Cebu’s top summer sellers: Making profit during the hot days Carlo S. Lorenciana

CEBU, Philippines - While most people take advantage of the nice weather in the summer months by going to different places with their family and friends, the season is also the busiest and profitable period for some small and big bussinesses when it comes to sales of summer products.

Because of the warm temperature during summer, craving for thirst quenching and watery fruits can be one of the options for many people to partially ease the heat in their body.

This has led to a strong demand for tropical and seasonal fruits in restaurants and even with small-scale fruit retailers.

Fruit stall owners in the Carbon Market said the sale of summer fruits such as watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, pomelo, and singkamas among others has progressively increased at the early onset of the summer season.

“Gawas sa Christmas, kusog sab ang halin sa mga prutas namo basta summer kay kasagaran sa mga tawo gusto magpabugnaw,” (Aside from the Christmas season, sales for fruits usually pick up during summer as people want to refresh themselves), said 39-year-old Aida Yburan, a fruit wholesaler for 20 years now. She owns a stall at the market’s unit 3 building.

Vendors said watermelon is the most saleable fruit during these hot scorching days, which they are happy about as the surge of demand for the fruit is helping them get a good income everyday.

Watermelon or locally known as “Pakwan” is known to be a favorite summer fruit for many people because of its mouthwatering red and crisp meat which is a very good defense against dehydration.

As a wholesaler, Yburan sells more than 200 kilos of watermelon a day higher compared to during off-season. A kilo of watermelon is sold at P15, but Yburan said, this may possibly go down in times when the supply of the fruit is really abundant.

A more expensive variety of watermelon called “Sweet Gold,” which is oblong in size and has a yellow flesh, sells at P35 per kilo.

Aside from watermelon, vendors said, many other summer fruits have also been selling quite well: melon is sold at P40 per kilo; singkamas sells at P15 a kilo; mango is at P50 - P70 per kilo; durian is sold at P80 per kilo; and guyabano can be bought at P50 a kilo.

Yburan shared she always makes sure of sourcing top-quality produce because experience would tell that her customers are more wary on the appearance rather than the price.

“Kung wholesaler ka kinahanglan gyod nindot imong mga prutas kay dali ra mahalin, mao may gusto sa mga tawo,” (If you are a wholesaler, you have make sure that your fruits look good and fresh) Yburan said.

On the other hand, most small fruit retailers also buy their products at the market’s unit 3 building where most of the cheapest and good quality fruits are sold.

Most roadside vendors also opt to sell cheap watermelon slices, tempting passersby to buy to put out their thirst amid the hot weather.

“Mas pilion sa mga tawo ang tag-P10 kay gawas nga barato dali maka-satisfy sa ilang kauhaw,” 59-year-old fruit retailer Nita Fernandez told The Freeman.

She also said a one whole watermelon could make a maximum of 30 slices and sells each at P10, expecting her income to rise this summer given the foot traffic in her place.

These roadside stalls are usually seen outside the churches, shopping malls, hospitals, schools and supermarkets.

The Freeman has compiled the top businesses during the summer season:

1. Tropical fruits. The relative warm temperature being experienced has pushed the demand for tropical fruits in recent weeks, according to coconut vendors in Carbon Market, adding it will continue to rise through May. Coconuts are available all year round in the market, however vendors said, people buy more during hot season than on normal days because of the fruit’s thirst satisfying benefits.

2. Beach resorts/swimming pools. Resorts and swimming pools are always the chosen destinations among friends, families, officemates and even neighbors to relax and escape the summer season’s unbearable heat.

Before the start of the expected surge of people, resort owners generally make preparations especially on the physical look of their resorts or pools and plan for special events for their customers. “Saturday ug Sunday grabe gyod kadaghan sa tawo sa among pool especially kay during weekend naa mi live band ug disco night,” said Marlon Santos, the maintainance supervisor of Villa Teresita Resort in Talisay City.

Santos said his family’s resort is visited by a maximum of 600 persons of all ages during the weekend considering that most people are on day-off.

He added the “pang-masa” trademark of a resort is what keeps customer patronage, saying that their resort, for instance, offers affordable entrance fee which costs P90 for adults and P45 for children.

3. Halo-halo or cold desserts. With the sweltering heat experienced during summer months, people normally crave for something cold and refreshing. Cold beverages and desserts are the best sellers this summer and most of these are available on the sidewalks, neighborhoods, restaurants and other public places.

In the Philippines, halo-halo, an icy dessert of caramelized fruits, milk, coconut gel, sago and other sweets, is a well-loved summer treat.

Vendors of  halo-halo ingredients in the Carbon Market also observe an increase of their sales noting that many people opt to take advantage of the summer to earn extra money by selling halo-halo.

4. Swimwear. Department stores and other retail stores make it a point to have a good and attractive display of their swimwear products expecting a surge in demand from mostly young people.

A long sleeve rash guard, a type of water wear made of polyester, is the most saleable for both men and women, said Gemma Embodo, department supervisor at a shopping mall in Cebu.

She added most people are becoming more conscious of their skin and that they are afraid to get sunburns, a reason why they prefer the rash guard.

Since the summer season is the peak selling time for swimwear, product varieties are crucial at getting the customers’ attention.

 5. Swimming items. For some people, beach swimming becomes more enjoyable and safe using swimming items such as sunscreen, googles, water bed, water ball and lifebuoy or locally known as “salbabida.”

A cheap “salbabida” is sells for as low as P90. Alex Aniñon, a sales demo staff of a local retail store, said that although it is obviously a seasonal business, they still get a normal sales in three months of display. (FREEMAN)