A bigger Sari-Sari Store and Livelihood Fair will be staged next year following the success of the first event of its kind last month, according to Dagupan City Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez.

Fernandez, president of the retail giant CSI Group of Companies which sponsored the three-day fair from September 28-30, said based on the success of the first event, many have clamored for the holding of this crowd-drawing activity next year.

Sari-sari store owners and entrepreneurs from different parts of the Ilocos region as well as exhibitors from Manila who participated in the fair were unanimous in their observation that it served them well.

There were suggestions to make the fair a permanent economic activity in Dagupan, similar to the stature gained by the Bangus Festival and the Pista’y Dayat.

The activity was supported by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Dagupan City government as part of their efforts to promote and enhance livelihood and entrepreneurship in the countryside.

“Nestle Philippines and the other suppliers were overwhelmed by the big number of audience who received them and joined in the series of entrepreneurship and management seminars they had conducted,” Fernandez said.

She noted that the lecture series attended by sari-sari store owners were appreciated by the participants given the results shown by the subsequent improved merchandising by the participants that resulted in improved sales.

The participants were taught basic management procedures, purchasing trends, customer service and bookkeeping.  They were also treated to several cooking demonstrations.

The three-day fair also featured performances from entertainment TV personalities.

The fair coincided with the launching of the City Supermarket Inc. value cards that entitle all sari-sari store owners discounts in all CSI outlets in Pangasinan, Baguio, La Union and Ilocos Sur.—LM