KATHRYN Czaja and her team are getting used to dealing with pretty strange requests from companies looking to buy products.

"So far we've had people asking for everything from red plastic noses for Comic Relief Day to pig's ears!" said Kathryn who runs the Regional Supply Network's East Lancashire office.

"We managed to find someone who could manufacture red noses but we've drawn a bit of a blank with the pigs ears so far."

The local office of the supply network - one of 10 around the country - has enjoyed unrivalled success since it was launched just over a year ago.

In its first year of operation Kathryn and her team worked with more than 800 businesses against a target of 275 and placed £1.1 million of business from outside the area.

The office, based at the Chamber of Commerce's Red Rose Court site in Clayton-le-Moors, is now working with more than 300 purchasers looking for suppliers of £30 million of goods and services. The network aims to help purchasers to find the most competitive sources of supply both locally and nationally and suppliers find new business opportunities.

As well as boosting the local economy, the service aims to help firms save costs and increase their competitiveness by better purchasing.

The confidential service is free to both purchasers and suppliers and covers an almost endless range of products. In the North West there are now more than £200 million of business opportunities which the local office is linked into

The latest 'wanted' list of business opportunities includes firms looking for incontinence aids, diesel generators. carpet adhesive, car roofs, essential oils, hosiery and soup.

"I think the key to the success we've had here is that we have worked in the positions of the people we are dealing with," explained Kathryn, who has worked in purchasing roles in America and Canada.

"Many purchasing people are so busy these days and we can act as an extension to their departments."

From next week, we'll be introducing a new service together with the Regional Supply Network. Each Monday we'll carry a selection of some of the latest business opportunities available to local firms.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.