Brandon, FL|News|
10 Business Startup Tips From 'Shop Local' Maven
Her passion for supporting local merchants inspired a business startup that is expanding across the Tampa Bay region.

Linda Hersey launched the very first Florida Patch site: Old Northeast-St. Petersburg Patch, in December 2010.
She has had many roles at Florida Patch as it has grown from a start-up to a go-to hub for information, conversation and news. She currently is a Senior Field Editor, identifying and curating real time news for nine sites in southwest Florida.
Linda is a veteran journalist and senior newsroom manager who made an early transition to New Media – way back in 2006! :)
In addition to City Editor roles in Portland, Maine, and Broward County, Florida, and years as an investigative journalist, Linda authored two primers for working journalists covering Native American issues, including "100 Questions, 500 Nations."
She holds an MBA from the Chapman School of Business, at Florida International University. She also is among the rare breed of English Majors, holding a BA in Eng. Lit. from Boston University.
Her passion for supporting local merchants inspired a business startup that is expanding across the Tampa Bay region.

She had a passion for supporting local merchants that led to a business startup expanding across the Tampa Bay region.
A passion for supporting local merchants led one woman to launch a business startup that is expanding across the Tampa Bay region.
Her passion for supporting local merchants led to a business startup that is expanding across the Tampa Bay region.
A passion for the buy local movement led this woman to start a small business that is expanding across the Tampa Bay region.
A passion for supporting local merchants inspired a small business that is expanding across the Tampa Bay region.
A passion for supporting local merchants inspired a small business that is expanding across the Tampa Bay region.
Her passion for supporting local businesses inspired her to create a small business, too.
She had a passion for supporting local businesses. She never dreamed that she would become a small business owner, too.
Her passion for supporting local merchants led to a small business that is expanding across the Tampa Bay region.
A passion for supporting local merchants inspired a small business startup that is expanding across the Tampa Bay region.
Her passion for supporting local merchants inspired a small business. Here are her top 10 tips for getting started.
Her passion for supporting local merchants inspired a small business.
A Gulfport resident turned her passion for supporting local merchants into a small business. She offers tips for starting a small business.
This Gulfport resident tells how she turned her passion for supporting local merchants into a small business.
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The founder of LocalShops1.com tells how she turned her passion for supporting local merchants into a small business.
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