SHOPLOCAL NAMES VIKRAM SHARMA AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER


Chicago- September 26, 2006 – ShopLocal, LLC announced today that it has named Vikram Sharma as its chief executive officer. Sharma, 47, has been with ShopLocal for over a year as Chief Operating Officer and has been a driving force in furthering the company’s mission and vision. Sharma replaces ShopLocal founder Brian Hand, who is leaving ShopLocal to lead an early stage company, Parity Communications, Inc.

"ShopLocal is one of the Internet's most visited shopping sites so I'm thrilled at the opportunity to build upon our success," said Sharma. "My focus is on providing consumers and advertisers a premium Web site experience and a comprehensive set of services that enable both online and in-store shopping."

“It has been a joy to found and build a great, sustaining company, and I am proud of the great group of employees and management team at ShopLocal,” said Brian Hand. “ShopLocal is poised for continued strong growth under Vikram’s able and experienced leadership.”

Sharma brings more than 20 years of experience in successfully leveraging technology and innovations to create competitive advantages for customers, suppliers and partners. This includes 15 years in retail and marketing services at IRI where he led the development of IRI’s revolutionary scanner-based InfoScan service, and was part of the senior management team that grew the company to become a $500MM industry leader. Sharma was also partner and chief information officer at Grant Thornton LLP, where he led a worldwide technology modernization program.

Sharma received a bachelor’s of science degree from the Indian Institute of Technology and earned an MBA and a master's in computer science from the University of Illinois.

ShopLocal, LLC, offers consumers and retailers a comprehensive marketplace for multi-channel shopping and advertising. 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, SmartMedia services and MyStore by ShopLocal, retailers can distribute sales and promotional content on the site as well as through their own Web sites, integrating 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.

# # #