A new batch of homegrown entrepreneurs has taken the leap from clicks to bricks. The Start Up Market Batch 2 has officially opened at SM City Pampanga, featuring 10 local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that started selling their products online . These highly potential entrepreneurs now have a physical store in the mall to expand their business ventures, marking a significant milestone in their growth journey.
The Start Up Market, located on the Ground Level near H&M, is SM Supermalls' flagship initiative designed to help digital-first merchants transition to physical retail. By providing start-up-friendly rental rates, free kiosk or cart fixtures, marketing support, and mentorship from SM retail experts, the program reduces the risks associated with opening a physical shop. This allows online sellers to test the viability of brick-and-mortar operations while directly interacting with shoppers and building brand presence in a high-traffic environment.
From Online Sellers to Mall Tenants: The 10 Featured Businesses
The second batch of SM City Pampanga's Start Up Market showcases a diverse range of locally made products, highlighting the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of Kapampangan business owners. Featured businesses include New.Essentials PH offering minimalist display and organizing storage solutions, Einstein's Art turning customers' bags into hand-painted customized art pieces, and Cut and Paste selling personalized stationery, planners, and scrapbook accessories.
Food entrepreneurs are also well-represented. Sugar and Spice serves baked goodies including Sea Salt brownies, cookies, and cheese cakes, while Milk Dangooo specializes in mochi-filled flavored pastillas . Coffee lovers can enjoy Daily Dose Coffee's crafted bottled coffee and coffee brownies, and Luna's Thai Delicacies brings a local twist to mango sticky rice with ube, monggo, and yema variants . The lineup also includes Prism's hand-made tie-dyed apparel, Ru's Craft Ice Cream featuring unique flavors from Okinawa Milk Tea to Leche Flan, and Ketoffage Creation offering healthy immunity-boosting options.
How SM Supports Local Entrepreneurs Beyond the Market
The Start Up Market is part of SM Supermalls' broader commitment to supporting the MSME sector, which makes up 99.5 percent of all business enterprises in the Philippines and generates over 5.3 million jobs nationwide . Currently, 68 percent of SM Supermalls' tenants belong to the MSME sector, and SM serves as a marketplace for over 100,000 MSME partners . The StartUp Package includes BDO financial assistance, free brand exposure on SM's online assets and in-mall ad spaces, and hands-on mentorship from SM's operations and marketing experts.
Successful stalls in the Start Up Market have frequently transitioned from temporary booths into permanent mall tenants after graduating from the program . For shoppers, this means access to unique, locally crafted products while directly supporting homegrown Kapampangan entrepreneurs. The Start Up Market is expected to run until a specific end date, giving local businesses valuable time to build customer relationships and prove their retail viability.
