Dubai: Despite living in the age of social media and online advertising, manually pinning up a notice at the local supermarket bulletin board is still common practice among residents in Dubai communities.
From tutoring lessons and garage sales, to job ads and cars for sale, many Dubai residents prefer putting up announcements and personal advertisements at their local supermarket’s bulletin boards than online.
“I think advertising on local boards connects you to like-minded people in the same community, who you live close by to,” said British resident Hannah Smart, a private tutor.
The Dubai resident said she often receives calls from cat and dog lovers who are interested in adopting a pet.
“I have put up many ads for free adoption of rescued cats and dogs and I’ve received very good response from the community,” said Smart.
Barbara Borkhoche from Lebanon is another resident who put up a notice advertising private tutoring lessons for students and homeschooled children.
“I have got several calls for private tutoring from parents living in the same area, but I am expecting more calls now that schools have started,” said Borkhoche. The Dubai resident who has lived in the UAE for more than 24 years explained that she prefers to post her ads at her local supermarket rather than using online advertising because she purposely targets residents who live close to her.
“Giving private tutoring lessons to children in my local community is easier for me because we can have the lesson at my house or at the child’s house, which would be close by to mine,” said Borkhoche.
Veronique M., a Dubai resident for 20 years, said she has used the notice board service for many years to sell old furniture.
“Every time I re-decorate my house, I put up several ads of old furniture for sale and I have sold most of it — sometimes it takes only one week,” says Veronique, who hails from France.
Park ‘n’ Shop charges Dh10 a week for one ad, she said, adding that the proximity of potential buyers is what makes this service useful. “It’s very easy for people who are interested in buying my furniture to come by and take a look because we live in the same community,” she said.
The bulletin boards, which are available in several communities around Dubai including Jumeirah, Umm Suqueim, Silicon Oasis, and Mirdif, are provided by supermarkets such as Spinneys, Choithram, and Park ‘n’ Shop.
Sunil Nichani, a Manager at Park ‘n’ Shop, told Gulf News notices posted often vary between commercial ads and personal ads. “Ads put up by residents usually range from lost and found pets, and household items for sale, to garage sales, and tutoring notices,” he said.
Commercial ads often include announcements posted by gyms, packing and moving firms and music centres besides car ads and maid services.
Sunil pointed out that while commercial ads posted on the board cost Dh50 a week, the supermarket charges residents Dh10 a week for personal ads. “For ads like lost and fond pets and garage sale announcements, it’s free for the first three days,” he said.
Park ‘n’ Shop has been offering the bulletin board service for more than 15 years and Sunil says he believes that residents continue to receive a good response from others within their community.
Similarly, Colette Shannon, Communications Manager at Spinneys said the community notice board gives residents the opportunity to communicate with others in their area by posting personal ads such as old furniture for sale and car boot sale announcements.
“We have community notice boards in more than 23 Spinneys stores and we give priority to personal ads, which are free of charge,” said Shannon.
Spinneys charges Dh50 a week for commercial ads.
Shannon said the demand for community notice boards is high in many areas and ads are often extended.
While technology has not changed the culture of community boards, it remains as popular as it was over a decade ago.
