Take a good look at your house. That basket has been sitting on the table for two years, and you still haven’t figured out what to do with it. And that lamp next to it? Sure it’s pretty, but seriously when was the last time you turned it on? And while we’re on the table, isn’t it time you threw it out and bought a shiny new one?
Well now you can, and not only can you get rid of all your junk, you can help a great cause by doing it.
The Sheraton Abu Dhabi is hosting its first indoor Second Hand Bazaar, and, if all goes well, they plan to host many more. ‘This is a very popular activity in Dubai, and we’re convinced there’s a big demand for it here in Abu Dhabi, and we plan on making it a regular thing; maybe yearly, maybe even twice a year,’ says Martina Venus, director of public relations for the Sheraton Abu Dhabi.
The event will be held on Saturday, September 17 in one of the hotel’s ballrooms, and the idea is that people can rent a table (and two chairs) and exhibit all their unwanted treasures for the rest of the crowd to buy; electronics, clothes, household items, kitchenware, accessories, small furniture, kids’ toys or just about anything you can fit on the table, so long as it’s second hand and in good quality. The hotel is also planning a bunch of activities that are still in the works, but from the looks of it there’ll be henna and face-painting, as well as snacks and drinks.
But it’s not all fun and games. The bazaar is part of the Road to Awareness 2011 fundraising initiative that all the Starwood hotels and resorts are contributing to. Hotels in Europe, Africa and the Middle East are coming together through a myriad of campaigns like this and pooling it all to raise just under a million Dirhams ($250,000) for UNICEF’s education programmes in Pakistan and Romania, where millions of children are missing out on their basic right of schooling.
The table fees will directly support 58 schools in rural Pakistan and Romania, supplying them with vital equipment and education materials. ‘With this unique bazaar, we do not only underline our environmental commitment by enabling everyone to recycle their private goods but also to support a charity initiative and give people the chance to get out of shopping malls and pick up some real bargains,’ says Thomas van Opstal, general manager of Sheraton.
And the best part? The hotel has its own tables of wares too, so if you’ve ever wanted that incredibly soft linen you only find in hotels, the creative silverware or some other knick-knack that you almost went clepto over, this is your chance: ‘We’ll have between three and five tables that sell hotel items, things from our food and beverage department, our stores, and even linens from the rooms,’ says Martina.
So how do you get involved? You’ll need to reserve a table early, and reservations can be made by contacting Martina Venus on 02 697 0257 or at martina.venus@sheraton.com. One table booking includes two chairs and is available at Dhs250 per table – and, of course, you aren’t limited to just one table; the more you give, the more you can help the children, and the more stuff you can sell. And if you unwittingly clean out your entire house, you could always just book a room at the hotel.
