The second theme was revealed was Family Influence. Wherein it is one of

the common statements given by the participants that made the business owners

realize to put up a business. Most of them are considering the stability if their living to

start a small business that’s why they initiated to start a small business because of

their family as well.

In addition, Bricklin (2001) tells about some of the inevitable challenges and

failures that come with entrepreneurship and tells of how essential it was that he felt

his family’s support. When you’re an entrepreneur, you need a family who will

support you that way, a family who will separate your success in business from your

worth as a person. It was just a matter of fact that family is one of the reason why we

need to think for another source of income to at least change the stability of our living

in the future.
 42

The challenges that sari-sari store owners encountered. The findings were

classified into major themes which generated ideas on the phenomenon. Their ideas

concretized the challenges experienced by the sari-sari store owners in running their

business. There were three essential themes that appeared in the study.

The first theme revealed was Customer’s Debts. It was found out that most

store owners associated their failures with customers who did not pay their debts. In

fact, it was one of the reason why other small business failed. Probably the most

important aspect of limitation period is that your debt does not magically disappear

once the limitation period expires. You still owe your creditor the money, the debt is

still exists and you are still the debtor.

This is parallel to the statement of Caitlin (2018) that if you currently have any

type of debt, are having trouble keeping up with your payments, or are simply looking

to be as informed as possible about your rights and responsibilities as a borrower,

then you need to what the limitation periods for debt collection area.

The second theme revealed was Customer's Attitude. It was observed that

most of the sari-sari storeowners has difficulty of the customers attitude as well even

though they already let the customers to have credits in their store they are still

confident to approach the owners in a wrong manner.

In related to this, Perner stated that consumers also hold certain feelings

toward brands or other objects. Sometimes these feelings are based on the beliefs

(e.g., a person feels nauseated when thinking about a hamburger because of the

tremendous amount of fat it contains), but there may also be feelings which are
 43

relatively independent of beliefs. It is just a proof that the customers behavior will

depend on the services or product that are being provided, but on the other hand

customers should also consider the fact that sellers are needed to be respected as

well.

The third theme revealed was Fatigue. One of the greatest challenges for

most business owners is to get away from the business for rest, refreshment,

and strategic planning. That’s why most of the sari-sari storeowners come-up with the

same challenges in running their business.

In line with this, Smith (2018) stated that in reality, most business owners do

all three. However, the goal must be to do more leadership work and less technical

work. It is possible, but most of us need someone to help us, to coach us, so that we

can gain a clearer vision and focus for the future, and so that we can build and

implement strategic systems. Business ownership should be about fun and fortune. It

should not only enable you to create wealth, but most importantly, it should give you

the life of your dreams.

How did the sari-sari store owners cope up with those challenges they

encountered. The facts and result gathered were categorized into three (3) major

themes encompassing the actions and implications entrepreneurs did to overcome

struggles they encountered. These ideas concretized on their coping mechanisms in

their unfavorable experiences in managing a business.

The first theme revealed was Understanding Customers. It was found out

that most storeowners associated with this coping mechanism because of the
 44

difficulty in adjusting their customers’ behavior and customers’ debt. Sellers cannot

avoid the fact that they really need to lower their temper for them to sell their products

since the customers has a big role to them to gain extra income.

This is parallel to the statement of Bizdonut (2020) that understanding

customers is the key to giving them good service. To give good customer care you

must deliver what you promise. But great customer care involves getting to know

your customers so well that you can anticipate their needs and exceed their

expectations. To understand your customers well, you need to be attentive to them

whenever you are in contact with them. The potential rewards are great: you can

increase customer loyalty and bring in new business through positive word-of-mouth

recommendation.

The second theme revealed was Store Management. It was identified that

most of the sari-sari store owners are associated with the same strategy to maintain

their business’ stability. Since they all noticed that they might lack of managing their

store that led them sometimes to have a low income.

In addition, Satyendra (2015) stated that store is an important component of

material management since it is a place that keeps the materials in a way by which

the materials are well accounted for, are maintained safe, and are available at the

time of requirement. Storage is an essential and most vital part of the economic cycle

and store management is a specialized function, which can contribute significantly to

the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the materials function. Literally store refers

to the place where materials are kept under custody. On the other hand, Nicasio
 45

(2019) says that Retail store managers have a ton of responsibility — and it’s

because you play a valuable role in the business’s overall success. You also wear a

lot of hats. There’s sales associate, customer service representative, manager,

mentor, boss, disciplinarian, website editor, social media manager … you get the

picture.

And as many businesses begin to explore multi-channel selling, the number of

hats only continues to grow. Let’s see how you can arm yourself with the appropriate

skills, staff and technology to help you run a tight ship operationally.

. The third theme revealed was Dividing Expenses. It was identified that most

sari-sari store owners come up with the same strategic plan to maintain their income.

It is important for them to always monitor the income that are going in and out

because at the first place it was their main reason why they put up a small business.

In line with this, Hillyer (2017) stated that an important factor to consider when

you decide how to handle your living expenses is that situations change. One of you

may have a salary decrease or lose a job altogether. One of you may gain an extra

bill outside the current expenses – like a sizable medical bill. Have a plan in place for

how you’ll handle these situations if they arise.

Financial discussions can be stressful, but they’re always necessary. Money

can really strain a relationship, especially if someone feels they’re being taken

advantage of. Make sure all your proverbial cards are on the table, and be open and

honest with the other person, whether they’re your roommate or partner. Don’t

jeopardize a relationship over a squabble about the utility bill.

 46

Implication for Practice

Running a small business is a tough journey for owners before they become

successful in the business industry. Moreover, experiences of business owners are

important to develop their abilities through their experiences on how to manage the

business. In addition, small businesses must possess good leadership because this

is the key to success as a business owner.

The result of this qualitative phenomenology on the experiences of owners in

their sari-sari store imply that to handle the customers behavior is to adapt the

attitude of being optimism, this is important in coping with customers behavior to

achieve not only positive outcomes but to also reduce the stress in times of difficulty

and failures. Moreover, entrepreneurs should also consider customers satisfaction at

any circumstances this may involve giving them a good service, consider their needs

and exceed their expectations that can bring out sustainability.

Furthermore, entrepreneur must attain being flexible, this may provide

competitive edge and to overcome the possible challenges that may come to improve

the business growth and sustainability of business. Thus, in the field of business

industry, good business experiences comes from the skills and knowledge that can

improve the performance and growth of the business (Alimo, 2015).

Implication for Further Research

Since this study was limited to eight (8) sari-sari storeowners in Barangay

Tibunco, Davao City, the following implications for future research are forwarded
 47

Further research must be conducted to further investigate on the sari-sari

storeowners’ challenges in running the business; and further research may be done

to interview the participants in the study to know whether their challenges they

encountered and coping mechanisms have changed over a period of time. In as

much as this study was particularly conducted in Barangay Ilang, future research

could be done to investigate the same phenomenon among sari-sari store owners’ in

other barangays who experienced failure in running sari-sari store.

Moreover, the results of the individual interviews and analysis of the data will

provide avenues for other students who will be researching on related studies. This

research could be used for more studies regarding small businesses.

Concluding Remarks

Business is hard to build and manage, but it depends on how do owners

manage and continue the business without any hesitation. The same as the

participants which are a sari-sari store owners from Barangay Tibungco. Based on

their given stories and experiences they give hard work and dedication to manage

this kind of small business. Moreover, the participants also experienced some

challenges but still they made some coping mechanism to endure those different

problems. Indeed, they also had the courage to continue their business even though

they started from a small capital.

The researchers achieved the objectives of this study. Furthermore, the

researchers also learned some things from the stories and experiences they had

heard from the participants. Moreover, as an Accountancy, Business and

 48

Management (ABM) students, this study as well as the experiences of the sari-sari

storeowners may help us on the future plans, especially on building up a small

business.
 49

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APPENDICES
 Appendix A

The Lived Experiences of Sari-sari Store Owners

Interview Guide

Pseudonym: ______________________________ Year level: _______

Age: ___________ Number of Years in the Business: ________

Research Question 1.What are the factors that leads people to build up a sari-
sari store?

1.1 What motivates you to start a sari-sari store?

1.2 Who influences you to start a sari-sari store?

1.3 How did you provide your capital for your business?

1.4 What are the other reasons that made you start a sari-sari store?

Research Question 2. What are the challenges encountered by the sari-sari

store owners?

2.1 What are those problems you faced being a sari-sari store owner?

2.2 What are the challenges you faced while budgeting your personal needs
and your sari-sari store?

2.3 What are the problems you faced during buying stocks?

2.4 What are the problems you faced in terms of customers?

2.5 What are the other challenges you had in managing your store?

Research Question 3. How did the sari-sari store owners cope up with those
challenges?
 3.1 How did you budget your personal financial needs and the needs of your
sari-sari store?

3.2 How did you cope up the unexpected problems of your sari-sari store?

3.3 How did you maintain the profitability of your sari-sari store?

3.4 How did you manage your time as well as the schedule of buying your
stocks?

3.5 How did you handle the problems specifically on your customers?

3.6 How did you cope up with the other challenges in running your business?
 Appendix B

UM Ilang High School

Ilang, Davao City

Informed Consent Form (ICF)

Informed Consent Form for Lived Experiences of Sari-sari Store owners: A Phenomenological
Study
Name of the Researcher(s): Danna P. Punzalan, Angel Nicole Estanilla, Rheia B. Udarve and
Khyle Debreil Q. Grande

INTRODUCTION

You are invited to participate in a research study conducted by the researchers, because you fit the
inclusion criteria for informants of our study.

Your participation is completely voluntary. Please read the information below, and ask questions about
anything you do not understand, before deciding whether to participate. Please take as much time as
you need to read the consent form. You may also decide to discuss participation with your family or
friends.

If you decide to participate, you will be asked to sign this form. You will be given a copy of this form.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

This study aims to determine the experiences challenges and coping mechanism of sari-sari store
owners.

STUDY PROCEDURES
If you volunteer to participate in this study, you will be asked to answer the questions in the interview
less than 30 minutes.

POTENTIAL RISKS AND DISCOMFORTS

You may feel discomfort during the course of the interview because of the sensitive nature of the topic
being studied. You may opt not to answer questions which make you feel any psychological or
emotional distress or you can withdraw as a participant of the study if you feel that you cannot discuss
the information that is asked of you. The researchers value your participation and will place your
welfare as her highest priority during the course of the study.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS TO PARTICIPANTS AND/OR TO SOCIETY

This study can generate relevant information which can be useful to public and private administrators,
human resource managers, and policy-makers. The results, discussions, and findings from this study
can spark evidence-based information which can be used by the entrepreneurs, students, working
students and future researchers.

CONFIDENTIALITY
We will keep your records for this study confidential as far as permitted by law. Any identifiable
information obtained in connection with this study will remain confidential, except if necessary to
protect your rights or welfare. This certificate means that the researchers can resist the release of
information about your participation to people who are not connected with the study. When the results
of the research are published or discussed in conferences, no identifiable information will be used.
 PARTICIPATION AND WITHDRAWAL
Your participation is voluntary. Your refusal to participate will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to
which you are otherwise entitled. You may withdraw your consent at any time and discontinue
participation without penalty. You are not waiving any legal claims, rights or remedies because of your
participation in this research study.

INVESTIGATOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have any questions or concerns about the research, please feel free to contact the researchers
at mobile phone number 09169472747 or through email at [email protected]; or if you need
to see them, they can be located at UM Ilang High School, Ilang, Davao City.

RIGHTS OF RESEARCH PARTICIPANT

If you have questions, concerns, or complaints about your right as a research participant or the
research in general and are unable to contact the research team, or if you want to talk to someone
independent of the research team, please contact their Research teacher at 0916-585-4872.

RESEARCH PARTICIPANT’S CONSENT

I have read the information provided above. I have been given a chance to ask questions.
My questions have been answered to my satisfaction, and I agree to participate in this
study. I have been given a copy of this form. I can withdraw my consent at any time and
discontinue participation without penalty.

______________________________________ _____________________
Signature above Printed Name of Participant Date Signed

To be accomplished by the Researcher Obtaining Consent:

I have explained the research to the participant and answered all of his/her questions. I
believe that he/she understands the information described in this document and freely
consents to participate.

Rheia B. Udarve______________ ______________________

Name of Researcher Obtaining Consent Date Signed
 Appendix C

INTERVIEW SCRIPT

Researcher: Good day Ms./Mr. Thank you for allowing this interview to happen and
considering yourself as one of our informants. Are you comfortable to be
interviewed by us or you have a specific amount of interviewer? My name is
Ms. Rheia Udarve and my members are Ms. Punzalan, Mr. Grande and Ms.
Estanilla. We are grade 12 students from University of Mindanao Ilang High
School we were valid to ask you questions based on our validation letter.
Before we start I would like to give you a short background regarding to our
research entitled “The Lived Experience of Sari-sari store owners”. It is a
qualitative study in which the main participants are the owners of a sari-sari
store. Do you have any clarification?

Interviewee:

Researcher: Ms/Mr you will be given pseudonym to keep our anonymity. You are free to
ask any questions and share your thoughts and we will assure you that the
information you share with us will be kept confidential.

Interviewee:

Researcher: Are you ready or comfortable enough? Please don’t hesitate to tell me if
you’re confused with my line of questioning or if you don’t understand the
questions I’d be very willing to rephrase it for you.

Interviewee:

Researcher: Shall we start? Can you state your personal information, your name, age,
course, university and educational attainment?

Interviewee:

Researcher: What are the factors that leads people to build up a sari-sari store?

Interviewee:

Researcher: What are the challenges encountered by the sari-sari store owners?

Interviewee:

Researcher: How did the sari-sari store owners cope up with those challenges?

Interviewee:

Researcher: So, I guess that is the end of our interview session Ms/Mr.

Thank you so much for giving us your time

Appendix D
Appendix E
 CURRICULUM VITAE

Name : Angel Nicole Estanilla

Age : 18 years old

Birthdate : May 24, 2001

Birthplace : Kidapawan City

Address : Prk.13 GK Village Mahayag Bunawan Davao City

Civil Status : Single

Email : [email protected]

Mobile number : 09076658145

Primary Education : Mahayag Elementary School

Secondary Education : University of Mindanao Ilang High School

 CURRICULUM VITAE

Name : Khyle Debreil Q. Grande

Age : 18 years old

Birthdate : November 18, 2001

Birthplace : Davao City

Address : Purok-6, Blk 1, Muslim Village, Ilang Davao City

Civil Status : Single

Email : [email protected]

Mobile number : 09465193447

Primary Education : New Ilang Achievers Academy

Secondary Education : University of Mindanao Ilang High School

 CURRICULUM VITAE

Name : Danna P. Punzalan

Age : 18 years old

Birthdate : September 10, 2001

Birthplace : Davao City

Address : Kasilak, Mahayag, Bunawan, Davao City

Civil Status : Single

Email : [email protected]

Mobile number : 09216592360

Primary Education : San Pedro Central School

Secondary Education : University of Mindanao Ilang High School

 CURRICULUM VITAE

Name : Rheia B. Udarve

Age : 18 years old

Birthdate : August 05, 2001

Birthplace : Davao City

Address : Narra St., Kabacan, Ecoland, Davao City

Civil Status : Single

Email : [email protected]

Mobile number : 09169472747

Primary Education : S.I.R Elementary School

Secondary Education : University of Mindanao Ilang High School