Himalaya Wellness moves location

By Staff Writer

Cayman’s favourite herbal products store, Himalaya Wellness, has recently opened a flagship store called Himalaya House, located at 138 Elgin Avenue in George Town, citing the importance of the Cayman market as the reason to locate the headquarters of this multinational operation here.

General Manager Yasmini Castillo explained that the store had recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in Cayman, having opened in March 1996, and was originally located in Elizabethan Square, in what she called a “little store, just over 500 square feet, with about 30,40 products.”

That business has now built up considerably and, having moved into Himalaya House, across from the Government Administration Building, it now boasts over 350 herbal products.

The global business, Himalaya Wellness, is based out of India and was started in 1930 by its founder Mr. M. Manal. His descendent, Mr Meraj Manal eventually went on to marry the 1980 Miss Cayman Islands, Devon Manal (nee Watler), which then began the company’s connection to the Cayman Islands. Mr Manal went on to work in his small store in Cayman, using the opportunity to meet directly with his customers and find out exactly the types of products his consumers were seeking.

Yasmini said one of the reasons their flagship store was located in the Cayman islands was so they could collect comments, to find out what customers were looking for in terms of their health and wellness, so that every time they received a comment they would be able to notify their research and development team in India.

“As customers ask, we strive very hard to produce what customers are looking for,” Yasmini stated.

The company celebrated their 25th anniversary with a special customer appreciation event where they welcomed new customers who had never visited the store before and who wanted to know what Himalaya was all about, along with their regular customers who came by to help celebrate this momentous event over the weekend of 10th and 11th September.

“We tout ourselves as head to heel plus more,” Yasmin said when describing Himalaya products.Their products include all natural wellness items for conditions such as diabetes and digestive issues, as well as hair products (shampoos, conditioners, anti-hair fall), a large selection of products to keep the skin healthy (such as cleansers, toners and moisturisers, and sunblock), baby care, products for male grooming and even ones especially designed for pet health.

Himalaya is a leading herbal wellness brand with close to 500 products recommended by over 450,000 doctors in more than 100 countries. Worldwide, consumers in 2019 bought 30 units of Himalaya products, each and every second. Himalaya is still family-owned and operated.