Together with the research the agency launches Ogilvy Noor, the world's first multidisciplinary global Islamic branding practice.

1. PDF generated on: Thu, Jun 03, 2010
Ogilvy & Mather's Research Defines the
Global Rise of the 'New Muslim
Consumer'
Together with the research the agency launches Ogilvy Noor, the
world's first multidisciplinary global Islamic branding practice.
UAE: May 23, 2010: As political and business leaders of the
Muslim world came together in Kuala Lumpur for the 6th World
Islamic Economic Conference, a tectonic shift is happening in the
Muslim world. According to Ogilvy & Mather's survey on
"Islamic Branding", a new generation is redefining what it means
to be modern and Muslim, creating new meanings of religious
pride, economic progress and global citizenship.
In partnership with TNS, Ogilvy & Mather's two-year survey in
the making reveals what drives Muslims as consumers, against
the vast backdrop of ethnic, economic, political and religious
diversity of the Muslim world. Researchers looked at Islam
through the lens of the tangible effect it has on how lives are
lived and how that in turn affects brands and business. The
research has identified trends and opportunities that are emerging
from the world's most interesting, dynamic yet controversial
"marketplace".
The report, entitled 'Brands, Islam and the New Muslim Consumer' also serves as the launchpad for
Ogilvy Noor, a multidisciplinary global Islamic Branding practice that aims to help brands better engage
with Muslim consumers worldwide. The Muslim consumer is viewed as a critically important segment for
marketers, with the halal segment alone worth US$2.1 trillion, and growing at US$500 billion annually.
The report debunks many of the stereotypes that surround Muslim consumer attitudes towards brands and
their marketing communications. For example, halal labels, while important to showcase certification, are
no longer sufficient to persuade the New Muslim Consumer that the company behind the product conducts
its business in line with Islamic values.
Said Miles Young, Global CEO, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide: "A market of 1.8 billion people that has
scarcely been tapped, Muslim consumers offer enormous potential to businesses around the world - but
only if their values are fully understood. While there are vast and colorful differences among the
populations surveyed, we identified behavioral trends and insights that would be valuable to marketers in

2. developing meaningful relationships with this emerging global constituency."
Said Nazia Hussain, Director of Cultural Strategy, Ogilvy & Mather Global: "Driven by ambition and
success, today's young Muslim consumers are open to positive change and innovation just like consumers
everywhere - but that change must be aligned with their values from the start."
In addition, the survey provides invaluable insight into Shariah values and how brands can align with
them. Significantly, the report sheds light on how these practices are closely aligned with the existing
universal ideals of good business practices, such as authenticity and transparency, which have only
become more important for global business in recent years. The study begins to draw parallels between
the evolution of business practices toward sustainability and the values of Shariah compliance, creating
opportunities for businesses to simultaneously capture the Muslim market share while implementing
sustainability initiatives and ethical business practices.
Similarly, despite the massive sums spent by financial services brands on Shariah-compliant banking
services - Ogilvy Noor can reveal that the vast majority of consumers view this category as the least
effective in terms of Shariah-compliance.
The study becomes particularly important given the risk of boycotting of brands which exists when
Muslim consumers are alienated. Despite the evident economic potential, for example, Muslims are often
overlooked by global brands for fear of getting it wrong. Ogilvy Noor aims to clear up the apprehension by
shedding light on what works and what doesn't with the modern Muslim consumer.
For these reasons, the research incorporates the groundbreaking Noor Brand Index, which, for the first
time, benchmarks the appeal of specific brands to Muslim consumers. The Noor Category Index repeats
this exercise at a category level.
The study analyses the factors that drive beneficial relationships with Muslim consumers, distilling the
findings into an eight-step toolkit for branding success. It is required reading for all brands that want to
deliver more effectively against the needs of the New Muslim Consumer.
-Ends-
About Ogilvy Noor
Ogilvy Noor is a multidisciplinary practice focused on Islamic branding, drawn from across the breadth
and depth of Ogilvy& Mather Group's global network. It is the world's first bespoke Islamic Branding
practice, offering expert practical advice on how to build brands that appeal to Muslim consumers,
globally. Ogilvy Noor is led by a team of experts based across our key Muslim market offices worldwide:
Dubai, Pakistan, Malaysia and the UK and our core team: John Goodman, President of Ogilvy Action
Asia Pacific and President Ogilvy & Mather South and Southeast Asia, Nazia Hussain, Director of
Cultural Strategy for Ogilvy & Mather globally, Tanya Dernaika, Planning Director for Memac Ogilvy
across the Middle East, Zayn Khan, Regional Business Strategy Director for South and South East Asia,
and Shazia Khan, Associate Planning Director at Ogilvy in Karachi. A wide network of communications
professionals supports the core team across all the Muslim markets in which Ogilvy operates across 450
offices in 171 markets .
For further information please contact:
Nimati Shuhaibar - 04-305-0314

3. Nimati Shuhaibar - 04-305-0314
Nabil Ashour - 04 305 0343
Adriano Konialidis - 04 305 0311
nimati.shuhaibar@ogilvy.com
Please visit the Ogilvy Noor website for more information: http://www.ogilvynoor.com/
© Press Release 2010 from Memac Ogilvy PR
Article originally published by Press Release 23-May-10
Copyright © 2010 ABQ Zawya Ltd. All PDF provided by
rights reserved. www.zawya.com