Archive for category Misc

Buying Vs. Renting

Well, the following analysis is based on conventional Haram Riba, which shows that buying with interests is not a good model. Bare in mind that this comparison did not consider the sin of dealing with Riba and the evil consequence in this life and the hereafter.

If we do the analysis comparing equity (co-owing a house vs. financing with Riba), you’ll see that the Halal equity model is far better. BTW, Halal equity model mentioned here is not what the so-called “Islamic” financial banks offer.

Recommended Resource:
CD Set: Let’s Buy a House Islamically, By Ghassan Barqawi

After a quick search online, the following result was found:
[disclaimer: We have no affiliation with the result pasted below]

Buying a home is a major dream for almost every family. However, it is a decision that goes well beyond finances. You want your home to reflect your values and your lifestyle. The biggest advantage to owning a house over renting an apartment is that your house belongs to you. It’s your home, and that’s a pretty big achievement in itself. This is why when a person is ready to buy a house, emotion can often get in the way of effective decision making. Not only can it hinder sound financial planning, but it can lead one into major sins. This CD Set is a guide to know what Islamic Finance really is, how one can understand the different terms used by various Islamic financial institutes, and how to make the best decision for your family in this life as well as the next. Shiekh Ghassan had the honor to study under the late scholar of Yemen, Shiekh Muqbil bin Haadi al-Waadi’ee, and earned an Ijaazah in Hadith from him. He has a Masters degree in Business and is an advisor who is able to give guidance in the field of Finance. He is also the founder of the Islamic Institution of Islamic Studies of Columbia, South Carolina. At present he is the Imam of the Islamic Center of Mobile, Alabama.

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Would You Buy From BestBuy?

Alhamduillah, something good out of this recession!

BestBuy tried to target Muslim consumers in their Black Friday ads.

Now, the question is: Would you buy from BestBuy because of this ad?

BestBuy Eid Adha Ads

Note:

A few years back IKEA in Canada targeted Muslim in their ads, so do many other businesses.

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Muslims & My Store

This reflection is from a sister who used to run a store that was catered for Muslims. She eventually had to close it after losing her money and health to cope with non-supporting Muslim consumers. Nothing interesting in that part of the story, but what follows is interesting:

Well here is the thing… I now work part time in an American store where I am happy doing things that I love and with the energy and enthusiasm that I love to give. I am sorry brother but I don’t think that I would ever open a store that catered to our community alone again. That is what makes me sad. Now let me tell you the other thing when the customers who used to come to my store, come to the American store that I work for they are just wonderful. You see it actually makes me MORE sad because they are willing to be on their BEST behavior with the non Muslim. That is why that I decided it is best for me and my Eeman to play in a game that I understand the rules and can be the best I can be physically, mentally and spiritually. That’s the thing people don’t understand…is I lost all of that, I was physically sick….at my Islamic store. May Allah guide us all.

What do you think? How can Muslim businesses thrive as a minority community? Any suggestions or experience?

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Freemium

More about free as a business model. Here is a talk by Chris Anderson given at Revenue Bootcamp Conference.

Some Notes:
-Quality is in the eye of beholder.
-There are multiple economies: In the currency economy may be free, but in reputation or time it may not.
-Offer the low cost product as free, and sell the premium one as paid.
-Number of packages: Keep it simple, three options, one for free, and two paid.
-Your free trial should be long enough in time to get users’ engagement. Chris Anderson advise against the common 30-day free trial; He explains that customers won’t commit in using your service when they know they might leave it. Rather, he advised to use limited feature freemium model.

Related Post: Free

Freemium: Free As a Business Model

Speaker: Chris Anderson

  • Editor in Chief: Wired Magazine

  • Author Of Free: The Future of a Radical Price

  • Married, Father of 5

Summary

  • Free is the most misunderstood word in English Language

    • In other languages has two meanings of free

      • Example: Latin: libre and gratis

    • Word Free Has Two Meanings in English

      • Liberty (Libre)

        • Good Thing

      • No Price/Cost (Gratis)

        • Possibly Good/Possibly Bad

        Example of two Free

      • Jello Company
        • wanted to get brand out/known
        • door to door best option (couldn’t get license too expensive)
          • instead of going door to door selling instead offered free jello recipe books
          • every recipe required jello ingredient
            • created demand/got name out

      Internet most competitive field:

      • Near Zero Market Production
  • In digital economics the price/cost of zero (free) is competed with:

    • Example: Music

      • Some offer it free

  • Some say you cannot compete with free

    • Anderson disagrees:

      • Example: Microsoft

        • Competed with free the longest

        • 1970′s Gates Needed to Convince People to Buy Software
          • (Software always came free with hardware)
          • Convinced People to Buy Software in Order to Get More Software
        • 1980′s: Microsoft Competitors Bundled Software with Computers
          • Created their own Microsoft Works only saved in their formats
        • 1990′s: Had to Deal With Piracy (Especially in China)
          • Gates responded mildly, not severely: Said: “China is a developing country, and if they are pirating software, we want them to pirate our software and when they are ready to pay, we hope they can pay for our software.” (paraphrasing).
            • Approach helped China to develop faster and helped Microsoft monetize from it.
        • 2000: Competed with Open Source:

          • Sold service contract: “peace of mind”. Someone legally bound to insure interests were protected.
        • Microsoft giving free (i.e not getting ruthless about piracy), and also giving enterprise software to start up businesses for free, help both (economy and business) to develop faster and make them ‘hooked’ on their products so they will pay later.
        • Free disrupts economies and demonetizes them before monetizing
        • Entirely free has limits
          • Not the best model
        • Freemium=Mix of free and premium.
          • Best model according to Anderson for 21st Century.
            • You can’t charge for exclusives that will just be repeated elsewhere
            • Don’t charge for the most popular content on your site
            • Content behind a pay wall should appeal to niches
            • The narrower the niche, the better
      • People will pay to save time
        • Video games: pay to play better (i.e. go to another land/level, etc)
      • People will pay to lower risk
      • People will pay for things they love
      • People will pay for status
      • People will pay if you make them
        • Time’s up, i.e. 30 days then pay (not the best model)
          • Your free trial should be long enough to get user’s engagement. Chris Anderson advises against the common 30-day free trial. Customers will not commit in using your service. They will use the trial, even when they know they might leave it
        • 5 Seats left (better)
        • Offer  low cost product as free and premium pay (best)
        • Quality in eye of beholder
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Where is our Halal store?

Muslims need to step up to the plate and do something like this.

Portland, Ore., Grocer Sells In An ‘Alternate Universe’

We should establish community supported coops that are Halal (no tobacco!), organic, healthy, green, and with profit sharing with workers and the local community.

What do you think?

How are the Muslim owned stores in your community? What are some of the issues? How can you improve them? Share your thoughts. InshaAllah, together we can make a difference.

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