Exploring the entrepreneurial condition of street food vendors in Poblacion, Monkayo, Compostela valley: A mixed method research

Street food vendors across the world are significantly recognized for their positive impact in the creation of new businesses and in providing employment or livelihood. In the essence of entrepreneurship, street food vendors foster creativity, innovation and self-employment towards alleviating poverty and in solving societal problems. Thus, this study in local setting will explore the entrepreneurial condition of street food vendors in Poblacion, Monkayo, Compostela Valley. It is descriptive design employing mixed method research (concurrent approach) to further examine and illustrate findings in tabular form and with the use of qualitative data to help the researcher achieve more concrete study through thematic analysis. Purposive sampling technique is being used in which the quantitative aspect made use of questionnaire on the level of entrepreneurial skills indicated with personal characteristics; building great relationships; making good decisions and creative thinking; and practical application. For in-depth interviews, five of them were selected. The result revealed that the level of entrepreneurial skills of street food vendors is very good. It was also discovered that the level of entrepreneurial skills does not vary significantly when respondents are grouped according to years of operation, sanitary compliance, means of capital and gross monthly income. As this converges qualitative data, the result implies that in doing business, street food vendors are mainly concerned on means of capital; customer relationship; food quality and safety; and business operation. In the difficulties and challenges while engaging business, the study revealed that unfavorable weather condition; ineffectual government support; copycat competition; constant fatigue caused by spending long hours in the sun and/or unpredictable weather conditions; customer count & off-season of business; erratic supply of raw materials; and no other source of income are the emergent themes. It is a main purpose of this study to create awareness about the multitude of opportunities that street food business can provide in the locality. It is hoped that policy makers will recognize such opportunities and provide a supporting and enabling environment for entrepreneurial sustainability and development.