SHOPPERS up and down the region are being urged to try a new virtual shopping experience in their hunt for local products.

A new website has been launched specifically for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the North-East which is being marketed to consumers worldwide.

Highstreetnorth.com was launched at an event hosted by Durham Brewery, one of the many companies hoping that promoting their goods globally will lead to new export orders and increased profits.

Many small firms are already reaping the rewards of e-commerce, and County Durham On-Line (CDOL), which launched the new website, is offering a helping hand to small businesses interested in mastering the e-commerce revolution.

CDOL, part of County Durham TEC, has its own e-commerce marketplace project, subsidised by the European Development Fund, which is available to companies throughout the North-East.

CDOL project manager, Judith Peacock, said: "Many businesses are aware of the tremendous opportunities offered by e-commerce, both for reaching new markets and offering new buying methods for existing customers.

"The aim of hsn.com is to generate orders for companies in the North-East.

"If a business doesn't already have an e-commerce website, we can compile a catalogue of their products very quickly."

Co-owner of Durham Brewery, Steven Gibbs, is optimistic about their new venture onto the virtual high street.

He said: "The current website is very popular, and the challenge now is to turn these hits into orders.

"I believe there is a market for selling on the Internet as long as people can find us. The marketing of highstreetnorth.com means we will reach more potential customers and generate direct sales on-line.

"Along with offering the beer directly to customers we also offer a personalised label service. Maintaining the catalogue couldn't be easier and it means we just sit back and wait for an e-mail telling us an order has been placed."

Any business which feels it could benefit from an entry in highstreetnorth.com or from attending a free workshop, The Key to Making Internet Profits, should contact Beverley Allen at CDOL on (0191) 3835000. The Durham Brewery site is www.durham-brewery.co.uk. For more details about the business service call up www.highstreetnorth.com.