Ness Soap

Address Ness Soap, Unit 3a, Strothers Lane , Inverness IV1 1PN, Scotland, UK

Telephone: 01463 243869

Website: http://www.ness-soap.co.uk

Made in Inverness and sold all over the country and now the world, Ness Soap is fast becoming a national success story.

Whether it’s the trademark Nessie and dolphin shaped soaps in a range of fruity scents or the worshipped bog myrtle range of indulgent yet midge-repellent body products, Ness Soap is on everyone’s lips, hands, feet and more.

Two years ago Ness Soap moved into its new HQ on Strothers Lane, which contains both a beautifully scented boutique and its manufacturing facility. Customers can watch a labour of love as soaps and body products are crafted while you shop.

The company’s aspirations went global last month when the company launched a new mail order website, which is already proving popular, with orders in from the USA, Germany and Japan Most online customers first discovered and learnt about Ness Soap in the Inverness boutique or one of many popular stockists, including the Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit, Baxters, Brodie Countryfare, Inverness Airport and the MacDonald Resort in Aviemore.

And there’s more to this brand than a fantastic range of bath products handmade in the Highlands using the very best organic essential oils; the very making of these products offers people in the Highlands a chance to better their lives.

The company is a social enterprise, which means it is a business with a social purpose. The hands that work with professionals to make the range of body washes, foam baths, hand washes and body lotions belong to a wide range of adults who face barriers to getting jobs. The buyer benefits from beautifully scented, indulgent products, while those making them learn valuable life and work skills.

The Ness Soap staff team and support volunteers make sure the trainees, who come from all around the Highlands, meet their personal aims, while the product quality is unrivalled. Enterprise manager, Lucy Morrison explained: “For the Ness Soap team, which includes both staff and volunteers, every minute is a balancing act. We’re equally as focused on making sure we provide our trainees with a real working environment whilst producing a quality product – our range continues to compete with the best on the high street.”

Today it’s all systems go preparing products for the Christmas rush.
Lucy continued: “Our Christmas range just emanates the festive season. We’ve got angel and gingerbread men soaps which are packed with essential oils containing sweet orange, cinnamon and ginger. We make a range of stunning gift packs for Christmas, just perfect for Santa’s sack or to sit under the tree.

“This year we’re also seeing a rise in corporate gifts, with companies including Tulloch’s and Simply Let branding soaps to give to staff and customers.”

In next few years Ness Soap is committed to increase its sales outside the Highlands, both through the website and new stockists. It will also launch a new range of hotel and amenities products after successful testing in Moyness Guest House, Inverness and Forss House Hotel in Thurso and Castle Stuart Golf Course.

Such growth and expansion in the product range will create increased demands on the staff, trainees and volunteers – a challenge they look forward to. “It’s true we will be asking more of our trainees and volunteers but we’ve always introduced new challenges. When we were at our previous location the work was about making and packing the soaps. When we moved to the boutique on Strothers Lane, trainees were given the further opportunity to interact with customers and gain retail work experience. The website introduced order management and packing. And next year we’re increasing the ranges and markets – and some trainees will come out to meet corporate and hotel clients.”

Trainees at Ness Soap get the opportunity to build their confidence and gain practical work skills. This is complemented by training about entering the wider world of work which will lead in the future to achieving accredited qualifications.

The fantastic growth at Ness Soap has been achieved thanks to the hard work of staff and volunteers.

Lucy added: “We are so grateful to those who have supported us with their time, resources or funding. It’s thanks to these people we have achieved so much.

“We are now striving to become a sustainable, self-funded business. Hopefully local businesses and people will choose to buy or stock our products and help us get there.”

If you want to find out more about the Ness Soap business model, products, training or volunteering opportunities, the team would love to hear from you!As you visit ‘Ness Soap’, you may find interest in following listings . . .

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