Staff at the Shetland Soap Company, who already supply the Scottish Parliament gift shop in Edinburgh, are being kept busy meeting new orders to supply Jenners in Edinburgh and a Michigan (USA) based company specialising in the sale of Scottish goods. 

Both outlets were among over 20 new accounts secured by the Soap Company at the Scottish International Trade Fair held at the Glasgow SECC in January.

Jenners are stocking nine varieties of soap as well as hand wash, shower gels, men's shaving soap, body creams, bubble bath, shampoo and conditioner, bath fizz and bath melts - so there is sure to be something for everyone.

Every item from the Shetland Soap Company is handmade on site in Lerwick using both traditional and contemporary methods with inspiration taken from the beautiful natural environment of the islands.  Visitors to the retail workshop can see the processes involved in making many of the products - from melting, mixing, moulding, slicing, bottling and labelling finished items.

There are over 50 different soaps available, with two new fragrances being designed for the coming tourist season - 'Sea Saat Sop' with seaweed, sea salt, spearmint and juniper and also 'Kishie Cake Peat Soap' filled with loofah shreds and fragranced with frankincense, vanilla and patchouli.

Both soaps were named by schoolchildren taking part in a recent 'Make It in Scotland' event organised by Careers Scotland.  The sea soap was named by Marianne Williamson of Anderson High School in Lerwick and the peat inspired soap was named by Charlie Colyer from Scalloway Junior High School.  Both girls won a £15 voucher for their creativity.

The company is part of the Shetland social firm COPE Ltd (Community Opportunities for Participation in Enterprise) which provides training, support and employment for adults with disabilities. 
 
Susanne Astwood, manager of the Shetland Soap Company explains:  "We started manufacturing in November 2002 and have gone from strength to strength since then.  Our aim is to keep increasing our wholesale business so we can provide more supported work places in Shetland.  These new orders are very exciting and in May our website www.shetlandsoapcompany.com is being launched so people can buy our products online.

"To help increase turnover and improve efficiency to meet the growing demand for our products we intend to expand our current premises during the summer months.  This will provide a larger dedicated manufacturing area, ingredients and packaging storage area, despatch zone, finished product stockroom and labelling area."

Shetland Enterprise has supported the Shetland Soap Company with business advice and financial assistance.  Mark Georgeson, a development manager with Shetland Enterprise said:  "This is a particularly worthwhile project to work with, it promotes equal opportunities and social inclusion.  The Shetland Soap Company creates vital employment and provides popular products, which are proving to be a big hit with customers worldwide."