Bringing brand creation, retail expertise from the beauty and wellness industry and international knowledge, Muriel Zingraff, CEO, started her career at L’Oreal before eventually joining Harrods as Director where she managed the Beauty and Fashion divisions. She went on to become Retail Director of Heathrow Airport, increasing its sales to £2Billion.
What is The HVN – newly opened wellness space in the heart of London’s Knightsbridge
The HVN is a space to explore the most important relationship in your life – the relationship with yourself. It is the home of conscious wellbeing: a tailored, evidence-based approach to wellbeing that empowers people to feel, look and live healthier.
The luxury wellness centre in the heart of London empowers its clients to become the architects of their own health and wellness through a curated program of medical treatments, heritage therapies and technologies tailored to their exact needs. Each of the treatments available has a science and evidence-based approach to wellbeing, brought to you by experts in their respective fields, all of whom have a shared vision.
The specialist team helps you to feel, look and live healthier. From forest bathing and abhyanga massage, to lasers and hyperbaric chambers, the newest Knightsbridge hotspot is a luxury wellness experience; a cocoon of vitality, grounded in medical and scientific expertise. Here, guests are invited to access true and transparent information about wellness to help them get to know their bodies better. Our thorough consultation process means that they will be listened to, and then together we build a bespoke program that will evolve over time to reach their desired outcome.
- Can you tell us a little about your background and the company?
I have been working in the luxury industry for over 37 years and my career has been powered by my natural aptitude to understand societal changes, in some cases anticipate them and translate them into business implications.
- How did the idea come to you for the company?
After COVID people needed to feel safe. Studying our primal instinct (reptilian brain) led me to blend a troglodytes/cocoon environment with nature immersion. The result is The HVN space. It is proven that wellness begins from the moment clients walk through the doors, and studies have proven that looking at engaging art is a path to mental wellbeing because of increased dopamine release. The space has been curated to feature pieces specially commissioned in complete symbiosis with the designed space by representing organic forms and created from nature inspired purpose.
- How did you achieve awareness?
Awareness blossomed through a journey of relentless curiosity, soaking up knowledge like a sponge in the vast ocean of information. Engaging with diverse perspectives, questioning assumptions, and embracing growth fostered a deeper understanding of self and the world, illuminating the path towards enlightenment. I have been practising Vedic meditation (transcendental meditation) since 2006. This a 5,000 year old knowledge and philosophy which focuses on the constant evolution of the universe.
- How have you been able to gain funding and grow?
I met our investor, Mr. Binani, through our personal trainer Haylene Ryan. We both felt that there was something missing in the wellness sector which is a clear, trustworthy voice, a brand that is customer-centred and delivers evidence-based health and wellbeing benefits.
- What are the key successes?
The speed at which we have delivered our new wellness concept. In just 2 years we went from a word “wellness” to a 400sqm2 space in the heart of Knightsbridge. This could not have been achieved without a formidable team of like-minded suppliers and staff who truly believed in our purpose as a brand.
- What were/are the challenges and how have you overcome these?
Misinformation is out there, there is a lot of noise on wellness created by people who are not qualified which I believe is dangerous as it can impact ones health directly, such as fads, unproven new therapies and treatments. We have committed to sharing with the public 50 hours of free wellness knowledge in the next 3 years (like TedTalks for wellness)
- What are your plans now/for the future?
Launching our home fragrance range in April 2024, to continue innovating in wellness, using our unique Aerobiometm diffusion technique, to propel our home fragrance range into a true wellbeing treatment.
- What would you like to share with others to encourage them to start their own entrepreneurship journey?
Believe, believe, believe. If you don’t who will? It doesn’t mean being blind or deaf about what others have to say, shared comments and ideas can be useful but you must always believe in yourself.
- Can you share your top tips for entrepreneurial success?
If you can find an investor who is compatible with you i.e. your character, you will have a better level of trust and understanding and it will help smooth the inevitable bumps in the road.
- Who are the 5 people who inspire you the most and why?
My parents, for living a life of integrity, love and duty. Our investor, Mr. Binani, for his belief in life and in taking risks. Anyone who has the courage to follow their own path while being mindful of others.
- What are your favourite inspirational /motivational quotes?
Mens sana in corpore sano (“a healthy mind in a healthy body”). Which I believe to be the highest achievement for every individual. This is the vehicle through which you can truly experience life. Modern day stress is taking this away for a lot of people, that is where we see our purpose here at the HVN. We offer you a sanctuary, a respite from it all as well as the solutions to alleviate the stress and its consequences.
