Safeguard Scientifics creates direct-marketing wing. (Interactive Marketing Ventures)

Safeguard Scientifics Inc. this week tapped former Franklin Mint Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Charles Andes and a host of top-notch area marketers to form a high-tech direct-marketing company that will itself form innovative, entrepreneurial companies to sell direct-to-home products.

The new subsidiary, Interactive Marketing Ventures, will act as an umbrella company to identify value-added products and services that it can produce, purchase or create venture partnerships to distribute and market directly to homes or businesses via direct mail, interactive media, and traditional marketing outlets like television.

The company will not provide details of any products that it will market, but said that it will provide "high …