Our Story – From Croft to Soap

​

Love From Shetland began with a small croft, a few very special goats, and a moment when life suddenly changed direction.

Our journey started with two Golden Guernsey goats, Esha and Tain, who came to us from Oban Rare Breeds Park. At the time, croft life ran alongside our regular jobs. But when Tom was forced to stop working after developing heart failure, everything changed.

I left my job to care for him and run the croft full time. During that time our goats produced more milk than we could ever use ourselves, and I began looking for a way to turn it into a small income for the croft.

At first I considered making cheese, but quickly realised we didn’t have enough milk to make that work. Then one day I read about the incredible benefits of goat’s milk for the skin, and I decided to try making soap.

Over the next year I taught myself the craft. There were plenty of disasters along the way (some batches were definitely not bathroom worthy! 😂), but I was determined to create soaps that were not only beautiful but genuinely good for the skin.

I researched natural oils and butters and made the decision to never use palm oil in our recipes. My goal was to create soaps that could help different skin types, including people suffering from eczema and psoriasis.

After many months of experimenting, the first success was born — our Goat’s Milk & Blackcurrant Seed Oil Soap. Soon after came soaps made with nourishing oils like Argan and Marula.

When Tom was eventually cleared to return to work, I decided I wouldn’t go back to my old job. Instead, I would give this little soap idea a real chance.

I started small with a table at Bolts, selling soaps a few days a week. At first I was nervous and probably gave away more soap for people to try than I actually sold! But slowly people began coming back… and then bringing friends.

Around that time Tom’s work and doctors agreed early retirement would be best for his health, so together we took a leap and opened a small shop across from the Queen’s Hotel.

Suddenly three soaps were not enough! I began creating fragranced soaps using carefully sourced paraben-free fragrance oils, along with bath bombs, bath truffles, and bath salts.

Then something unexpected happened.

One day we brought Connor, a baby goat kid, into the shop. Visitors instantly fell in love with him. People wanted photos, cuddles, and to meet the little croft celebrity. As the shop was across from the lifeboat station, we decided Connor could help raise money for the local lifeboat — and he did an incredible job, raising a wonderful amount through donations from visitors.

Sadly during Covid Connor developed arthritis and could no longer visit the shop regularly, but he still enjoys meeting tourists who stop along the road and continues his important job on the croft… babysitting the younger goats.

Another very special member of the herd is Miss Goatee, who has become a little star in her own right. Miss Goatee also helps raise money for good causes and has inspired her very own children’s book series, sharing the adventures of a cheeky Shetland goat with young readers around the world.

Love From Shetland truly is a family business. Our son Edward plays a big role behind the scenes, helping with marketing and the website, while Lisa is a huge help in the shop and wonderful at helping customers discover our products.

My mum, Esther, was also a big part of the business from the very beginning. She helped at craft fairs, in the shop, and was always there to lend a hand whenever it was needed. Even in her later years she continued helping from home, carefully wrapping soaps for us. Mum sadly passed away in 2023, but she remained part of Love From Shetland right up until the end and will always be a special part of our story.

Even our dogs, Didley and Bella, are part of croft life, keeping us company and making sure nothing too exciting happens without their supervision!

Today every bar of soap we make still begins the same way — with fresh milk from our goats here on the croft in Shetland.

What started as a way to use a little extra goat’s milk has grown into something far more meaningful: a small family business built on resilience, community, and a lot of love.

And every bar carries a little piece of Shetland with it.

Made with love, from Shetland. 🐐✨