My Mom's Sari-sari store

My mother is a proud owner of a big sari-sari store for fifteen years. It is so big it is better than a convenience store. In fact, it is so big it’s probably illegal (just kidding). The sari-sari store sells everything from untested Chinese herbal store over-the-counter cosmetics, to rusty liquefied petroleum gas storage tanks, to frozen produce. In addition to that it also has an internet shop that no convenience store has and is open for most of the day (it closes only from 3-5 am).
Literally, it has everything for everyone. However, the single most important reason why the sari-sari story grew this big- the secret ingredient- is free delivery. Yes, the sari-sari store boasts of round the clock free delivery to every household within 500 meters or so from our house. It accepts orders through the landline, through the cellphone and through the internet (via y!m).
My mother’s sari-sari store started small but with the help of improved Information and Communication technology it grew phenomenally big. Now, the sari-sari store occupies the whole front part of our house and employs five people (2 delivery boys, 2 storekeepers, and 1 in charge of the internet shop). The benefit ICT offers to small and medium-sized enterprises is invaluable. It fosters innovation and efficiency, and provides employment to a good number of people, while at the same time broadens the market reach of the store. If the sari-sari stores all over the country will employ the same idea, the problem of unemployment will greatly be eased and sari-sari store success will be greatly increased.
My mother’s sari-sari store story is a concrete example of how improved communications can work for the interest of small businesses. And provide employment. Indeed the only hindrance my mom experiences is the fact that her knowledge of the internet is very limited