Business owner admits 2025 was ‘way better than expected’ as she works hard to restock sold out products
An innovative business owner admits 2025 was “way better than expected” and has started the new year working hard to restock sold out products.
Ruth Coote began her journey with Fred & Betty Soaps in December 2019, and what began as eight products has now increased to more than 50 over the past six years.
The business owner took the leap to do one-to-one training with an artisan soap maker in the spring of 2019, and she worked hard to meticulously create her products in the months to follow.
They all have to be assessed and put on the government’s cosmetic products portal and after this all went smoothly, Ruth launched Fred & Betty Soaps that festive period.
This venture all came about when Ruth and her husband planned to move to France and Ruth decided soap-making would be her venture in the new area. Although this never came to fruition, Ruth kept up with making her products and has not looked back.
“My products are all vegan, natural and handmade in small batches,” Ruth previously told the Chronicle & Echo. “I now have nearly 20 soaps for different things, as well as body butters, lip balms, deodorants, beard oil, shaving soaps, bath salts, pillow sprays, shower steamers, insect repellant balm and foot balm.”
The founder says last year was her best yet, having ended 2025 with half the soaps sold out on her website. Ruth also hosted a talk for the Pitsford WI and hopes to do more public speaking in 2026.
“Last year was way better than I expected,” said Ruth. “At the last fair at the end of the year, I said to myself I couldn’t believe that’s how it’s been. It was the best year and I really enjoyed it.
“I’m really grateful for returning and new customers, and repeat custom is what I absolutely love. It takes me back and I’m so humbled that people actually like my stuff.”
Ruth has been working hard to restock the sold out soaps, which have to sit for six weeks before they can be purchased, and is hopeful about introducing new balms, deodorants and bath salts in 2026.
The founder was asked about her experience of running an independent venture, at what is a tumultuous time for the business community.
“Cocoa butter is a big thing,” said Ruth. “When I first started soap making, it was £9.99 for a kilo and now it’s £34. It’s gone up considerably and is in a lot of my soaps, body butters and lip balms. I don’t want to put my prices up.”
Ruth is looking to develop and register a new line of soaps without the use of cocoa butter to reduce her outgoings, meaning she does not have to pass any price increases onto customers.
She also looks forward to getting back out into the community and interacting with shoppers at markets, which is one of her favourite parts of running the business.
The first one is the spring edition of the Love Local Market at T’s on March 1, with more than 30 stallholders lined up. Ruth praised the community atmosphere and support offered between business owners at events like this.