In June 1837,Garwood Burton Palmer opened a small drapery shop in Great Yarmouth Market Place. Over 165 years later, Palmers is still an independent business, but now that small shop is a full-line department store and there are five other branches. It is one of the largest independent retail companies in East Anglia employing over 400 staff.

Palmers are part of AIS, Associated Independent Stores, the largest independent buying group in the Uk with over 500 stores in the Association. Membership of AIS allows Palmers to compete with the big name High Street chains, yet retain that level of specialist and personal service that only an independent can offer.

Palmers present Chairman and Managing Director, Bruce Sturrock, great, great, great nephew of Garwood Burton Palmer and 5th. generation of family management.