Branded Mainstream Flea Markets

With its economy perpetually sputtering and with an inflation rate that no longer dips below 7 percent, the Philippines is seeing a reinforced demand for bargain retail. It is strangely customary in this country for cottage shops and black/grey economy outlets to awkwardly mingle beside major national and multinational chains inside most mall complexes.

Now the ‘cottage not-so-underground’ is getting its own independent infrastructure with heavy financial backing from rich families as well as shopping mall developers themselves. Tiendesitas and 168 represent two different archetypes of these new mainstream flea markets.

Tiendesitas is 30,000 square meters worth of interlinked Spanish colonial era-themed shopping "villages" that tries its best to catch the attention of both bargain hunters and tourist photography. HSBC ATM machines are coming soon.

168 is essentially a China street market packed in a concrete box (even the vendors are mostly Chinese immigrants). The aisles in 168 seem to have been purposefully narrowed to amplify crowd bumping flea market authenticity. With the exception of HSBC, there are no established brands here. However, many concerned owners of established brands have been spotted checking out these two looming, newly rich shopping destinations.