Category: Americas, Life & Society Topics: Muslims Views: 4383
4383
Muslims have buying power and affluence
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Studies show Muslim contributions and affluence in American economy
Arab Americans comprise of 6 to 8 million people in the U.S. and Muslim Americans' purchasing power is estimated to be $170 billion annually, but businesses often fail to recognize their economic power, recent reports suggest.
A J. Walter Thompson survey called "Marketing to Muslims" and a study of Arab Americans in southeast Michigan provides a fuller picture of the economic contributions of Arabs and Muslims.
Although often associated with Arabs, Muslims represent dozens of ethnic groups, including whites, blacks, Hispanics and Asians.
Understanding the differences between ethnicity and religion is one barrier that often confounds advertisers interested in selling to Muslim populations.
"We need to educate ourselves and gain a broader understanding of the Muslim population," said Ann Mack, director of trend spotting for Thompson and one of the authors of the study.
The study, which was conducted earlier this year, interviewed 350 Muslim Americans in 20 states. It found:
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Muslims make up at least 2 percent of the U.S. population and two-thirds are under the age of 40.
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About 21 percent of Muslim Americans between the ages of 25 to 34 are registered voters, compared with 15 percent of people in that group across the country.
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Nearly 30 percent of U.S. Muslims are converts to Islam.
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71 percent of Muslims believe advertisers rarely show anyone of their faith or ethnicity in advertising. That compares with 34 percent of the general population that believes the same thing.
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Around 70 percent of American Muslims over 25 have a college education, compared to 26 percent of the general U.S. population.
Nationally, the food, finance and apparel industries appear to be the most influential markets for consumers who follow Islam.
According to the Thompson study, the global market for halal - food prepared in accordance with Islamic law - is worth an estimated $580 billion annually.
A study released by Wayne State University in Detroit titled "Arab America Economic Contribution Study" examined that population in southeast Michigan, finding that Arab Americans account for 6 percent of the work force and between $5.4 billion and $7.7 billion in earnings there.
"In the U.S., the Arab and Muslim communities are small but generally very affluent and highly entrepreneurial," Nasser Beydoun, chairman of the Dearborn, Mich.-based Arab American Chamber of Commerce, said last week.
Michigan is home to the largest concentration of Arabs outside the Middle East - about 400,000 in metropolitan Detroit and 500,000 throughout the state.
Alejandro Bodipo-Memba is the business writer for Detroit Free Press.
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Older Comments:
ROMESH CHANDER FROM US said:
Note to Alex:
You write "Re. your comment about the author .. Alejandro Bodipo-Memba he is the BUSINESS writer for Detroit Free Press. And FYI he is not a Muslim.".
Nowhere in my post I indicated that the author is a muslim. What I questioned was his knowledge of the functioning of a modern economy like US which is highly integrated and interdependent. Nobody, no business, even a small business is independent; they all buy goods and services from/to others; everybody is a little cog in a big wheel. Moreover, most of the muslims are employed and not by muslim companies; they are totally dependent for their wages on the infidels and hence not independent at all. Even the cab drivers sell their to non-muslims, and buy their services (like insurance/gasoline) from non-muslims; there are no muslim insurance companies in US and no muslim gasoline companies either.
Looks like you have no understanding of a modern economy, either. Moreover, you cannot tell the difference between Islam and actions opf muslims; you think they are one and the same.
You write "Re. your comment about the author .. Alejandro Bodipo-Memba he is the BUSINESS writer for Detroit Free Press. And FYI he is not a Muslim.".
Nowhere in my post I indicated that the author is a muslim. What I questioned was his knowledge of the functioning of a modern economy like US which is highly integrated and interdependent. Nobody, no business, even a small business is independent; they all buy goods and services from/to others; everybody is a little cog in a big wheel. Moreover, most of the muslims are employed and not by muslim companies; they are totally dependent for their wages on the infidels and hence not independent at all. Even the cab drivers sell their to non-muslims, and buy their services (like insurance/gasoline) from non-muslims; there are no muslim insurance companies in US and no muslim gasoline companies either.
Looks like you have no understanding of a modern economy, either. Moreover, you cannot tell the difference between Islam and actions opf muslims; you think they are one and the same.
2007-05-12
ALEX TO ROMESH FROM USA said:
Romesh,
Your bias against Islam and Muslims consistently cloud your views. It seems you just cannot stand anything positive about Muslims.
This article is based on a report by a major marketing research company which is talking about "Marketing to Muslims" for American businesses.
Re. your comment about the author .. Alejandro Bodipo-Memba he is the BUSINESS writer for Detroit Free Press. And FYI he is not a Muslim.
Your bias against Islam and Muslims consistently cloud your views. It seems you just cannot stand anything positive about Muslims.
This article is based on a report by a major marketing research company which is talking about "Marketing to Muslims" for American businesses.
Re. your comment about the author .. Alejandro Bodipo-Memba he is the BUSINESS writer for Detroit Free Press. And FYI he is not a Muslim.
2007-05-10
ROMESH CHANDER FROM USA said:
Yes, muslims have buying power. So, they should use that power. They should refuse to buy food, housing, shelter, clothing, cars, gasoline, banking, credit, electricity, telephone service, internet, water, sewage, medical services, roads, eye glasses, medicines, air line services, bus services, etc from the infidels in USA. I wonder how long will they last?. Muslims are a part of the society, like it or not. Individually, they produce very little for their own consumption; all production is collective, produced by 'believers' and infidels.
Seems, the author has no understanding of the modern economy.
Seems, the author has no understanding of the modern economy.
2007-05-09
MOHAMMAD SHAFIQUE FROM CANADA said:
I really find this article very interesting and informative. It will
generate more interest in Muslims to be more involved in business
and be a good economic power to have credible position and
substantial contribution in the economical development in USA.
generate more interest in Muslims to be more involved in business
and be a good economic power to have credible position and
substantial contribution in the economical development in USA.
2007-05-09
IMRAN FROM USA said:
Yet another piece of "junk" writing that Islamicity has allowed online for reasons I don't really understand.
Studies like those reported here are a waste of money.
Why are we Muslims subjecting ourselves to this nonsense?
Let me give one example:
The study surveyed [only] 350 Muslim Americans in 20 states. Nothing is said here about what criteria were used to determine who can be called an "Muslim American" and which states were focused on and for what reasons.
Yet it was able to conclude that:
Muslims make up at least 2 percent of the U.S. population and two-thirds are under the age of 40.
About 21 percent of Muslim Americans between the ages of 25 to 34 are registered voters, compared with 15 percent of people in that group across the country.
Nearly 30 percent of U.S. Muslims are converts to Islam.
71 percent of Muslims believe advertisers rarely show anyone of their faith or ethnicity in advertising. That compares with 34 percent of the general population that believes the same thing.
Around 70 percent of American Muslims over 25 have a college education, compared to 26 percent of the general U.S. population.
unquote:
Excellent!
Studies like those reported here are a waste of money.
Why are we Muslims subjecting ourselves to this nonsense?
Let me give one example:
The study surveyed [only] 350 Muslim Americans in 20 states. Nothing is said here about what criteria were used to determine who can be called an "Muslim American" and which states were focused on and for what reasons.
Yet it was able to conclude that:
Muslims make up at least 2 percent of the U.S. population and two-thirds are under the age of 40.
About 21 percent of Muslim Americans between the ages of 25 to 34 are registered voters, compared with 15 percent of people in that group across the country.
Nearly 30 percent of U.S. Muslims are converts to Islam.
71 percent of Muslims believe advertisers rarely show anyone of their faith or ethnicity in advertising. That compares with 34 percent of the general population that believes the same thing.
Around 70 percent of American Muslims over 25 have a college education, compared to 26 percent of the general U.S. population.
unquote:
Excellent!
2007-05-09
