The most common non-UK countries of birth for usual residents of England and Wales in 2011 were India, Poland and Pakistan. Poland showed by far the largest percentage increase in the top ten countries of birth, with a nine-fold rise over the last decade and following its accession to the EU in 2004.

London is the most diverse place in the country, with under half — 45.8 percent — of the capital’s 8.2 million residents classifying themselves as “white British.”

England and Wales has become more ethnically diverse with rising numbers of people identifying with minority ethnic groups in 2011.

The second largest religious group were Muslims at 4.8 per cent of the population. Tower Hamlets had the highest proportion of Muslims at 34.5 per cent (over 7 times the England and Wales figure).

But despite the growing number of diverse communities they still face higher levels of unemployment and are under represented in companies both at middle management and board level. The media has failed to reflect this and what is more alarming is that brands continue to overlook this growing demographic and brands spending all of their budget targeting less than 50% of the mainstream population!

Will brands and their agencies realise the potential of targeting an untapped market with a potential spending power in excess of £300 billion pounds to see them out of the economic gloom and into prosperity.

This event was absolutely fabulous and all those who attended including Mediareach staff and guests thoroughly enjoyed the fare.

Saad Saraf

CEO

www.mediareach.co.uk

Fashion week – the designers, glam, creativeness flowing all over, fabrics, goodies and pure fashion, a females heaven! Something that we experienced a few weeks ago – clutched on to Dolce & Gabanna, Roberto Cavalli, Finsk and many more, as well as indulging in the goodies. We’re still having withdrawals from leaving the event, well the ladies in the office are!

An insight: the fashion accounts for 1.7% of UK GDP, twice as much as publishing, car manufacturing or the chemical industry! (Guardian – London Fashion Week displays its global credentials: 17 Feb 2012).

The Arab and Chinese market are key consumers to this industry, with their love of fashion and luxury labels.

The average spend of a Chinese customer on a single transaction in London during January to October last year was 1,058 pounds, 10 times the average spend of the equivalent British shopper. Money is no object for many Chinese shoppers, who have become a common sight strolling the polished floors of posh London department stores such as Liberty, Harvey Nichols and Harrods. (Reuters – UK muse do more to welcome Chinese: Feb 17, 2012)
While the latest figures from West End company which represents 600 premium retailers in London West End showed that Arab shoppers spend 15 times more than the average UK shopper.

Arab tourists from Saudi & the UAE on the other hand are spending £2000 in London priciest stores with June showing an 11% rise in sales due to wealthy Arabs in the capital spending £200 million (www.thinkethnic.com)

A very tempting market, to explore fashionably…

www.mediareach.co.uk

After successfully entertaining UK audiences several times the outstanding Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Group will once again perform live in UK in Wembley Arena to an estimated 11,000 people.
Expect an evening of euphoria as the Ustad performs some of his latest Bollywood hits as well as qawalli favourites.
Who better to take forward the legacy of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan than his own blood, Rahat.
Currently the most sought after male vocalist within Bollywood and has released a string of smash hits each time going straight to number one.

Chinese New year at Trafalgar Square and China Town this Saturday 28th January was a huge success this year and attracted more than 35,000 Chinese people in London.
Trafalgar Square had Chinese stalls selling Chinese good luck charms, dragons, cookies and sauces. One of the stalls had a Chinese lady writing the names of people in Chinese, which was a Big, hit amongst people. Kids were handed balloons, flags and gifts.
At the heart of China Town was a Big Tree, where people randomly threw these colourful bags on it. The belief is if the bag hangs on the tree and stays, your wish will be granted.
Clients can take advantage of more than 40 multicultural events taking place in the UK each year.

The Maslenitsa festival London in Trafalgar Square is taking place on Sunday 26th February 2012. This national event will attract a footfall in excess of 20,000 people from 8 Soviet Union regions.
The purpose of the event is to say goodbye to winter with Vodka and pancakes, music and song at the London Maslenitsa Festival a traditional Russian festival to welcome the spring that takes place across London from 19 – 26 February 2012. The London Maslenitsa Festival is one of the largest celebrations of Russian culture, art, music and food anywhere outside Russia. Although it is a Russian cultural event it is also quite popular and well known in Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Estonia.
The Maslenitsa celebration is a centuries old Russian tradition that bids farewell to the bitter winter months and welcomes the beginning of the spring. It also marks the last feast before Lent in the Russian Orthodox calendar, when rich foodstuffs must be used up before the Lenten fast; the traditional Maslenitsa meal is a Pancake but served with a Russian twist: instead of the usual lemon and sugar, Malenitsa pancakes, or Blinis are served with Caviar and Vodka.
London’s Maslenitsa Festival takes place at the same time as across Russia including Moscow’s Red Square. Londoners will able to exchange traditional Russian Maslenitsa greetings with Muscovites via giant video screens that will connect both Festivals taking place a thousand miles apart. London’s Maslenitsa Festival has been created in cooperation with the Mayor of London, the Greater London Authority and The Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

Mediareach Advertising CEO’s Saad Saraf addressed the Money Transfer and financial services summit in London Hilton hotel on the challenges and opportunities social media is presenting.

Saad urged brands and the financial sector to keep abreast of the rapid changes and innovation the digital industry is going through and the need to adopt some of these approaches to communicate effectively with customers both locally and internationally.