Assalamu-alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu

2010 looks set to be an exciting year for Islamic Impressions. After the huge successes of 2009 and positive feedback from the Ummah, we have entered 2010 in a very upbeat mood indeed! Our customers have repeatedly insisted that we open new branches and expand into new communities, and we personally know of several dozen customers who regularly travel HUNDREDS of miles just to shop with us! With all this snow around Britain we feel it is our Muslim duty to bring our stores just a little bit closer… therefore we can reveal that THREE new Islamic Impressions Stores are planned for 2010 inshallah. The exact locations will be announced in April, so watch this space!

Product Development

We like to have our finger on the pulse of the Muslim community, in order to respond to their product demands and provide them with innovative new products that fulfill their needs. In recent weeks we have introduced new ranges of jilbabs, Palestinian scarves and Islamic Decorative Pillars. We have a whole new range of products that is currently in manufacturing that will complement our existing range – there will be 2 phases of introduction of the new stock, February and July. Full details will be revealed nearer the time

Advertising

As you know, our aim is to provide Islamic Shopping with a ‘big brand’ touch to as many UK Muslims as possible, and we will continue to set the trend in Islamic Shopping and raise the bar even further! With this in mind we have arranged several exclusive advertising deals with leading Muslim media organizations. The aim is to sustain massive marketing campaigns that will coincide with events in our business as the year progresses. For those of you who have access to Sky channel 813, You can currently see our new Islam Channel Ad promoting ‘The Big Islamic Impressions Winter sale’. For those who do not, you can find the video here.

The following is a breakdown of our marketing events that are planned for the coming year- inshallah!

TV - we have a contract for the entire year with Islam channel and every month we will base our commercial on a different theme/campaign (you can view all our past commercials on our website) We also advertise on the Islam Channel website – please go on to their website to view our ad.

Radio - we also have a contract for the entire year with Unity FM 93.5. Again, every month we have a different theme/campaign. We also advertise on the Unity FM 93.5 website, and we sponsor various shows that are aired throughout the week.

Print Media - we have a contract as the main advertiser with the Asian World Newspaper that distributes 50,000 copies every month

Documentary – We are working on a documentary about how Islamic Impressions was formed and where it is headed

I hope in this blog I was able to share some of my vision with you for 2010, inshallah I promise to keep you all updated with new developments as and when they happen. Please do not forget to follow us on twitter, for real time notifications and accouncements, and as always remmeber me in your duas.

Until next time, please take care!

Aqib

Assalamu-alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu

I have pleasure to inform you that the Islamic impressions Big Winter sale is now on! You can find bargains of up to 50% off on a wide range of Islamic goods. For Sisters, selected jilbabs and abayas are 50% off. While brothers can find themselves jubbas and men’s urban wear at half-price. Selected items of home décor, books CDs and DVDs will also be on sale. So bag yourself a bargain with Islamic Impressions, instore or online… but hurry- only while stocks last!

Aqib

Assalamu-alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu,

On Saturday 5th December 2009, Muslim Hands will be holding a charity walk in Central London. Set in the beautiful Kensington Gardens, Muslim hands is inviting all brothers and sisters to wrap up warm, bring family & friends and help raise money for the needy in a 5 mile sponsored walk. Inshallah I will be there representing Islamic Impressions, only I have been challenged by my IT Team to complete the 5 miles while running! Alhamdulillah last year £33,000 was raised that was used to provide psychological support for hundreds of Palestinian children traumatized by war, I pray that we can beat this figure this year inshallah.

Aqib

Assalamu-alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu

Just wanted to tell you of a new service by MUSLIM HANDS called Great Charity Gifts. For each gift donated to the needy, Muslim Hands will send you a decorative card with a personalised certificate inside (either in the name you specify or blank if you prefer).

Gifts for the poor include: Gift of sight, Winter Blankets, Wheelchairs, Malaria Prevention, Water Well construction, and much much more. Prices range between £10 and £3000 and you can give as little or as much as you can afford in order to make a difference to those in need.

Aqib

When I see people leaving for Hajj, it makes me feel Wow has it really been a year already? All the memories from my Hajj in 2008 come flooding back; I remember being at Heathrow airport, changing into my Ihram and making dua to Allah (swt) to accept my worship to him and make my Hajj accepted so that I can come away from it as sinless as a new born baby.

I recall how exciting this journey was and how I could not rest due to excitement from the moment I left my house; I vividly remember being in the plane flying over our mikkat and making my intention, at this point I was just continuously thanking Allah SWT for the opportunity he had given me and for being able to take both my parents in my lifetime. I was continuously thinking of the great task ahead of me- how I was about to go to where our beloved prophet Muhammad PBUH was born and where he PBUH and the Sahaba struggled for Islam, and how I had to be patient with whatever befell me in any test.

When we came out of the airport there was an additional 10 hour wait… and I assure you no Deluxe 5-Star hajj package or Western passport can fast track you through! Waiting is part and parcel of Hajj and it requires pure sabar (patience); what gave me patience was realizing that this is a part of my journey to Allah’s house, and that with hardship Allah only increases the reward.

I think when we talk about patience and complain about the way others behave, we should remember some facts. One must realise that approximately 3 million people if not more are congregating in the same place at the same time, the largest human gathering on Earth… so it is inevitable that there will be a lot of pushing, waiting and thus grumpy people! They like you are tired from the long walks and the endless delays in the heat – so my advice is to show empathy and forgive each other– if at any point you feel you might lose your cool just remind yourself why you are there in the first place.

For those of you who have been doing their Hajj shopping at our stores, I’m sure our sales staff would have told the brothers how important Vaseline is but separate to this drink plenty of Zam Zam, and when you need an energy boost there are some fantastic Ice cream booths around the Harem area that make fresh biscuit cones. Additionally, make effort to meet and greet people I met Muslims from all over the world people that where carrying their children consistently as they where disabled and others that had lost their children in tragic ways – I met Muslims that were doing Hajj for their parents and Muslims doing hajj in wheelchairs – All this makes you feel grateful for what Allah has given to us… Subhanallah, it’s so easy to forget.

Make sure you enter tawaf at the point of the greenlight, don’t move against the flow and especially don’t kill yourself trying to kiss the Hajr e Aswad, and Brothers, don’t make excuses not to do the Halak (shave your head at the end ) so you can keep your cool hair style! I am amazed that even men going bald feel reluctant to do this, but it is a important Sunnah and an amazing experience to end the Hajj with – just make sure they use a fresh blade.

One amazing High which is unbeatable is when you look around you and see 3 million Muslims in the largest congregation in the world at one time praying to Allah and that’s when you realise the strength of 1 Ummah.

One disappointment I can inform you of is the presence of Starbucks and McDonalds in the Zam Zam towers or KFC directly opposite the Harram. Let me be clear about my contention: why could the Muslims not do this themselves, at least the revenue would benefit Muslims. Also, I must admit I was disappointed by the Islamic gifts and clothing that was available, but having said that I was really impressed with their range of precious Tasbee’s!

If you are on your way to Hajj this year then have a safe journey and may Allah accept your Hajj Mabrur; and if you’ve not been, please don’t delay, make your efforts and then leave it in Allah SWT’s hands as He sees all and hears all!

“And proclaim that the people shall observe the Hajj. They will come to you walking or riding on various exhausted (means of transportation). They will come from the farthest locations.” [TMQ 22:27.8]

Alhamdulillah, just one year ago I had the privilege of accompanying my dear beloved parents to the hajj, and in so doing I not only fulfilled the fard on my neck but also a sense of responsibility I had towards my parents that I felt ever since I started practicing Islam.

For me there are two amazing events every year that really motivate me as a Muslim- Ramadhan, and the Hajj. The site of over 3 million Muslims congregating in Mecca to begin the journey of a lifetime is truly amazing. For the hujaj, those 5 days become the most unforgettable days of their lives. For first-timers, we finally get to see the places that the Prophet Muhammad SAW and the Sahaba once lived and carried the da’wah in; the overpowering sight of the Ka’aba for the first time is very emotional, and there is a renewal of our relationship with our creator. The physical hardship of the rituals are made easy by enjoying meals and light hearted moments with new friends from all over the world, and seeking refuge in ibadah during the early hours.

When we see people of all colours, nationalities and madhhabs, united as brothers and sisters with one common goal, it brings a tear to the eye and makes me wonder when the Muslim Ummah will attain true and lasting unity as one unified Ummah, in the political sense and not just the religious one. With Unity comes strength, for Abu Musa (May Allah bepleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “The relationship of the believer with another believer is like (the bricks of) a building, each strengthens the other.” He (SAW) illustrated this by interlacing the fingers of both his hands.

May Allah SWT bless this Ummah and accept the pilgrimage of the hujaj as hajj mabrur, and May he (SWT) bring about the true and lasting Unity that this Ummah so desperately needs- ameen!

Assalamu-alaikum Wr Wb

For those of you with access to Sky channel 813, Islamic Impressions is currently running an Ad on the Islam Channel to promote our Store outlets this Ramadhan. Here is a video of the Ad.

Aqib

Assalamu-Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu.

Recently I was in Europe on a research mission with the aim of developing the latest in shop fixtures and fittings for the new Birmingham Ladypool Road outlet. My aim is to create a unique and unprecedented shopping environment for our Birmingham customers that will not only be ergonomically outstanding but also functional and easy for our customers to navigate and shop. Even our acclaimed Ilford flagship Store will not compare to Birmingham’s standards- inshallah! To achieve this we have manufactured special mannequins, unique hangers, an amazing counter/display area, and a lot more… here are some pictures of me hard at work with the some European retail designers!

Aqib

Aqib at work in Europe with Leading Designers

Aqib working with top European Designers for Birmingham Ladypool Rd Outlet

This weekend we undertook a site inspection at Ladypool road (Birmingham) – and our contractor Shere Khan ( what a name ) had made major progress! All the ceilings and partition walls were removed– this coming week is going to be really interesting as we are going to be installing steel RSJ’s in order to remove the load bearing walls in order to create our open plan store. Currently the shop front looks dated on both sections of the store, so that’s going to be replaced with a full height glass shop front, giving it the contemporary look we are after.

Aqib

Assalamu-Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu

This is my first post on my very own blog! For me being a blogger (or a blagger as some call it) is a whole new experience, as those who know me personally would tell you I am more of a doer than a talker (or even a blagger!)

As the director of Islamic Impressions I understand it to be my mission to cater for the demands of our customers, however at the same time I believe it is a duty to create an appreciation for some of the great Islamic products that are produced in the Muslim World. In Britain, Muslim consumers, like the wider consumer market, are used to buying products which are manufactured using a lot of technology but very little individual craftsmanship. Therefore I decided to spend several months travelling throughout the Muslim World in search of high quality Islamic products that had the attention to detail I believed British Muslims were looking for.

The most amazing thing that I noticed in my travels was the unique craftsmanship in countless products throughout the Muslim world. This craftsmanship inspired me to bring these products to the forefront of our collection and to create an appreciation for these skills and the richness of Islamic culture it adds to the Islamic life style in UK.

The Ummahs dress sense in each region had its own style and charm with full adherence to the Islamic law. In the Middle East I found that the traditional dress known as the jubbah had distinct regional differences. For example in Oman they had their own style of jubbah called ‘Kandoora’ and this was different to the Saudi jubbah even though Oman and Saudi Arabia are neighbouring countries.

I also visited the Far East and South East Asia including Royal Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, and China (including Muslim populated districts of China). Over there I noticed a totally different way in which people dressed. For example Malaysian men wore a long sleeved shirt (baju) and trousers with a scarf-like cloth tied around their waist (Songket) and a religious hat (songkok). I also happened to discover a Malaysian Blue Mosque, which would surprise those who associate the ‘blue mosque’ with Turkey… I am sure they would also be dazzled by the Malaysian Blue Mosque because of its beauty and mind-boggling architecture.  

I made my journey to Thailand and visited a mosque where I was warmly greeted by my brothers in Islam. The Muslims in Thailand were really welcoming and amazed to see a Muslim from UK. They introduced me to the Ulema in the mosque and also their students.

Overall, my trip was extremely rewarding in every way- alhamdulillah. I learnt so much about the rich cultures of the Muslim world, and experienced first hand their warmth and excellent hospitality. People are very approachable and are really willing to help when you are in need. A refreshing change from British society, indeed landing back at Heathrow was a massive reality check!

Alhamdulillah, after all that globe trotting I am now back in Britain.  Alhamdulillah, Islamic Impressions has not been affected by the recession so far. This just proves the resilience of the Islamic goods market, as many of our products are considered recession-proof essentials for Muslims who are attached to their deen. We pray to Allah SWT to protect the Ummah from the effects of this man-made economic crisis.

We are keenly pursuing an expansion strategy aimed at increasing our presence and accessibility to the Muslim community across the country and even abroad. Our Denmark Store is still going strong and we have even opened a Store in Trinidad, West Indies! Here in London we are currently settling into new offices based at our 10,000 sq ft warehouse in East London, and the arrival of our various summer collections is imminent. We are extremely excited about the coming 6 months, and with more big projects in the pipeline all I can say is ‘watch this space, inshallah’! J

Aqib