Virtual Technology Corporation (VTCO) Names Carmichael Lynch Spong Agency of Record
MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Virtual Technology Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: VTCO - news) has named Carmichael Lynch Spong, Minneapolis, as public relations agency of record. Carmichael Lynch Spong is a division of Carmichael Lynch, Inc., Minneapolis, which is owned by the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG - news), New York.
According to Gregory Appelhof, Virtual Technology Corporation's CEO and president, Carmichael Lynch Spong was selected by his company's management team to conduct an ongoing communications program to significantly increase awareness of the company's proven business models and its rapid expansion into the global business-to-business and consumer e-commerce markets. The business was awarded without a formal review and there was no previous agency of record. Billings were not disclosed by either firm.
Virtual Technology Corp. (VTC) is a fast growing, 125-person company dedicated to marketing technology products and services via the Internet. VTC operates four primary business units: an ''e-tail'' Web site currently located at www.virtual-world.com, which offers more than 60,000 hardware products, 100,000 software titles, 25,000 office products and thousands of consumer electronic products; Graphics Technologies, Inc., at www.graphicstech.com, a 12-year-old wholesaler and distributor of high-end computers and graphic products with seven regional offices and 1998 net sales of $65 million; Community TechMart(TM), a private label e-commerce service with complete inventory, fulfillment and transaction processing systems; and a technology auction service located at www.auctions.vtechco.com.
Last week, Virtual Technology announced an agreement with Lycos, Inc. (Nasdaq: LCOS - news), the fastest growing Internet portal and the world's largest online community, to create a co-branded Web site allowing both business customers and consumers to purchase a vast selection of computers and technology-related products. In addition, Virtual Technology also recently announced its intent to expand its manufacturer-to-customer e-commerce business offerings and change its marketing, branding and Web site address to the descriptor www.netdirect.com.
Virtual Technology also announced last week that it had reached a definitive agreement to buy the assets of Tech Squared, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: TSQD - news). The asset sale to VTC includes Tech Squared's Net Direct, DTP Direct and distribution operations together with various trade and Internet domain names, including netdirect.com, dtpdirect.com and tech2.com. In connection with the purchase, VTC plans to expand and leverage Tech Squared's manufacturer relationships with Apple Computer, Inc. and other major suppliers.
Appelhof said Virtual Technology will leverage Carmichael Lynch Spong's expertise in media relations, marketing communications, brand identity, investor relations and Internet communications.
In addition to Virtual Technology, Carmichael Lynch Spong's other high-tech clients include the Business Intelligence Division of Sterling Software, which develops and markets business intelligence software systems for businesses, and Capella Education, Inc., a privately held company based in Minneapolis that operates Capella University, an accredited university that offers masters and doctorate degrees online at www.capella.com.
About Carmichael Lynch Spong
Carmichael Lynch Spong, named the ''1997 Hot Creative Shop of the Year'' by Inside PR magazine, provides creative, award-winning communications services and public relations counsel to a select list of clients. The firm is a division of Carmichael Lynch, Inc., which is owned by the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG - news), New York. For more information about Carmichael Lynch Spong, go to www.prcentral.com.
SOURCE: Carmichael Lynch Spong Agency
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