It has certainly not been a case of hair today and gone tomorrow for a Norwich barbers' which has celebrated 40 years of trading in the city with a sharp new look.

Eastern Daily Press: Croppers hairdressing salon is celebrating its 40th birthday.Business partners Michael Nicholson (right) and Steven Bunn outside the business.Croppers hairdressing salon is celebrating its 40th birthday.Business partners Michael Nicholson (right) and Steven Bunn outside the business. (Image: © Archant 2014)

Croppers has been a popular choice for men of all ages in Norwich since it was set up by Nick Bunn, initially in a rented property in Lower Goat Lane, before moving to its current St Gregory's Alley site in 1976.

The shop has since been taken over by his son Steve, 35, who runs it with joint owner Mike Nicholson, 46, who is also this year marking an anniversary after working at Croppers for 25 years.

Steve, a father-of-two, said it was important to mark 40 years of trading with a smart new look which will keep it in good stead for years to come.

He said: 'We've had a big refurbishment. It was important for us to do that because while we're immensely proud of our 40 year history and heritage we understand that after 40 years we can never be the new, exciting kids on the block so a rebrand and complete refresh of the shop is a way of letting people know we're still here and still competing.

'Across the city at the moment the competition has never been at a higher level - there's a lot of very legitimate barbers shops in the city. Barbering is one of those trades which seems to be trendy and in vogue and a lot of people are trying to get into it.'

But Steve said he viewed competition as a good thing and meant that they themselves had to keep standards high to ensure people wanted to continue to have their hair cut there.

In the past few years the business has expanded into the flat upstairs to cope with the growing demand meaning the top floor has been used to cater for pre-booked appointments only while the downstairs continued to cater for walk-ins.

But the shop has always been busy and over the years that staff have had to turn away some pretty famous clients including former Oasis and now Beady Eye frontman Liam Gallagher who tried to get a quick trim before the Mancunian rockers played a gig in Norwich in the 1990s.

He said: 'They were playing the Norwich Arts Centre before they were massive. We couldn't cut his hair. If people are waiting it's not right its just not what we do.'

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