الثلاثاء، 31 ديسمبر 2013
الاثنين، 30 ديسمبر 2013
Morning prayers" ya ALLAH"
أَصْـبَحْنا وَأَصْـبَحَ المُـلْكُ لله وَالحَمدُ لله ، لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ وَحدَهُ لا شَريكَ لهُ، لهُ المُـلكُ ولهُ الحَمْـد، وهُوَ على كلّ شَيءٍ قدير ، رَبِّ أسْـأَلُـكَ خَـيرَ ما في هـذا اليوم وَخَـيرَ ما بَعْـدَه ، وَأَعـوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَـرِّ هـذا اليوم وَشَرِّ ما بَعْـدَه، رَبِّ أَعـوذُبِكَ مِنَ الْكَسَـلِ وَسـوءِ الْكِـبَر ، رَبِّ أَعـوذُبِكَ مِنْ عَـذابٍ في النّـارِ وَعَـذابٍ في القَـبْر. [مسلم 4/2088]
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Asbahna wa-asbahal-mulku lillah walhamdu lillah la ilaha illal-lah, wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahul-mulku walahul-hamd, wahuwa AAala kulli shayin qadeer, rabbi as-aluka khayra ma fee hatha-alyawmi, wakhayra ma baAAdaho, wa-aAAoothu bika min sharri hatha-alyawmi, washarri ma baAAdaho, rabbi aAAoothu bika minal-kasal, wasoo-il kibar, rabbi aAAoothu bika min AAathabin fin-nar, waAAathabin fil-qabr.
‘We have reached the morning and at this very time unto Allah belongs all sovereignty, and all praise is for Allah. None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He is over all things omnipotent. My Lord, I ask You for the good of this day and the good of what follows it and I take refuge in You from the evil of this day and the evil of what follows it. My Lord, I take refuge in You from laziness and senility. My Lord, I take refuge in You from torment in the Fire and punishment in the grave.’ |
2- اللّهُـمَّ بِكَ أَصْـبَحْنا وَبِكَ أَمْسَـينا ، وَبِكَ نَحْـيا وَبِكَ نَمُـوتُ وَإِلَـيْكَ النُّـشُور. [الترمذي 5/466]
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Allahumma bika asbahna wabika amsayna, wabika nahya ,wabika namootu wa-ilaykan-nushoor.
‘O Allah, by your leave we have reached the morning and by Your leave we have reached the evening, by Your leave we live and die and unto You is our resurrection.’ |
3- اللّهـمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّـي لا إلهَ إلاّ أَنْتَ ، خَلَقْتَنـي وَأَنا عَبْـدُك ، وَأَنا عَلـى عَهْـدِكَ وَوَعْـدِكَ ما اسْتَـطَعْـت ، أَعـوذُبِكَ مِنْ شَـرِّ ما صَنَـعْت ، أَبـوءُ لَـكَ بِنِعْـمَتِـكَ عَلَـيَّ وَأَبـوءُ بِذَنْـبي فَاغْفـِرْ لي فَإِنَّـهُ لا يَغْـفِرُ الذُّنـوبَ إِلاّ أَنْتَ . [البخاري 7/150]
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Allahumma anta rabbee la ilaha illa ant, khalaqtanee wa-ana AAabduk, wa-ana AAala AAahdika wawaAAdika mas-tataAAt, aAAoothu bika min sharri ma sanaAAt, aboo-o laka biniAAmatika AAalay, wa-aboo-o bithanbee, faghfir lee fa-innahu la yaghfiruth-thunooba illa ant.
‘O Allah, You are my Lord, none has the right to be worshipped except You, You created me and I am Your servant and I abide to Your covenant and promise as best I can, I take refuge in You from the evil of which I have committed. I acknowledge Your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for verily none can forgive sin except You.’ |
4- اللّهُـمَّ إِنِّـي أَصْبَـحْتُ أَُشْـهِدُك ، وَأُشْـهِدُ حَمَلَـةَ عَـرْشِـك ، وَمَلائِكَتِك ، وَجَمـيعَ خَلْـقِك ، أَنَّـكَ أَنْـتَ اللهُ لا إلهَ إلاّ أَنْـتَ وَحْـدَكَ لا شَريكَ لَـك ، وَأَنَّ ُ مُحَمّـداً عَبْـدُكَ وَرَسـولُـك .(أربع مرات ) [أبو داود 4/317]
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Allahumma innee asbahtu oshhiduk, wa-oshhidu hamalata AAarshik, wamala-ikatak, wajameeAAa khalqik, annaka antal-lahu la ilaha illa ant, wahdaka la shareeka lak, wa-anna Muhammadan AAabduka warasooluk (four times).
‘O Allah, verily I have reached the morning and call on You, the bearers of Your throne, Your angles, and all of Your creation to witness that You are Allah, none has the right to be worshipped except You, alone, without partner and that Muhammad is Your Servant and Messenger.’ (four times). |
5- اللّهُـمَّ ما أَصْبَـَحَ بي مِـنْ نِعْـمَةٍ أَو بِأَحَـدٍ مِـنْ خَلْـقِك ، فَمِـنْكَ وَحْـدَكَ لا شريكَ لَـك ، فَلَـكَ الْحَمْـدُ وَلَـكَ الشُّكْـر . [أبو داود 4/318]
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Allahumma ma asbaha bee min niAAmatin, aw bi-ahadin min khalqik, faminka wahdaka la shareeka lak, falakal-hamdu walakash-shukr.
‘O Allah, what blessing I or any of Your creation have risen upon, is from You alone, without partner, so for You is all praise and unto You all thanks.’ |
6- اللّهُـمَّ عافِـني في بَدَنـي ، اللّهُـمَّ عافِـني في سَمْـعي ، اللّهُـمَّ عافِـني في بَصَـري ، لا إلهَ إلاّ أَنْـتَ . (ثلاثاً)
اللّهُـمَّ إِنّـي أَعـوذُبِكَ مِنَ الْكُـفر ، وَالفَـقْر ، وَأَعـوذُبِكَ مِنْ عَذابِ القَـبْر ، لا إلهَ إلاّ أَنْـتَ . (ثلاثاً) [أبو داود 4/324] |
Allahumma AAafinee fee badanee, allahumma AAafinee fee samAAee, allahumma AAafinee fee basaree, la ilaha illa ant.(three times).
Allahumma innee aAAoothu bika minal-kufr, walfaqr, wa-aAAoothu bika min AAathabil-qabr, la ilaha illa ant (three times). ‘O Allah, grant my body health, O Allah, grant my hearing health, O Allah, grant my sight health. None has the right to be worshipped except You.’ (three times) ‘O Allah, I take refuge with You from disbelief and poverty, and I take refuge with You from the punishment of the grave. None has the right to be worshipped except You.’ (three times) |
7- حَسْبِـيَ اللّهُ لا إلهَ إلاّ هُوَ عَلَـيهِ تَوَكَّـلتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ العَرْشِ العَظـيم . ( سبع مَرّات حينَ يصْبِح وَيمسي) [أبو داود موقوفاً 4/321]
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Hasbiyal-lahu la ilaha illa huwa, AAalayhi tawakkalt, wahuwa rabbul-AAarshil-AAatheem
‘Allah is Sufficient for me, none has the right to be worshipped except Him, upon Him I rely and He is Lord of the exalted throne.’ (seven times morning and evening) |
8- أَعـوذُبِكَلِمـاتِ اللّهِ التّـامّـاتِ مِنْ شَـرِّ ما خَلَـق . (ثلاثاً إِذا أمسى) [أحمد 2/290، وصحيح الترمذي 3/187]
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aAAoothu bikalimatil-lahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq.
‘I take refuge in Allah’s perfect words from the evil He has created.’ (three times in the evening) |
9- اللّهُـمَّ إِنِّـي أسْـأَلُـكَ العَـفْوَ وَالعـافِـيةَ في الدُّنْـيا وَالآخِـرَة ، اللّهُـمَّ إِنِّـي أسْـأَلُـكَ العَـفْوَ وَالعـافِـيةَ في ديني وَدُنْـيايَ وَأهْـلي وَمالـي ، اللّهُـمَّ اسْتُـرْ عـوْراتي وَآمِـنْ رَوْعاتـي ، اللّهُـمَّ احْفَظْـني مِن بَـينِ يَدَيَّ وَمِن خَلْفـي وَعَن يَمـيني وَعَن شِمـالي ، وَمِن فَوْقـي ، وَأَعـوذُ بِعَظَمَـتِكَ أَن أُغْـتالَ مِن تَحْتـي . [صحيح ابن ماجه 2/332]
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Allahumma innee as-alukal-AAafwa walAAafiyah, fid-dunya wal-akhirah, allahumma innee as-alukal-AAafwa walAAafiyah fee deenee, wadunyaya wa-ahlee, wamalee, allahummas-tur AAawratee, wa-amin rawAAatee, allahummah-fathnee min bayni yaday, wamin khalfee, waAAan yameenee, waAAan shimalee, wamin fawqee, wa-aAAoothu biAAathamatika an oghtala min tahtee.
‘O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in this life and the next. O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in my religious and worldly affairs, and my family and my wealth. O Allah, veil my weaknesses and set at ease my dismay. O Allah, preserve me from the front and from behind and on my right and on my left and from above, and I take refuge with You lest I be swallowed up by the earth.’ |
10- اللّهُـمَّ عالِـمَ الغَـيْبِ وَالشّـهادَةِ فاطِـرَ السّماواتِ وَالأرْضِ رَبَّ كـلِّ شَـيءٍ وَمَليـكَه ، أَشْهَـدُ أَنْ لا إِلـهَ إِلاّ أَنْت ، أَعـوذُ بِكَ مِن شَـرِّ نَفْسـي وَمِن شَـرِّ الشَّيْـطانِ وَشِـرْكِه ، وَأَنْ أَقْتَـرِفَ عَلـى نَفْسـي سوءاً أَوْ أَجُـرَّهُ إِلـى مُسْـلِم. [صحيح الترمذي 3/142]
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Allahumma AAalimal-ghaybi washshahadah, fatiras-samawati wal-ard, rabba kulli shayin wamaleekah, ashhadu an la ilaha illa ant, aAAoothu bika min sharri nafsee wamin sharrish-shaytani washirkih, waan aqtarifa AAala nafsee soo-an aw ajurrahu ila muslim.
‘O Allah, Knower of the unseen and the seen, Creator of the heavens and the Earth, Lord and Sovereign of all things, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except You. I take refuge in You from the evil of my soul and from the evil and shirk of the devil, and from committing wrong against my soul or bringing such upon another Muslim.’ |
11- بِسـمِ اللهِ الذي لا يَضُـرُّ مَعَ اسمِـهِ شَيءٌ في الأرْضِ وَلا في السّمـاءِ وَهـوَ السّمـيعُ العَلـيم . (ثلاثاً) [أبو داود 4/323]
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Bismil-lahil-lathee la yadurru maAAas-mihi shay-on fil-ardi wala fis-sama-i wahuwas-sameeAAul-AAaleem.
‘In the name of Allah with whose name nothing is harmed on earth nor in the heavens and He is The All-Seeing, The All-Knowing.’(three times) |
12- رَضيـتُ بِاللهِ رَبَّـاً وَبِالإسْلامِ ديـناً وَبِمُحَـمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَبِيّـاً . (ثلاثاً) [أبو داود 4/318]
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Radeetu billahi rabban wabil-islami deenan wabiMuhammadin peace be upon to him nabiyya.
‘I am pleased with Allah as a Lord, and Islam as a religion and Muhammad peace be upon to him as a Prophet.’(three times |
13- سُبْحـانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْـدِهِ عَدَدَ خَلْـقِه ، وَرِضـا نَفْسِـه ، وَزِنَـةَ عَـرْشِـه ، وَمِـدادَ كَلِمـاتِـه . (ثلاثاً) [مسلم 4/2090]
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Subhanal-lahi wabihamdih, AAadada khalqihi warida nafsih, wazinata AAarshih, wamidada kalimatih.
‘How perfect Allah is and I praise Him by the number of His creation and His pleasure, and by the weight of His throne, and the ink of His words.’(three times) |
14- سُبْحـانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْـدِهِ . (مائة مرة) [مسلم 4/2071]
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Subhanal-lahi wabihamdih.
‘How perfect Allah is and I praise Him.’(one hundred times) |
15- يا حَـيُّ يا قَيّـومُ بِـرَحْمَـتِكِ أَسْتَـغـيث ، أَصْلِـحْ لي شَـأْنـي كُلَّـه ، وَلا تَكِلـني إِلى نَفْـسي طَـرْفَةَ عَـين . [صحيح الترغيب والترهيب 1/273]
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Ya hayyu ya qayyoom, birahmatika astagheeth, aslih lee sha/nee kullah, wala takilnee ila nafsee tarfata AAayn.
‘O Ever Living, O Self-Subsisting and Supporter of all, by Your mercy I seek assistance, rectify for me all of my affairs and do not leave me to myself, even for the blink of an eye.’ |
16- لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ وحْـدَهُ لا شَـريكَ لهُ، لهُ المُـلْكُ ولهُ الحَمْـد، وهُوَ على كُلّ شَيءٍ قَدير . (مائة مرة) [البخاري 4/95 ومسلم 4/2071]
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La ilaha illal-lah, wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahul-mulku walahul-hamd, wahuwa AAala kulli shay-in qadeer.
‘None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise, and He is over all things omnipotent.’ (one hundred times) |
17- أَصْبَـحْـنا وَأَصْبَـحْ المُـلكُ للهِ رَبِّ العـالَمـين ، اللّهُـمَّ إِنِّـي أسْـأَلُـكَ خَـيْرَ هـذا الـيَوْم ، فَـتْحَهُ ، وَنَصْـرَهُ ، وَنـورَهُ وَبَـرَكَتَـهُ ، وَهُـداهُ ، وَأَعـوذُ بِـكَ مِـنْ شَـرِّ ما فـيهِ وَشَـرِّ ما بَعْـدَه . [أبو داود 4/322]
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Asbahna wa-asbahal-mulku lillahi rabbil-AAalameen, allahumma innee as-aluka khayra hathal-yawm, fat-hahu, wanasrahu, wanoorahu, wabarakatahu, wahudahu, wa-aAAoothu bika min sharri ma feehi, washarri ma baAAdah.
‘We have reached the morning and at this very time all sovereignty belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds. O Allah, I ask You for the good of this day, its triumphs and its victories, its light and its blessings and its guidance, and I take refuge in You from the evil of this day and the evil that follows it.’ |
Michael Schumacher at critical stage in treatment for head injury
Michael Schumacher, who suffered serious head injuries while skiing off-piste in the French Alps, is in intensive care at the University Hospital of Grenoble Photograph: Olycom SPA/REX
Doctors have reached a critical stage in their treatment of Michael Schumacher who suffered a serious head injury while skiing off-piste at the Méribel resort in the French Alps.
The former Formula One motor racing champion has been moved to an intensive care unit at the University Hospital of Grenoble where the priority is to prevent a dangerous build-up of pressure in his brain. Severe swelling stops blood flowing into the brain and starves it of oxygen, causing damage that can be fatal.
Schumacher was able to speak directly after the accident, but became agitated and fell into a coma soon after he arrived at Grenoble by air ambulance. He is now under anaesthetic to keep him in a coma and give his brain the best chance of recovery. Doctors performed emergency surgery on Schumacher to remove a blood clot that was pressing on his brain. They are now keeping him in a state of hypothermia, which cools the brain to 34 to 35C, to reduce pressure caused by the swelling of his brain.
Peter Andrews, professor of intensive care at Edinburgh University, who is leading the world's largest trial of hypothermia to reduce brain pressure, said a head injury that was severe enough to cause a coma was fatal in about 25 to 30% of cases, though other experts said the figure was closer to 15%.
"The problem with any acute brain injury is that the brain is a very delicate organ. The skull cannot expand, so when the brain swells, the pressure goes up, and it constricts its own blood supply. It cuts
the oxygen to the brain and worsens the damage, and that could potentially kill him," he said
the oxygen to the brain and worsens the damage, and that could potentially kill him," he said
Brain scans showed that Schumacher suffered bruising on both sides of his brain. Whether the damage is permanent, and how severe it may be, will be clear only once he has come out of coma and doctors can assess his condition more fully.
To induce hypothermia, doctors inject patients with saline solution chilled to 4C. The patients are covered with a cooling blanket to hold them at a few degrees below normal body temperature. The cooling lowers the brain's demand for oxygen, which in turn reduces the volume of blood flowing into the organ. Cooling may also reduce inflammation in the brain.
But the swelling may not reach its peak for a few days yet. If doctors cannot control the pressure by cooling alone, they may perform an operation called decompressive craniectomy, which removes a large section of bone from the front or side of the skull to relieve pressure on the brain. The procedure is controversial, though, and can cause patients more harm than good.
"The goal now is to control the brain pressure, that is the critical stage they are at," said Peter Hutchinson, a reader in neurotrauma at Cambridge University. Inducing hypothermia puts patients at greater risk of infections, especially chest infections, which intensive care staff will be watching for. The next 48 to 72 hours would be crucial for Schumacher's recovery, Hutchinson said.
When Schumacher's brain pressure returns to normal, doctors can start to warm him up again. This is done very slowly, at about 0.25C per hour, to avoid the brain swelling up again. Doctors can then stop administering the anaesthetic that is keeping him in a coma and wait to see if he comes round.
"When you stop the anaesthetic, you look for the time of emergence from the coma. It will be a gradual process of recovery. It can take hours for a minor injury, or it can take days or weeks," Hutchinson said. Patients who are still in a coma after six months are said to be in a persistent vegetative state.
The bruising on Schumacher's brain is similar to that seen in victims of road traffic accidents, when the head stops suddenly but the brain keeps moving inside the skull. The blow causes shearing forces that damage the brain tissue. If Schumacher survives, as many surgeons believe he will, his recovery depends on how serious these injuries are, and which parts of the brain are affected.
"When nerves get damaged or torn, the brain has very limited capacity to repair itself. So it depends where the lesions are and whether you have reserves. Some parts of the brain are less important than others," said Hutchinson.
"Everyone is trying to speculate about an outcome, but that is very difficult. The trouble with brain injuries is that they are all so different. The worry is, if you are going to survive, what is the quality of survival? The potential for disability may be severe," said Hutchinson.
Tony Belli, a consultant neurosurgeon and reader in neurotrauma at Birmingham University, said that Schumacher's age, fitness and psychological strength would help his recovery. "He's got a lot of factors in his favour. He's more likely than not to make a good recovery, despite all the concerns that have been raised. From the description of his injuries, it will take weeks, even months to recover, but I do expect him to make a good recovery."
الأحد، 29 ديسمبر 2013
السبت، 28 ديسمبر 2013
Stocks pause at end of strong week
December 27, 2013: 4:10 PM ET
Stocks were little changed at the end of a strong week as investors head into the home stretch of what has been a terrific year for Wall Street.
The Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 ended flat Friday. The Nasdaq fell slightly. For the week, all three indexes advanced more than 1%. Trading volume has been below average this week with many money managers absent for the holidays.
Markets have charted big gains this year. The Dow is up more than 25% and S&P 500 has gained nearly 30%. The Nasdaq has soared 38%. The Dow is on track for its biggest annual gain since 1996 and the S&P 500 is on pace for its strongest year since 1997.
Several factors have helped spur gains this year, including ongoing economic stimulus from the Federal Reserve, increased confidence in the economy and solid corporate earnings growth.
Earlier this month, the Fed announced that it will modestly reduce its bond buying program in January. But many experts believe the bull market will continue for a sixth year in 2014, albeit at a more modest pace.
In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose to 3% for a second day. That's the highest level of the year and some investors say it could set the stage for higher interest rates next year.
Delta Airlines (DAL, Fortune 500) shares fell after a glitch caused steeply discounted tickets to be offered online Thursday.
Some StockTwits traders said the selling in Delta stock was overdone.
"$DAL hahaha seriously, People freak out and sell over something like this. Hilarious," saidApeneck.
Another trader joked that Delta may have revealed the true cost of its airfares.
Sprint (S, Fortune 500) shares surged amid ongoing speculation that SoftBank, the Japanese conglomerate that owns the telecommunications company, is working on a $20 billion bid to buy rival T-Mobile (TMUS).
Shares of Twitter (TWTR) were under pressure following a strong rally this month. Even with Friday's declines, Twitter stock is up more than 57% in December.
Some traders said the selling is just getting started.
"$TWTR too early to call the drop over..." said straightsix.
Others said it was not surprising given the run Twitter has had this month.
"$TWTR healhty for this to give up 10 points here," said OptionsNoobi.
Facebook (FB, Fortune 500) shares have also been on a tear this month. The social network has gained more than 20% in December, but shares were little changed Friday.
الجمعة، 27 ديسمبر 2013
الأربعاء، 25 ديسمبر 2013
5 purchases to squeeze in before the end of the year
You could miss out on tax credits and more if you don't make these last-minute purchases.
With only about a week to go before the end of the year, you may be thinking you're all done shopping until 2014. However, don't let the books close on 2013 without considering these last-minute purchases.
1. Make your health insurance plan official
If you signed up for health insurance through one of the government exchanges, the clock is ticking for you to make your plan official.
Originally, all policies were requiring the first month's premium payment by Dec. 31 in order for coverage to begin on Jan. 1. However, some insurers have extended the deadline to Jan. 10. Check with your health insurance company to be sure.
And if you haven't already found a plan, the week between Christmas and New Year's Day may be a good, down week to check out HealthCare.gov or otherwise research your options. While you have until March 31 to enroll in a plan through the government exchanges, life is bound to get busy again once we roll into 2014.
2. Buy that car, boat or other large toy
Have your eye on a new ride? You might want to hop to it. Not only do some auto manufacturers issue year-end rebates and incentives to clear out older models, salespeople might be motivated to wheel and deal as they try to meet their monthly sales quotas or goals.
Perhaps even more important is that the sales tax deduction could be going away in 2014.
10 trends changing how you'll shop in 2014
Chances are you've already thought a lot about shopping this holiday season, but brace yourself for 2014, too -- it's going to be a whole new ball game.
As the U.S. economy continues to its slow climb from the depths of the recession, a better job market and increased home values finally have consumers spending again.
Retail sales ticked up 0.6 percent in October, and while it remains to be seen whether holiday shopping will increase the 3.9 percent projected, it’s clear that the U.S. consumer is back.
Still, today’s consumer is not the same debt-laden, luxury-lusting, frequent shopper that hit the malls back in 2008. More than 70 percent of shoppers still feel like they’re in a recession and are shopping less than they did five years ago, according to a recent Nielsen study.
Changes to the consumer psyche aren’t the only things changing the way we purchase things. Technological advances and evolving expectations are also altering the shopping experience. Here are 10 trends that will change the way you shop next year:
1. Mobile purchasing goes mainstream. E-commerce has been growing for years, but now consumers are shifting away from purchasing items from their desktop or laptop to buying via their phone or tablet. This year, mobile shopping accounted for 17 percent of Cyber Monday shopping, a 55 percent increase over last year, according to IBM. Experts expect the shift to mobile to accelerate even further in 2014.
2. Delivery times will decrease. Just as most online retailers have made free shipping de rigueur, they’re also shortening delivery times. For years now, Amazon has offered 48-hour shipping to its Prime customers, and now the shipping giant, along with competitors like Wal-Mart and Google are testing same-day delivery in some markets. Other retailers like Best Buy allow customers to pick up an item in-store within a few hours of placing an order.
3. Everything will be personalized. Advances in manufacturing and other technology are allowing more retailers to offer customers what’s known as “mass customization,” or the ability to personalize everything from sneakers to cell phones. Consumers can create products to their exact specifications, including colors, size, and features. Early adopters of mass customization, including Nike and Warby Parker have proven that buyers will pay a premium for bespoke items.
4. New outlet stores abound. Today’s consumer is both brand-aware and cost-conscious, making him the ideal outlet store shopper, and developers and retailers have taken note. More than half of all Saks stores are now outlets, and 13 of the 15 planned stores for the next two years will be outlet stores. Nordstrom is planning 30 more Nordstrom Rack stores in 2014.
5. Your phone is your wallet. Although making mobile wallets mainstream is still a few years off, their acceptance at major retailers and by consumers will continue to grow next year. Experts expect many of the startup mobile wallet players to consolidate this year, leaving a few big players—like PayPal and Google--to make inroads with shoppers. Early adopters may score some great perks or incentives for testing out the technology.
6. Big Boxes continue get smaller. Department stores and other large retailers like Best Buy realized a few years ago that bigger isn’t always better when it comes to store size, especially since even the biggest store can’t compete with the offerings of a virtual warehouse like Amazon. Accelerating the shift is a trend among consumers away from malls and exurbs, back to traditional urban centers and smaller downtown “Main Street” type areas, that don’t accommodate 40,000-square-foot storefronts.
7. Couponing will go high-tech. The post-recession consumer is still spending carefully and looking for ways to stretch his dollar, with 51 percent of consumers using coupons more often, according to McKinsey & Co.But today’s coupon users aren’t clipping the Sunday circulars or even searching online for the best coupon. Instead, they’re putting technology to work for them with tools like the web-based Coupons at Checkout, which automatically scans the Web to give you a relevant discount code before you make a purchase, or Shopular, a mobile app that automatically sends you phone coupons when you walk into a store.
8. Buying local goes beyond the grocery store. The move toward locally sourced items has taken firm root in the food space, both in restaurants and at grocery stores, but now the trend is expanding into the broader retail space. More than a third of consumers this holiday season planned to shop at small, local businesses, up from about a quarter in 2012, according to Deluxe Corp. This shift reflects growing demand for unique products and personalized service, as well as an awareness that shopping local can boost one’s home economy.
9. In-store experiences will be better. After years of lamenting show-rooming—the practice of seeing, touching and testing a product in a store before buying it online—retailers are now finding ways to differentiate the in-store shopping experience from the one shoppers find online. They’re offering in-store only products, events, and services, aimed at bringing and keeping customers into their stores, and getting them to spend money while they’re there. More than 80 percent of consumers said they’d pay more for a product if they had a great experience with it, according to a study by branding agency Jack Morton.
10. Big data will bring more dynamic pricing. Like all industries, retail is turning to big data to find ways to maximize profits, which often means instituting dynamic pricing models both online and in-store. Retailers have always increased prices during times of high demand and slashed them when traffic is weaker, but today’s data allows them to do this in a much more relevant and real-time manner. In addition to shifting prices based on demand, retailers will use geo-targeting and other technology to maximize prices based on both geographic and consumer-purchasing history.
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Chances are you've already thought a lot about shopping this holiday season, but brace yourself for 2014, too -- it's going to be...
