NOTCUTTS have always retailed directly to the public. In 1897 one of the attributes of the nursery was the seed and floristry shop that was then on the side of the Georgian house that RCN bought at auction. In 1913 he bought premises in The Thoroughfare in Woodbridge on the corner of New Street.

By 1953 this small town centre shop was in need of repair and was not meeting the customer demands placed upon it. Despite concern that customers might be unwilling to travel the half mile from the town centre to buy flowers, plants, seeds, bulbs and other supplies, a garden centre was built on the nursery in 1958 - one of the first purpose built garden centres in the country. A 'Planteria' was added shortly after, a name created by Notcutts and now used throughout the plant retailing industry.

In the 1960s garden centre retailing blossomed. The big freeze of 1963 not only affected the nursery, but created a surge in demand for plants at garden centres in preference to mail order. The 1971 postal strike had a similar affect. The garden centre family group has now expanded to 19 centres, all different, and each justifying a visit in its own right.

The original garden centre concept has developed into a form of retailing as sophisticated as any other. Christmas decorations, gift ware, pets and restaurants share space with traditional garden sundries but garden centres remain pre eminent in the selling of plants.

All of our garden centres offer: a comprehensive range of "Guaranteed to Grow" hardy plants, (with 3000 varieties to choose from, many grown at Notcutts' own nurseries), some of the finest garden furniture collections in the country (sourced from all over the world), a wide range of essential garden sundries such as tools, fertilisers, garden chemicals and irrigation equipment, an assortment of houseplants, and seasonally, a magical array of Christmas decorations.

Notcutts believe that the staff are the key to achieving both excellence in gardening and in business, thus benefiting both the customers and Notcutts alike. The staff are drawn from a wide age band, and bring a variety of skills and experience into the garden centre. Many of them have a broad knowledge of gardening, whereas others specialise in specific areas. All have an enthusiasm for working with customers.

It is Notcutts objective to provide the highest possible standard of customer satisfaction. Staff are keen to advise on a wide range of gardening matters and additionally they are able to provide many special services, such as gift wrapping, and of course helping load large goods into customers' cars.

Notcutts commitment to customer care aims at maximising both the customers' pleasure in visiting the garden centre, and also the staff's job satisfaction. The garden centre is an exciting, stimulating and enjoyable environment in which to shop and work.