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Malls know making the sale means mixing it up: 2004 a better year for sales so far.

Article Excerpt
Start with a generous helping of popular national stores, add a scoop of local stores, mix well to cover all generations, then sprinkle with special events.

That's the recipe mall managers try to follow every day to get people excited about spending money--not an easy assignment with the current economy and high gas prices. Nevertheless, managers report people are coming out to shop, as evidenced by 5% or higher sales for many this year over the same period last year.

"Sales are trending up again," said Joel Hill, manager of the state's second-largest mall, Northpark in Ridgeland. Sales there are up 5% from last year and occupancy is at 96%, which is higher than the 91% to 92% national average, said Hill. The mall took a hit when Dogwood Festival Market opened in Flowood, but Northpark has gained back the sales it lost and they are still rising.

Shoppers seemed to shed their uncertainties at the end of 2003 and sales started picking up for malls across the country, said Patrice Duker of the International Council of Shopping Centers, which tracks retail sales. The higher sales have continued into...

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