IR-Vonline.com Ltd., part of Hong Kong toy maker TS Toys, has named Blattner Brunner as its first agency of record on an account estimated at $2 million to $3 million.
The Pittsburgh agency competed with three undisclosed shops for the account. Blattner Brunner's integrated marketing approach and prior experience with online companies helped clinch the account.
Blattner Brunner will use a combination of online marketing, national and spot-market TV, and trade and consumer promotions to promote the IR-Vonline brand and products.
IR-Vonline joins a host of Blattner Brunner clients including Zippo Manufacturing, PPG Industries, Respironics Inc. and Sky Bank. Billings last year were $129 million.
A new start-up with offices in Hong Kong, New York and Tennessee, IR-Vonline will create and market wireless Internet-responsive toys.
The first, an electronic “Ir-V” (pronounced ervy), is a Web site programmable by children age 6 and older. It debuted last month in Dallas, with another launch scheduled for Feb. 11 at New York's Toy Fair.
TS Toys is known for its educational Scan N' Say Teddy. A barcode reader in the teddy bear's paw reads aloud each page of a storybook as children lead it through.