Norfolk child car seat shop opened by mother of twins

Emily Mitchell, 34, struggled to find the right car seats for her twins, who are now two-years-old, with the nearest store selling them two hours away.  

Determined to fill the gap in the local market, she set up Car Seats Plus, which is now celebrating its one-year anniversary by moving to larger premises on Hempton Road in Fakenham. 

"I was looking for car seat advice in Norfolk but couldn’t find the seats I needed," she said. "So I did a training course on car seat safety and contacted brands about becoming a stockist." 

Car Seats Plus has moved into a bigger premises in Fakenham. (Image: Supplied) READ MORE: General store packed with local goodies opens inside gastropub

Car Seats Plus specialises in rear-facing car seats, which, according to Ms Mitchell, provide five times the protection of front-facing seats.

She said her goal is to help parents feel more confident about their children's safety, particularly while driving. 

"Many new mums feel anxious about all aspects of parenting, and driving with their children is no exception," she said.

"I go over everything with customers, from installing the seat to ensuring their child is properly fitted." 

Her business has grown steadily since it opened in July last year, she said, with parents coming to the shop for advice and help with installing car seats.

READ MORE: Expert reveals where you should place your child car seat to avoid a hefty fine 

Before opening Car Seats Plus, Ms Mitchell worked as a marketing manager for a horse feed company for six years.

She hopes her shop will continue to grow and raise awareness about car seat safety across Norfolk. 

Children are required, by law, to use a booster seat in the car until the age of 12 or when they are 135 centimetres tall - whichever comes first.

Failing to place a child's seat in the correct position can land parents fines of up to £500.