The market for consumer goods has never been moreprosperous, according to recent advertising businessstatistics. Classified Intelligence reported the market forclassified ads accounted for $30 billion in 2003 in theUnited States alone, a figure that also includes newspapersand online websites. During the same year, the global marketwas estimated at over $100 billion. In the Arab region, AlWaseet classifieds boasts over 4.7 million copiesdistributed weekly and a readership base of over 20 million.With its 26 operations and staff of 5,000, Al Waseet ispresent nine countries across the region. “Al Waseet provides a medium for people to buy, sell andexchange goods, keeping them updated with the latestpromotions and products featured within eight differentcategories,” said John Fawaz, the company’s managingdirector. Al Waseet includes listings for real estate, jobs,automotive sales, electronics, technology, hobbies and otheritems, and a personal classifieds section entitled BigHeart. Based in Dubai, Al Waseet International (AWI) is part ofAl Wataniya Group, which