I started off my morning hunting for great last-minute gifts for my radio interview with Lucy Ann Lance of Ann Arbor Radio's AM 1290 this morning, and the managers helped me find some pretty exciting items. Starting from the back, we have a GAP buttoned turtle neck sweater for her, which is currently 25% off. Chico's jewelry, bold and rustic, featured here is buy-one-get one 25% coupled with their 20% off everything in the store today, it's a great find. Then you see The Walking Company's Mukluks from Zealand, which are the essential slipper with skid-resistant soles that fit calf-high. Quite the ski-resort comfort for the season. Then you see the Venturi featured at Brookstone, which helps to aerate wine to release the aromas and flavors from wine as you poor. A movie-theater style popcorn maker from Williams Sonoma is another great buy, with its own lid-turned-popcorn bucket contraption and is their featured item this week for only $39.95. From iT... we have a hand-crafted photo book made in Michigan, and Footlocker has this wonderful UM hoodie for only $19.95. Teavona has the perfect pairing for their selection of ninety-nine loose-leaf teas - an etched bouquet teapot set hand-made in Japan, selling for $89.95. And if you are still not sure what to buy, Briarwood features the Simon Giftcard, with an assortment of holiday styles, from American Express. Good anywhere American Express is accepted, it never loses its value due to fees, and can be replaced if lost or stolen.

With just 4 days of the holiday shopping season left, a study released today by Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG), owners of Briarwood, shows consumers are turning to malls this year to find that perfect gift and to take advantage of special values and savings.

By a four-to-one margin, shoppers said the local shopping mall is the best place to find holiday gifts this year, according to a study commissioned by Simon and conducted by Stone Research Services. The survey, conducted online between Dec. 1 and Dec. 13, 2009, polled 1,050 randomly selected mall shoppers.

Topping the list of holiday gifts that shoppers planned to buy was apparel. With 83 percent of survey respondents targeting apparel, it's no wonder that the mall is their destination of choice, said Ida Hendrix, mall manager. We have more brands and retailers to choose from than anywhere else.

Gift cards followed as the gift of choice among 65 percent of survey respondents, with more than two in five shoppers planning to buy Simon Giftcards from their local mall. Gift cards are flexible and convenient gifting options - and they're great for that last-minute shopper, said Hendrix. Customers really love our new American Express/Simon Giftcard. There are no fees after purchase, and the funds never expire. It's the perfect gift card to stick under the tree or use as a stocking stuffer, and it comes in several fun, festive designs.

Other popular gifts identified in the survey included electronics, toys, jewelry, tools, food, household items and décor gifts. Bargain hunting and wide selections continue to be a big draw for consumers. Among survey respondents, 42 percent said they were chiefly concerned with finding the best deals, while 31 percent said their biggest concern was making purchases that fit their budget.

Easing those concerns, Simon Malls launched its Shop Smarter Savings program in November, and it has proven to be extremely popular among shoppers. The Shop Smarter Savings flyer -- available online at www.simon.com and at Simon mall entrances and Guest Service counters - offers a wide variety of retailer special savings promotions and coupons.

This strategy is resonating very well with consumers, said Hendrix. According to the survey, nearly nine out of 10 respondents found the Shop Smarter flyers valuable.

With the great value, wide retailer selection and holiday fun, our mall has been a holiday bright spot for consumers, Hendrix added. They're finding bargains and are enjoying wonderful free holiday entertainment, like music, carolers, festive decorations and fun activities.

Survey respondents also indicated various perks would attract them to the mall during the holiday season. In fact, about half of the respondents said they would like to see free gift wrapping or comfortable relaxation places. Nearly four in five of survey's respondents said such amenities were additional reasons to shop at malls over other places. This year, Briarwood Mall also offered consumers gift wrapping services to benefit local charities, comfortable Rejuvenation Stations, where shoppers can relax, free holiday entertainment and other amenities to add to consumers' holiday shopping experience, Hendrix added.

Gift card giveaways were also popular, three-fourths of survey participants For example, 90 percent of the respondents said the gift card giveaways at local malls were an excellent reason to shop at there over other places.

For additional information about activities and deals happening at Simon malls, visit www.simon.com. Shoppers can also keep up on the latest offerings by following Briarwood Mall on Twitter at twitter.com/BriarwoodMall and on Facebook at Facebook.com/BriarwoodMall.

Briarwood offers shoppers over 120 stores from which to choose and is anchored by Macy's, JCPenney, Sears and Von Maur. A 1,013,000 square foot property located in Ann Arbor, Briarwood is located at the intersection of State Street and I-94, the major east-west freeway in Southern Michigan that connects Ann Arbor to the airport and downtown Detroit. The mall is three miles south of downtown Ann Arbor.

About Simon Property Group Simon Property Group, Inc. is an S&P 500 company and the largest public U.S. real estate company. Simon is a fully integrated real estate company which operates from five retail real estate platforms: regional malls, Premium Outlet Centers®, The Mills®, community/lifestyle centers and international properties. It currently owns or has an interest in 385 properties comprising 262 million square feet of gross leasable area in North America, Europe and Asia. The Company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employs more than 5,000 people worldwide. Simon Property Group, Inc. is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol SPG. For further information, visit the Company's website at www.simon.com.