There are a few things we can fix:

foreach my $ref ( @products ) 
{
    # Try using the standard regex delimiters (if you use
    # '()' then you must use a 'm' in front)
    if ($ref->{prodname} =~ /$value/ )
    {

        # Use the good things about Perl! Heredocs are 
        # easy to use and understand

        print <<PROD; 
<B>$ref->{prodname}</B><br>
<IMG SRC="$ref->{img1}"><br>
$ref->{prodprice}<br>
<a href="shopper.exe?preadd=action;key=$ref->{prodcode}">
Add to Cart</a><br>
<hr>   
PROD

       # Why don't we try to check the error returned and
       # see what file we were opening?
 
       my $textfile = $ref->{prodname};
       eval { 
          open (INF, $textfile) 
               || die "Can't open file ($textfile): $!" };
       if ( $@ ) {
         print "Found an error!\n$@\n";
       }
       else {
         my @scoop = <INF>;
         close (INF);
         print "@scoop";
      }
    }
}
[download]

Tracing what you're actually trying to do is usually all the debugging you need :-)

Chris
M-x auto-bs-mode