2024 Finalists - OIR Soap

Find out more about the sustainable roots of OIR Soaps and the meaning behind their name, why they entered the awards and the access it has brought to their business.

Company Name: Oir Soap

Product(s) in the Finalist: Luxury hand and body soaps

Can you tell me a bit about your business and the inspiration behind your products?

Like so many of us, I’ve become increasingly aware of my personal impact on the planet, but I also love luxury cosmetics, which is sometimes conflicting, and I don’t think it needs to be.

I was conscious that I was using a lot of shower gel in plastic bottles and wanted a more sustainable option, so I learned how to make soap with a blend of super moisturising oils to create a real washing treat. It’s a great plastic-free replacement for shower gel and looks beautiful on any sink or bathtub.

Òir (pronounced oar) means gold in Gaelic, and is a nod to my Scottish roots and my love of luxury. Everyone should have a little gold in their lives, even if it’s just in their soap!

In what ways has being a finalist of Gift of the Year affected your business?

It's been great, I have had a couple of orders off the back of the products being displayed at Spring Fair and have had my products featured in a few trade magazines. It's also opened up the way that The Giftware Association can help me grow my business.

Which are your favorite products throughout the rest of the awards?

I love the Cotton and Grey candles. I have actually bought some to stock in my new shop!

Would you recommend a business to enter the GOTY awards and why?

Absolutely. It gives a business great exposure, and access to a solid industry network.

Would you be able to provide us with a brief testimonial about the awards and why it's important for businesses to enter?

As a very small business (it's just me and two others), we can't afford to do a lot of paid promotion, so are very choosy about what we do. Entering the GOTY awards seemed like a great option as I know how visible they are, and how much work the team go onto promoting them, and I've not been disappointed. I even got a few orders from Spring Fair when my products were in the judging section - I'd definitely recommend entering.

You can find ur ore about OIR here - https://www.oirsoap.co.uk/