When you think of garden centres, what comes to mind?
Whatever you are thinking it is probably not a hairdresser or stained glass windows.
But that is what you will find as part of the range at Bawdeswell Garden Centre, which is marking its 40th anniversary this year and prides itself on offering everything but the kitchen sink.
Owners Peter, 84, and Judy Underwood, 78, who live in Reepham, have been there since the beginning.
Mr Underwood said the secret to their success was to keep the customers getting.
He said: “You have got to have a mystery around every corner, we developed it so you cannot see the whole thing in one go, you have to go and see it.”
Before starting the garden centre, Mr Underwood, worked as a wholesaler in the gardening industry.
He said: “We built it up a little bit at a time, no big risk. Take our cafe, which started in 1986, we now have 190 covers offering hot food and drinks.
“Mark Newson, our manager, developed the shops, but you have to go through the garden centre to find them, and having come there, people are in danger of having a cup of coffee.”
The garden centre on the A1067 between Norwich and Fakenham, marked the anniversary with a party on June 1.
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Mr Underwood said the internet has been the most significant change to business in the last 40 years.
He said garden centres had also become "destination" places to shop - giving potential customers more than a few reasons to pay a visit.
He said: “You’ve got to have a wide enough selection to bring people in, and enough diversity, we have our play area and the millennium garden, which also helps the restaurant, making it attractive for people.”
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