WorldSpy Awards Advertising Responsibilities to McCann-Erickson New York; $12 Million Campaign Will Build Momentum for WorldSpy's Official Consumer Launch

Business Wire, May 24, 1999

ARDSLEY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 24, 1999--

After a two-month review, WorldSpy(TM), (www.worldspy.com; AOL keyword: WorldSpy), a premier online research and shopping service, announced today it has named McCann-Erickson New York as its advertising agency of record. McCann-Erickson, part of the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG), will handle creative and media services estimated at $12 million. WorldSpy has been working with TSI Communications Worldwide, another IPG company, since July 1998 for public relations support and strategic communications counsel.

"McCann-Erickson had the right mix of creativity and strategic branding counsel that WorldSpy was looking for," said Alan Clingman, CEO and co-founder of WorldSpy. "As we move closer to our official launch date, we will rely heavily on McCann's expertise to increase awareness of the WorldSpy brand as well as the numerous consumer benefits that our site offers to online shoppers."

"We're looking forward to working closely with WorldSpy and our sister agency TSI to help develop WorldSpy's brand identity and officially launch the site," said Donald Dillon, president of McCann-Erickson North America. "Online shopping is an incredibly hot topic right now, and WorldSpy's tremendous consumer appeal makes it easier to craft creative and effective advertising campaigns that will reach its target audience."

WorldSpy's powerful online shopping "intelligence" capabilities and numerous benefits give shoppers the incentive to visit WorldSpy first. In addition to WorldSpy's powerful research and comparison features, the site lets users read unbiased product reviews and lifestyle content from Consumers Digest and other respected sources; purchase merchandise directly from manufacturers or major distributors at a lower cost; access helpful user feedback from its message boards and chat rooms; use the site's free gift reminder service and gift registry; and earn free, unlimited frequent flier miles. WorldSpy also offers free, three-day shipping in the United States for every product that it sells.

About McCann-Erickson

McCann-Erickson New York (www.mccann.com), with billings of $1.7 billion, is the headquarters office of McCann-Erickson Worldwide, the world's largest international advertising agency. Technology clients include Lucent Technologies, DuPont, Sprint, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola.

About WorldSpy Corporation

Founded in 1997 in Ardsley, New York, WorldSpy (http://www.worldspy.com; AOL keyword: WorldSpy) is a premier online research and shopping service that empowers consumers to review and compare thousands of products, and purchase a variety of name brand merchandise directly from manufacturers at significant savings. By disintermediating the supply chain to squeeze costs from the system, and providing important value-adds such as free shipping, unbiased product information and secure credit card transactions, WorldSpy seeks to create the first consumer e-commerce exchange - an information and shopping "microportal."