BACK-T0-SCHOOL SEASON COULD BE MUSIC TO RETAILERS’ EARS

Pencils and Pens No More: Teens Want iPod, Computer for the New School Year

Chicago- August 8, 2006 – Caveant parentes. Pens and pencils may not be obsolete – yet – but if the 70 percent of 13-17-year-olds surveyed by ShopLocal.com who want a computer for the new school year are indicative of a trend, then these writing instruments might fly the way of the dodo.

And parents might have more than they bargained for when it comes to the school supply list.

“We’re seeing a great deal of interest in some less traditional ‘school supplies’ during the back-to-school retail season,” said Brian Hand, chief executive officer of ShopLocal.com, a national Web-to-store comparison shopping site. “Among some of the biggest searches are for MP3 players – iPods specifically – and cell phones.”

Indeed, the survey* of 500 American teenagers commissioned in July by ShopLocal.com shows that 13- to 17-year-olds (roughly eighth grade through senior year in high school) want computers (70 percent), iPod or MP3 players (64 percent) and cell phones (64 percent) to complement their reading, writing and ‘rithmetic.

“Computers, without a doubt, can be used for academic pursuits, research papers and other school projects,” said Eva Yusa, known as “Eva the Shopping Diva” and a shopping efficiency expert for ShopLocal.com. “Parents should set a budget should they feel that a new computer is necessary to help their children succeed in school and then attempt to find the best deals possible online and in stores.”

The survey also found that youngsters aren’t just tech-hungry, they’re also brand-savvy. Of those that responded they’d “most want” an MP3 player for the new school year, 97 percent cited iPod as the preferred brand.

Clothing and accessories also were highly cited as desired back-to-school items. Desired brands ranged from Nike to North Face, Adidas and American Eagle Outfitters. JanSport was the most often cited backpack brand desired.

ShopLocal, LLC offers the Web’s most comprehensive multi-channel shopping resource for consumers and sales opportunities site for retailers. With ShopLocal.com and The ShopLocal Network – made up of more than 200 affiliate media, search and shopping sites – consumers have access to the only Web site with information on products from local stores side-by-side with e-commerce options. With ShopLocal’s SmartCircular, SmartCatalog and SmartMedia service, retailers can distribute sales and promotional content on the site as well as through their own Web sites, integrating both e-commerce and local, in-store promotions.

Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI), Tribune Company (NYSE:TRB), and The McClatchy Company. (NYSE:MNI), are partners in ShopLocal and other joint ventures to provide consumers online products such as CareerBuilder.com, Cars.com and Apartments.com.

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* Results are based on responses of 500 American teenagers (250 male and 250 female) ages 13-17 who participated in an online survey from July 17-21, 2006.