A new online shopping portal - eBazaarkUK - was launched by the ABF Enterprise4all Ltd.

The innovative new project (developed in partnership with University of Salford) through which companies in the North West can promote themselves and sell their services saw its launch coincide with the ABF Annual Event - Inspiring Success Through Diversity - at Blackburn's Blakey's Caf, King George's Hall on 17th June 2005.

The launch was conducted by Vicki Treadell, Director North West, UK Trade and Investment, and Ajaz Ahmed, founder of Freeserve. The eagerly anticipated event attracted an audience of over 200 ABF members.

eBazaarUK is a web portal set up and run by the ABF Enterprise4all Ltd to assist their members in organising web pages that are specific and dedicated to their business.

Over 300 ABF members have already signed up and it is anticipated that nearly all of the ABF membership will be on board by the end of the year.

eBazaarUK can be accessed by the general public in accessing local and national services through one website address - www.ebazaaruk.com. And with over 1,000 businesses on-line by the end of the year it is envisaged that eBazaarUK could become the area's number one choice for accessing local services through the Internet. Khalid Saifullah, Chief Executive of ABF Enterprise4all Ltd says, "eBazaarUK is a great tool for businesses to explore the benefits of online marketing and trading.

eBazaarUK was developed to bridge the ICT divide faced by many small businesses. Following the official launch their will now be an extensive marketing campaign encouraging more users and businesses to access eBazaarUK".

And using the eBazaarUK portal could not be any simpler. A prospective user should log on to; www.ebazaaruk.com and type in the name of the company or service they require - and eBazaarUK will do the rest.

The vast range of services included on the site will reflect the diversity in which the ABF operates. From solicitors to restaurants, garage services to graphic design artists - everything is covered with eBazaarUK.

Fashion houses, jewellery companies, hair stylists, beauticians are just some of the sectors that are currently promoting their services through eBazaarUK.

And customers were impressed. "I wanted to find a bridal make up artist for my sister's wedding this summer, so I logged onto www.ebazaaruk.com and found a number of beauticians, and I got everything organised within a matter of minutes," said Kulsum Akhtar, from Nelson. "It's like using yellow pages!"