Rewriting the Ad Rules for Muslim-Americans

[Amelia]

Rewriting the Ad Rules for Muslim-Americans

LOUISE STORY

Published April 28, 2007

The Gadsden Times

For years, few advertisers in the United States have dared to reach out to Muslims.

Either they did not see much potential for sales or they feared a political backlash. And there were practical reasons: American Muslims come from so many ethnic backgrounds that their only common ground is their religion, a subject most marketers avoid.

That is beginning to change. Consumer companies and advertising executives are focusing on ways to use the cultural aspects of the Muslim religion to help sell their products.

Grocers and consumer product companies are considering ways to adapt their goods to Muslim rules, which forbid among other things, gelatin and pig fat, which is often used in cosmetics and cleaning products. Retailers are looking into providing more conservative skirts, even during the summer months, and mainstream advertisers are planning to place some commercials on the satellite channels that Muslims often watch

http://www.gadsdentimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070428/ZNYT01/704280347/-1/ZNYT

[aldona]

Quote:

adapt their goods to Muslim rules, which forbid among other things, gelatin and pig fat

This sounds like a move that will make their goods more accessible not only to Muslims, but to Jews, as well as Adventists, and any religion which promotes vegetarianism or would like its people to be clearly informed about what is in the products they buy. (Hindu, Buddhist, etc?)

Quote:

Retailers are looking into providing more conservative skirts, even during the summer months

Once again, a positive move not only for Muslims, but for more modest/ conservative members of all religions.

Our district has a large Muslim community. A couple of years ago the local KFC store went "halal" (that means no pork products used in any of their foods - this caused some consternation for non-Muslims who could no longer buy their burgers with bacon ).

I wrote them a note on one of their customer-feedback forms congratulating them (wearing my "health & temperance secretary" and "religious liberty" hats on behalf of our local church) for being considerate of their customers and offering an informed choice.

Even if you don't eat their chicken, they have the best coleslaw and chips in the world, and it is nice to know you can have a treat sometimes without any pig fat in it!

aldona

[Amelia]

I also would like to see longer skirts in the stores. Personally I wont wear a skirt or dress if it doesn't fall below my knees. I see many cute skirts I'd like to wear but they are way too short. Many times I'm stuck with black being the only color coming in the longer style.