Tuesday November 21, 8:03 am Eastern Time

### Press Release

SOURCE: Concord Mills

## Mills Consumers Share Gift Lists and Insights In the 'Holiday 2000 Shopper Survey'

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Santa's making a list and checking it twice, but what about shoppers from across the Carolinas? Concord Mills and Mills consumers, help provide insight into their gift lists and spending habits this season based on a Holiday 2000 intercept poll of 500 shoppers, conducted at Concord Mills, October 27-29. Here's what's hot this holiday straight from the Reindeer's mouth.

Furby takes a break. In the absence of a mega-hit gift for children this season, Concord Mills asked customers what tops the list. Responses covered a range of toys and games. To no great surprise, the Sony PlayStation 2 had the highest marks, with 23 percent. Up next, ``Who Wants to be a Millionaire'' board game was the final answer, followed by The Robotic Puppy and Let's Pretend Elmo, both tying for third place. In addition, an overwhelming 70 percent of the respondents said that clothing is the gift of choice.

``We attract a large cross-section of the public -- so it's always interesting to take a look at the survey outcomes and see what's on the Carolina shopper's gift list,'' said Lynne Priestley, director of marketing at Concord Mills.

Consumers will spend an average of eight hundred and thirty-six dollars on holiday gifts this year, expecting to buy on average twenty-five gifts, according to the Consumer and Retailer Mood Survey conducted by Deloitte & Touche in affiliation with the National Retail Federation. For a glimpse into Carolina wallets, the Concord Mills Holiday 2000 survey indicates that overall, 42 percent of the people will spend more, 43 percent will spend the same and 25 percent will spend less than in 1999.

        What else are Carolina shoppers buying this holiday season?
        * For the female adult, it depends on who's doing the shopping:
          * When a man is purchasing a gift for a woman, jewelry and apparel are
            the popular choice:
            * Jewelry:  45 percent
            * Apparel: 45 percent
            * Gift certificates: 26 percent
          * When a woman purchases a gift for another woman, they are more likely
            to buy a gift for the home:
            * Apparel: 42 percent
            * Jewelry:  33 percent
            * Home accessories:  22 percent
        * For the male adult, it's much more consistent.  Overall, for the man on
          the list, regardless of who's buying, apparel (43 percent) is the gift
          of choice, followed by gift certificates (29 percent) and electronics
          (18 percent).

``People come to Concord Mills during the holidays to have fun with their family and friends -- and to find the perfect gifts for everyone on their list,'' said Priestley. ``We pride ourselves in our wide selection of options - - from shopping to entertainment.''

Concord Mills is a 1.4-million-square-foot (GLA) market dominant retail and entertainment destination, boasting 200 retailers including manufacturer's and retail outlets, off-price retailers, category dominant stores, and exciting dining and entertainment venues. The center is expected to attract 15-18 million visitors each year. Concord Mills has created 3,500 new full and part-time jobs and is expected to generate $300 million a year in retail sales and $18 million annually in tax revenue to the city of Concord, Cabarrus County, and the state of North Carolina.

The Mills Corporation is a self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) based in Arlington, Va., that owns, develops, leases, manages and markets a portfolio of 11 market dominant retail and entertainment destinations (10 Mills and one Block) totaling approximately 16 million square feet in nine states. Currently, the company has six projects under construction and/or development in the United States and one in Toronto, Canada. The company's Internet address is www.millscorp.com.

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