Market Analysis of Plant Business during COVID-19 Pandemic

Andrea Marie S. Ahorro1; Gwen Alexis D. Dionglay2; Nicole Irish Badillo3; Benedick N. Magcamit4
1 St. Therese Montessori School of San Pablo, ABM amahorro@stms.ph.education
2 St. Therese Montessori School of San Pablo, ABM gadionglay@stms.ph.education
3 St. Therese Montessori School of San Pablo, ABM nibadillo@stms.ph.education
4 St. Therese Montessori School of San Pablo, ABM bnmagcamit@stms.ph.education

Abstract

Keywords: Plant Business, Entrepreneur, COVID-19

Introduction
After the first two COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, the Philippines government has declared a
health emergency on 09 March, following a spike in new reported cases and local transmission. The step
would free up funds for local governments and healthcare officials to deal with any additional cases that
arise. Following the rise in global coronavirus cases, the Philippines government began declaring local
lockdowns (home quarantine). The entire island of Luzon has been declared a state of emergency,
affecting more than 50 million people (Duddu, 2020). People are not allowed to leave their homes except
to get basic needs during the lockdown. Families' habits and routines changed as a result of social
isolation, which can lead to many different of changes in mental health in people of all ages. Symptoms
such as irritability, nervousness, and difficulty concentrating may be detected. People can experience
depression, sadness, stress, and anxiety during this time. The volume of available information, which does
not always provide consistent data on risks, pandemic duration, and economic effects, among other
factors, is a major cause of stress. (UN, 2020)
Women are also more burdened by the multitasking they are currently forced to perform: family
care, direct assistance with their children's school activities, the house, and commitments with remote
work, in addition to insecurity and fear (UN,2020). When it comes to domestic abuse, the situation is
even worse, as the number of cases reported during the pandemic has also risen. (WHO, 2020)
Concerns about physical and mental health in the context of the pandemic led to a series of
guidelines for practices that assist the community in developing behaviors that can be developed at home
or remotely, such as physical workouts, which have benefits such as maintaining muscle mass and
strength (Ferreira Jr., Freitas, Chaves, 2020). The guide "Practical instructions for safe
routines” published by the Cultural Association of Occupational Therapists of Paraná (ACTOEP). Some
tasks for the time are suggested in this guide, varying from domestic routines to garden maintenance and
online courses to feel productive. Personal tasks, such as planning and implementing a garden and
growing plants in pots, may also be put into effect, according to the ACTOEP, to bring more peace into
the homes. (ACTOEP, 2020)
Many people have begun gardening as a result of COVID-19, and it is not a passing fancy.
According to recent studies, approximately 80% of those who began gardening since the start of COVID-
19 will continue to do so in 2021 (Buck, 2021). Connecting with nature is an important part of human
development and restricting access to green spaces in times of social isolation can intensify the damage to
people's physical and mental health. Bringing nature into indoor spaces can help people get more in touch
with nature, which is good for their health and comfort (Deng and Deng, 2018). Gardening, horticulture,
making and buying floral arrangements, and contemplating residential gardens can all be beneficial allies
for health preservation and recovery in this context.
Biophilic design has an impact on how people feel, work, and create, and by connecting to the
nature that inspires, productivity rises, as well as a sense of well-being. Biophilic architecture has been
shown to have psychological and health benefits. The use of biophilic design elements has an impact on
people's recovery from stress and anxiety. People who were exposed to biophilic indoor environments
consistently had better recovery responses after stressors, as measured by reduced stress and anxiety, than
those who were exposed to non-biophilic environments (Yin et al., 2020).
Gardening, according to Elizabeth Murray, is a form of art that uses flowers and plants as paint
and the soil and sky as the canvas. Gardening has become increasingly popular in recent years. Many
people are interested in planting trees and other ornamental plants to beautify the environment and keep it
clean and green. As a result, the gardening industry is booming these days, and many entrepreneurs have
tried their hand at it, capitalizing on the public's phenomenal attention. This type of business has existed
for a long time, but unlike other businesses, it is not considered to be growing until the COVID-19
Pandemic occurs (Bautista, Savellano, 2020)
The global indoor plants market is estimated to be worth USD XXX million in 2019 and is
expected to grow at a healthy rate of more than XXX percent from 2020 to 2026. Indoor plants (also
known as houseplants) are plants that are typically grown in homes and offices and are primarily used for
decoration, though they are increasingly being used to improve indoor air quality. Cactus, epiphytes, and
succulents are some of the most common indoor plants. With the outbreak of COVID-19, the
government's strict regulations on the movement of people, goods, and services have had a significant
impact on the demand for indoor plants, limiting market growth during this difficult time of COVID-19
pandemic. Increasing air pollution, particularly in metro cities, market players' introduction of new
collections of indoor plants, and people's improving standard of living are just a few of the factors driving
the market's high CAGR over the forecast period. Leafy Palo Alto, for example, debuted its new indoor
plant collection in June 2019. (Herald keepers, 2021)
In Denmark, the situation for the ornamental sector (flowers and ornamental plants, trees, and
bulbs) is most affected by social distancing and subsequent cancellation of all gatherings, which has
reduced flower purchases to the point where this produce is going to waste as it perishes too quickly to be
preserved, resulting in significant losses for farmers. Revenues for the sector's operators have plummeted
too almost nothing. In Austria, for example, the most crucial period for the horticultural industry is from
mid-March to June (50-70 % of the annual turnover). Due to restrictions, essential supply chains are
currently disrupted: no sales through building centers, garden centers, or flower shops (lockdown)
depending on the time of restrictions (some weeks vs some months). This could have a catastrophic effect
on the sector. (WFO, 2020)
 While on quarantine in the Philippines, Filipinos always find ways to make their time at home
more productive. As a result, a new generation of people known as "plantitos" and "plantitas" has
emerged, who keep themselves occupied by caring for plants and collecting new ornamentals for their
collections. Others who had lost their jobs began to venture into this field, becoming "plantitos" and
"plantitas," and selling what they produced. While collecting plants has been popular in recent weeks, it's
worth noting that there are organizations that support small business owners who sell these plants,
whether it's a government agency or a private company. (Tumabao, 2021)

Methodology
This study was entitled Market Analysis of Plant Business During COVID-19 Pandemic, it is a
qualitative type of research for it was used to gain understanding and provide insights regarding the
market system and operations of plant businesses amidst COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers employed
the focus group method of research for they asked participants for responses conveying their thoughts
regarding the topic.
The respondents in this study were 75 owners or caretakers of plant businesses around the
community of the researchers. They were chosen at random to participate in the
researchers' questionnaires. Researchers used survey questionnaires with closed-ended questions as an
effective data collection method. A questionnaire is a study method that contains a series of questions for
collecting information from respondents. In order to conduct the survey, the researchers sent their
respondents a Google form link to collect their responses. The link was sent to the respondents via
Facebook Messenger because the researchers were not able to do the collection of insights face to face
due to the current situation. The sampling method that was used in this study was probability sampling, it
is a sampling method in which all population members have an equal chance of being chosen as a
representative sample.
The aim of the study is to determine and identify the current profile and situations of selected
Plant Business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to evaluate the circumstances faced by
the business owners/caretakers on a day-to-day operation. The study also seeks to look at the various
entrepreneurial strategies they use in order to keep their business stable.
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Appendix A