Tavi Gevinson
www.thestylerookie.com (VPN required)
Tavi Gevinson is a 14-year-old fashion blogger from New York. Her site is brimming with well-written insight regarding both indie and high-end wear and some pretty decent self-shot photography. Gevinson looks like a junior hipster: eclectic clothes topped off with  wide-rimmed glasses and a wry smile. She describes herself as “a tiny dork that sits inside all day wearing awkward jackets and pretty hats.” Her parents found out about her blog when she surprised them by asking for permission to be interviewed by the New York Times. Her blog now has around 50,000 daily readers. Gevinson is an inspiration for many, and not just the young and quirky – she has been described as the muse for the Rodarte sisters’ line of clothes retailing at Target. Currently, Gevinson has a publicist and is working on monetizing her site through collaborative posts with fashion designers. Some fashion gurus look down on this mini-fashionista, claiming she doesn’t have the maturity to write a serious style blog, but we think this teen has more style than most adults could hope for.

Lourdes Leon
blog.materialgirlcollection.com
Lourdes Leon (or Lola) blogs about her teenage life in a way that’s cute and relatable to other 14-year-old girls. Leon also has a fashion line called Material Girl for teenagers that retails internationally. One more thing: she’s Madonna’s kid. Yeah, that might have something to do with her fame and fortune, but don’t hold it against her; Leon’s Material World blog, which is part of the marketing campaign for Material Girl, has some serious sass and tons of teenage vernacular that won’t be found in Webster’s dictionary. There’s nothing too deep or insightful from Leon, but you do get the impression that she is a smart and fun girl who doesn’t gripe over life’s more difficult elements. You might also get the impression that this is clever marketing at its finest. Either way, her blog is worth a look, if only out of sheer curiosity.

Carl Ocab “Kidblogger”
www.carlocab.com
Carl Ocab is somewhat of a blogging sensation. A 16-year-old boy from the Philippines, Ocab created Carlocab.com at the age of 13 so he could shares his tips on making money online. His blog hit the big time when Google ranked him number-one for the keyword search “make money online.” Ocab is one of the smartest kids of his generation and even the experts are taking notice. With posts such as “5 Tips You Can’t Miss to Make Money Online Faster” and his blog series “My Best Blog Tip,” we can see why he’s so popular. He is a self-proclaimed mediocre high school student but his blog is certainly an interesting read. Well-organized, packed with posts, and dotted with some self-deprecating humor, there’s nothing “kiddy” about this blogger.

Gloson Teh
www.glosonblog.com
Gloson Teh is a 12-year-old blogger from Malaysia. He uses his blog to update fellow bloggers (kid and adult alike) on the latest technology and social media advancements. In his home country, Teh is more widely known for his poetry and he has dedicated his second blog Poetry Talents (www.poetrytalents.com) to the topic. With the encouragement of his mother, Teh began blogging in 2008 and has since become a television and media hit in Malaysia. Teh’s most popular posts include “22 Reasons For You to Blog” and “A Beginner’s Guide to Getting the Most Out of Twitter.” Tech savvy, relevant and a great social media resource, Glosonblog.com offers wonderful entry-level advice. We find it particularly useful for kids as the language is simple and the layout is user-friendly. And for those of us wishing we had the hits this kid does: “Blogging teaches us to be patient and tells us not to give up.” That’s good advice from a 12-year-old.

National Geographic Kids Blogs
www.kidsblogs.nationalgeographic.com
Instead of just reading one blog, why not read multiple blogs from kids around the world? Hosted by National Geographic Kids, this blog pulls in the most recent posts from kid bloggers the world over. Bloggers are selected and monitored by NG Kids staffand while all the blogs are English-language, that doesn’t seem to limit the locations kids can report from. Australia, Guatemala and Beijing are just a few countries on their blogroll. See what different kids eat, what languages they speak, what games they play and find out about their hometowns. The blog also hosts contests, so be sure to check back regularly to see the latest. We’d recommend this blog to any globe-trotting family.

David Fishman
www.fishmanfoodie.com
Fourteen-year-old David Fishman is an aspiring food critic who is extraordinarily dedicated to his craft. His reputation as a gourmand got a big boost in 2008 when the New York Times wrote an article about this up-and-coming foodie. Blogging since 2009, Fishman’s Middle School Food Critic is stylishly presented and packed with restaurant reviews largely from New York City but also from around the world. Fishman’s reviews describe his dining experiences in detail, from portion sizes to the restaurant’s choice of music. His critiques and posts are as mature as many experienced food writers, but his perspective as a young diner is what makes this blog so interesting. Fishman has certainly raised the bar in terms of kid bloggers – even the grown-ups can take a few tips from this knowledgeable teen.

The Magic Bean House 豆豆家科技馆
Ages: 0-8
Focus: Educational

The Magic Bean House lays claim to being the first American-designed Children’s Museum in Beijing. There are eight different play areas for children to explore: Tale of the Magic Bean, Toddler Land, Green Foods, World of Water, Bricks and Blocks, Car Services, Experimental Hall, and the Art Gallery. Each area encourages children to think creatively, independent of parental assistance. Among the highlights are opportunities for kids to role-play as ancient kings; a wide variety of both Chinese and English picture books; as well as regular storytelling events (in Chinese and English) in The Art Gallery. Friendly English-speakingstaff presides over the clean, safe, shoes-off environs of the play areas. The Magic Bean House hosts regular events, so it’s worth checking their easy-to-use English-language website.

RMB 40 (adults), RMB 80 (kids 2-8), RMB 40 (kids 6-24 months), free (0-6 months); annual memberships start from RMB 2,980. Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat-Sun 9am-8pm (closed every last Tues of the month for maintenance). 7 Chaoyang Park Xilu, Chaoyang District (400 888 0722) www.magicbeanhouse.com 朝阳区朝阳区朝阳公园西路7号

My Gym Early Childhood Development Center 美吉姆国际儿童教育中心
Ages: 0-13 years
Focus: Physical activity and health

My Gym is a chain with locations in 25 countries. They offer structured, age-appropriate, weekly classes that incorporate music, dance, relays, games, gymnastics and sports. The aim is for children to have fun as they gain strength, balance, coordination, agility and flexibility while developing social skills, confidence and self-esteem. Parents are also encouraged to get involved with the several parent participation classes available. The facility is large, light-filled and modern, with colorfully decorated activity rooms. The staff is trained in English and the low student/teacher ratio means kids have access to individualized care. For older children who need to get out of the house more often (8-13 years), My Gym has created a program that combines a cardio workout with strength and flexibility exercises. Birthday party packages are available as well as camp programs with rotating themes.

Average RMB 3,000 (12 classes). Mon-Sun 9am-7pm. 15/F, Blue Castle international Center, 3 Dawang Xilu, Chaoyang District (6582 0092, 6582 0072) www.my-gym.com 朝阳区西大望路蓝堡国际中心1座15层

Gymboree Beijing 金宝贝
Ages: 0-5
Focus: Music

Gymboree is an international chain with locations across 30 countries. This play center has a focus on music and parent participation, and offer music, play and art classes in English. Classes are all held in a clean, colorful room painted with primary colors. The music class offers kids a chance to play instruments, sing songs and practice saying basic words. After class, participants are welcome to play on the gym equipment located inside each classroom. The most popular class is The Gymboree Play and Learn, a seven-level, age-appropriate program designed to support your child’s growth at his or her own individual pace. Gymboree also holds birthday parties – pick your child’s favorite theme and they will create a personalized private party. All classes are in English and children must be accompanied by an adult. The reception staff speaks limited English, so you may have to seek out an instructor for if you need assistance.

1) RMB 3,120 (12 classes), RMB 14,976 (96 classes). Daily 9am-6pm. Guanghua SOHO, 7/F, Bldg 3, 22 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District (5900 6186) 朝阳区北京市朝阳区光华路22号光华路SOHO三单元7层; 2) RMB 284 (per class), RMB 3,720 (12 classes). Daily 9am-6pm. 2/F, Bldg E, Wangjing International Commercial Center, 9 Wangjing Lu, Chaoyang District, Chaoyang District (5166 0516) www.gymboreeclasses.com
朝阳区朝阳区望京街9号望京国际商业中心E座二层01

KindyROO International Early Childhood Development 菁童启育咨询中心
Ages: 0-5
Focus: Skills development

Catering more to Chinese parents, KindyROO offers music, dance and play classes designed to encourage spatial awareness, balance and coordination. Interestingly, the focus of their programs is parent participation with the aim of teaching parents how their toddler’s brain develops. Parents are encouraged to follow a home-based therapy program with their little ones as part of each program. Their programs include BabyROO (6 weeks and up), Kindy GymbaROO (toddlers), as well as classes for children up to 5 years old. Each program includes information evenings for parents and an initial parent interviewand child assessment. Based on the interview, a program will be designed, discussed and taught to both the parent and child. The friendlystaff speaks decent English and the facility is clean, but smaller than some international play centers in Beijing. Program prices are availableon application.

Daily 8.30am-5.30pm. 10/F, 18 Jianwai Soho (west area), Chaoyang District (5869 8002/3, 800 810 0052) www.kindyroo.com 朝阳区国贸中心.北京市朝阳区建外Soho西区18楼10层

Beyou World 比如世界
Ages: 3-12
Focus: Career-oriented

At this colorful, interactive educational canter, children participate in role-play and real-world simulations of day-to-day life. Children can dress-up and test their skills as a police officer, teacher, nurse, builder, doctor or any one of the various professions available for exploration. Beyou World contains a simulation city, managed by the children themselves. (Of course, the city still has social rules which kids are expected to adhere to.) Kids have a range of setting-themed play stations to choose from, including a supermarket, post office and hospital. The purpose is for children to learn how this "society" functions and how they can succeed within it. Parents can monitor their children at all times and even participate if they like. Staff can speak English.

RMB 80 (Sat-Sun, holidays), RMB 20 (Tue-Fri), RMB 200 kids. 10am-7pm (Tue-Fri), 10am-2.30pm and 3.30-8pm (Sat-Sun, holidays). BuildingA-3F, China Career International Center, 39 Dongsihuan Zhonglu,Chaoyang District (8571 1199) www.beyou.cn (Chinese) 朝阳区京顺路52号

The Familier
Ages: 0-5
Focus: Play

Located in the heart of CBD, this two-level center is designed to provide a convenient, safe and friendly environment for families to come and play. Just walking into this light-filled center you makes you feel comfortable and at ease. While classes are available, the emphasis is on self-directed fun – simply use the ball pit, gym equipment and crafts at your own pace. If you need help, The Familier maintains a child to educator ratio of 3 to 1. For moms and dads with busy schedules, a half-day drop-off service allows parents to leave their little ones in the care of The Familier’s professionally trained staff. One of the highlights of this center is its recently revamped café menu, with healthy options designed by Singaporean nutritionist, mother and beijingkids columnist Olivia Lee. The staff is very friendly, and the facility is clean and quiet. Kindermusik classes with Yuliya are available as well as a range of art classes. If your family has special language needs, inquire about language assistance.

RMB 50 (2 hours for one kid and one adult), RMB 88 (full-day for one kid and one adult), half price (additional kids), free (kids under 12 months and one parent). Daily 9am-8pm. Suite 0753, Tower A, Chaowai Soho, 6B Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (5869 2904) 朝阳区朝外大街乙6号朝外SohoA-0753

NEED MORE OPTIONS?

6th Sense Tennis Academy
Ages: 4-18
Focus: Tennis
Price: Courses start from RMB 800
1 Langxinzhuang Lu, Chaoyang District (8538 1073/3269, china@6sensetennis.com) www.6thsenseacademy.com 朝阳区郎辛庄路1号

Beijing Playhouse
Ages: 6-18
Focus: Theater
Price: Approximately RMB 5,000 for a two-week camp
performance@beijingplayhouse.com, www.beijingplayhouse.com

ClubFootball
Ages: 4-18
Focus: Football (soccer)
Price: Approx. RMB 750 (nine-week course)
Unit A212, Door 3, A1 Zone, Huadeng Building, 14 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (5130 6893/4/5/6, coaching@wanguoqunxing.com) www.clubfootball.com.cn 万国群星足球俱乐部,朝阳区酒仙桥路14号兆维华登大厦A1区3门212室

Dragon Fire Swim Team
Ages: 4-18
Focus: Swimming
Price: Starts from RMB 60 per lesson
49 Beisanhuan Xilu, Haidian District (8263 2789, 136 0106 4534
dragonfireswimming@gmail.com) www.dragonfire.com.cn 北京龙火游泳队，海淀区北三环西路49号

Family Box
Ages: 0-12
Focus: Educational play
Price: RMB 320 (day pass for two adults and one child, does not include access to the pool)
Bldg 4, 51 Wangjing Beilu, Chaoyang District. (6478 6163)
www.familyboxes.com.cn 家盒子,朝阳区朝阳区望京北路51号院4号楼

J-Ballet School
Ages: 6-12
Focus: Ballet
Price: Starts from RMB 60 per hour
Main School: 1/F, Bldg D, Jingxiuyuan Apartments, Xingfucun Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区幸福村中路景绣园D座1层西侧
Kempinski School: Pulse Health Club, Kempinski Hotel, Lufthansa Centre,50 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (8453 3003, 138 0103 6364)
www.j-ballet.com 朝阳区亮马桥路50凯宾斯基饭店北京燕莎中心都市脉搏健身俱乐部

The Learning Center
Ages: 4-18
Focus: Professional tutoring
Price: Starts from RMB 160 per hour
Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 9.30am-4.30pm. 2108 Gahood Villa (opposite Capital Paradise), Houshayu, Xibaixinzhuang, Shunyi District (8046 3886, registration@learningcenter.com.cn) www.thelearningcenter.cn 顺义区后沙峪西白辛庄嘉浩别墅2108号

O’le Climbing
Ages: 5-18
Focus: Rock-climbing and bouldering
Price: RMB 320 (10-pass card)
Mon-Fri 10am-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-8pm. 5 Dongshimencun Lu, Baiziwan Qiao, Dongsihuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District (6776 4705, oleclimbing@gmail.com) 朝阳区东四环中路百子湾桥东石门村路5号

Sports Beijing
Ages: 4-18
Focus: Offers a range of team and individual sports
Price: Memberships RMB 200, prices vary based on program and age2/F, Lido Country Club, 6 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District(6430 1370/1176, info@sportsbj.com) www.sportsbj.org 朝阳区将台路6号丽都乡村俱乐部二层

With all the stinky foods available in China, it was only a matter of time before the citizens of the Middle Kingdom fell in love with what is arguably the best invention before sliced bread. Whether you like it hard, soft, fresh or fragrant, Beijing’s cheesy options are sure to make you smile.

Le Fromager de Pekin Homegrown fromager Liu Yang uses organic Wondermilk to make a variety of artisanal chesses, such as Petit Gris (RMB 25), Faisselle (RMB 35), Gris aux herbes de Provence (RMB 55), and pyramid (RMB 45). Delivery is available twice a week, or you can purchase cheese at the Embassy House Market or Boucherie Francaise. Daily 9am-12pm, 2pm-6pm. 5A-6 Xindi Market South Gate, Huilongguan Peng Jie, Changping District (135 2001 6860, lefromagerdepekin@gmail.com) 昌平区回龙观龙腾街鑫地市场南门5A-6号
www.lefromagerdepekin.com

Cheese and Wine Made In Heaven This little spot by Chaoyang Park West Gate has a simple way of working. You sit down. You order a bottle of wine, and owner Chris is happy to recommend something cheesy to go with it. You can order cheese from the chilled cheese room, either by weight or one of the fixed-price platters. The cheese is mostly French, though there are bits and pieces from the UK, Switzerland and elsewhere. Sun-Wed 12pm-midnight, Thu-Sat 12pm-130am. 1-15 Chaoyang Gongyuan Xilu (next to Jenny Lou’s), Chaoyang District (6501 2901) 朝阳区朝阳公园西路1-15号

Boucherie Michel 米歇尔肉店 This artisanal French butchery serves up quality cuts of beef, veal, lamb and pork, as well as sausages, imported cheeses, quiche and freshly roasted chickens. Daily 9am-8pm. 1/F, Jiezuo Dasha, Xingfucun Zhonglu, Chaoyang District (6417 0489) 朝阳区幸福村中路杰座大厦底层

Chez Gérard Tucked away on Jiangchang hutong by the Confucius Temple, this tiny deli opened by Christophe (of Cafe de la Poste) sells a range of cheese and Western staples like dried pasta, cereals, and a good meat selection and offers fresh daily baguettes (usually arriving at mid-day). Daily 10am-10pm. 40 Jianchang Hutong (east of the Yonghe Villas, just south of the Yongkang Hutong intersection), Dongcheng District (6415 0118) 东城区箭厂胡同40号

Delicatessen 熟食店 This shop offers a variety of homemade cakes, freshly made sandwiches, and a wide selection of cheeses, sausages, gourmet coffee and wines. Items can be consumed on the spot, or taken to go. Daily 7am-9pm. 1/F, Lido Place, 6 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District (6437 6688) 朝阳区将台路6号北京丽都假日饭店1层

Epicerie 小巴黎 This Sanlituan bakery has a wide selection of freshly baked breads and croissants, as well as a good selection of meat and cheeses. It is located next door to Petit Paris. Daily 930am-11pm. 29 Sanlitun Lu (opposite the French School), Chaoyang District (6416 9381) 朝阳区三里屯路29号(北酒吧街)

Sanyuanli Market 三源里市场 If you’re tired of overpriced groceries at other supermarkets, then you need to head on over to Sanyuanli Market. This market sees a steady stream of chefs, restaurateurs and expats who flock here to find many hard to find, imported items. Daily 5am-7pm. Shunyuan Jie (opposite Jingkelong Supermarket, west of Sanyuan Dongqiao), Chaoyang District 朝阳区顺源街(三元东桥往西京客隆超市对面)

Schindler’s German Food Center In addition to sausages and other tantalizing raw and cooked meats, Schindler’s stocks a wide selection of imported cheeses, including emmental, gruyère, cheddar and several goudas. This is the perfect place to stock up for a barbecue or holiday feast. Daily 10am-7pm. 105 Binduyuan Mansion, 15 Zaoying Beili, Maizidian, (800m east of Nongzhanguan Beilu), Chaoyang District (6591 9370) 德国食品中心, 朝阳区麦子店枣营北里15号

Compiled by Marla Fong
 

Article from Agenda, issue 71, Jan13-Jan 27. To read more from the most recent issue of Agenda, download the PDF here. To find a copy, contact our distribution department at distribution@agendabeijing.com with an idea of where you work, live or play and we’ll tell you where you can find one near you.

When it comes to cupcakes and sweets, CCSweets owner Carol Chow has the recipe for success. She has traveled and tasted desserts in France, Italy, Austria, Mexico, England, Spain, Australia, and lived in New York for 20 years. The deserts she makes here in Beijing use no shortening, only pure butter, and are made with primarily imported or organic ingredients. The Cs in her company name are not only her initials; they can also stand for cupcakes, cake and cookies, chocolate and caramel, ice cream, candy, or custom created sweets. Carol puts a lot of time and love into her creations, which helps make them the sweet masterpieces that they are. Agenda spoke with Chow about her business, and why there are no shortcuts in baking.

You have lived all over the world. What brought you back to Beijing? I believe that China is forever chang-ing and developing, and that it really is the place to be right now. Recently the changes I have seen in China have been very positive, and people’s lifestyles have been improving. The energy here is strong and quite addicting. This is what brought me back to Beijing. Since I opened up my business here, I have felt that Chinese people are very open, curious, and accepting of new things.

What is your clientele like? Right now my clientele is mainly Chinese, and a lot of them are younger. This is the market I have been focusing on. I also have expat clients as well, but many of them don’t think my cupcakes are sweet enough. After some experimenting, I have found a good balance. I know what the different tastes of Chinese and expats are like. I feel that American cakes are too sweet, but after you live here for a while you lose your sweet tooth.

The love of baking has been passed down through your family for generations. At what age did your love of baking start? My grandfather had a bakery in Singapore, but I didn’t really know him that well. As a child I would hear stories from my mother about the bakery, and how she got to help decorate cakes when she was young. As a child I got all these images of sweets and baking in my mind, and it really stimulated my curiosity. When we moved to the US we used to do Christmas baking every year, which was a lot of fun. So I guess you can say that my real love of baking started when I was eight years old, and living in the US.
Beijing is not known for its chocolate. As a chocolatier, how do you go about searching for good quality chocolate? I source all my chocolates from abroad. It’s not only Beijing that uses bad chocolate, but there is a whole history of chocolate that has changed throughout the years. Even brands in the US, such as Hershey’s, don’t use 100% pure cocoa. This is because cocoa butter costs are really high. However, in Europe it is still more traditional, which is why I source all my chocolate from Belgium or France.

What is your secret for making the perfect cupcake that everyone loves? (Laughs) I am not sure that I really have a secret, but I take a lot of time and care with every recipe that I make. I usually experiment with hundreds of recipes before I decide on the one to use. I do a lot of research and experimentation before I decide on how I want the final
product to turn out and what it should taste like. All cakes are made from the same ingredients, and the differences are subtle. You really don’t know what they are until you bake them all at once and you try them all next to each other.

You are also a certified gemologist. What influence has this had on your work? My parents were both geologists, so their careers definitely influenced me to study gemology. Our whole family has always shared the love for stones. Being an artist and designer, my gemology background helped me to create new art pieces and help develop new artistic ideas.

Having grown up in two different worlds, how does your cross-cultural experience influence your cupcake creations, if at all? I’ve tried a lot of desserts from all over the world. Every culture has its own characteristics, and no two desserts have the same taste or feeling when you eat them. A dessert can invoke an emotion, a memory from the past, or remind you of someone you know. So, because I have been able to try so many things, I can bring together all the different tastes and create something of my own.

Being a successful businesswoman, how do you build a business around a family? How do you build a business around a family? (laughs) I actually just live right upstairs from my shop. Because baking, and anything related to food is very time intensive, you can’t make something and let it sit there for an entire season. That’s the main reason why I chose to have my shop in this location.

I read an interview you recently did online saying that you are collaborating with artists for some limited edition work. Can you tell us a little more about what’s in store? Yes, right now I am working with a local Beijing artist, who is creating a chocolate rabbit for us since the year of rabbit is coming up.

As a mother of twin girls, how do you balance motherhood and your professional life? Balancing motherhood and a career is always a struggle, no matter how many children you have. Every night I make sure to go upstairs and say goodnight to my two girls before they go to bed. But it’s also really easy for them to come downstairs to the shop as well. The reason that I like baking is that I feel like it’s really creative, so I try to get them involved as well. I would also like to add by saying that as a mother, and as an individual, balancing the professional life and family is difficult. It doesn’t matter if you choose to return to the working world or not, or if you just choose to put all you energy into your family. It’s just plain hard. I think the reason I started my own business was because I needed another creative outlet. The most important thing in life is to try to figure out what you need to have a fulfilling life, and try to balance every part of that.

Where do you go to get a break from the sugar rush at work? In regard to restaurants, we usually eat around here, and I can’t say that I have any real favorites. We are always trying to find a better restaurant. Madam Zhu’s is a favorite of ours. Their food is always flavorful, the atmosphere is family friendly, and it’s not too far from where we live. All the restaurants that we like in Beijing are Chinese. I think there are some foreign restaurants that are okay, but I think once you have had really good food in other cities, it’s really hard to compare. Even the same brands that come here are just not as good here as they are in their native countries. For me, I think you should just find the best of what’s available to you locally.

The year is almost over. Any New Year’s resolutions? Hm, I don’t tend to make New Year’s resolutions because I never seem to be able to keep them. Right now I am just trying to enjoy my time here.

Interview by Marla Fong

Madam Zhu’s Kitchen 汉舍中国菜馆. Daily 11am-930pm. B1/F, Bldg D, Vantone Center, 6A Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (5907 1625) 朝阳区朝阳门外大街甲6号万通中心D座地下1层
CC Sweets, Central Park, Tower 11, Shop 109, Chaoyang District (6533 6973, 139 0116 8097). www.ccsweets.cn 朝外大街6号，新城国际T11.109店
 

Article from Agenda, issue 71, Jan 13-Jan 26. To read more from the most recent issue of Agenda, download the PDF here. To find a copy, contact our distribution department at distribution@agendabeijing.com with an idea of where you work, live or play and we’ll tell you where you can find one near you.

Hair salons abound in Beijing, but for the past years, Eric Paris Salon has been a favorite among expats. At the helm of the operation sits CEO Katy Sinnott, who left a career with an international bank to join her husband in Beijing. Now, the working mother balances her home and work life around the clock, and managed to squeeze in some time to tell Agenda how she got started in the hair industry, and how she found balance in her life.

How did you end up in this profession?
In my first job I worked at HSBC, which allowed me to live in about 36 countries and travel a lot. I traveled all around the world – the Middle East, South America, all over Asia, and Europe. It was a great job. I was young and I really enjoyed being chauffeured everywhere. After that I worked as a consultant, and still traveled, albeit not as extensively. The problem with this kind of lifestyle is that it affects your relationship, and my husband was a key factor in bringing me here. He was building his business and career here, and we work well together, so I decided to join his company in 2004. I am very happy now, even if my traveling days are over.

Your husband is your business partner as well; did you meet while living in China?
I did meet him in China. It’s actually quite a romantic story how we met. I had left Hong Kong to come to Beijing. At that time I had come to stay in Beijing for about six months, and was staying with a Chinese family. I wanted to stay local and not get my hair done, or get any sort of beauty treatments. My resolution only lasted three months, and then I went crazy and couldn’t stand it anymore. I had to get my hair done! So I went to Eric’s salon, and that’s how I met him. He cut my hair, and I had never had such good hair in my life. I was amazed at what he had done. A week later we went out, and after that we were inseparable. We’ve been together since 1999, and after that I never left China.

Was it always a dream of yours to work in the hair industry?
Honestly I never thought about joining the hair industry. Growing up I always wanted to be an entrepreneur. I knew I wanted to work for myself, but I just didn’t know in what industry. Being a constant entrepreneur himself, Eric definitely influenced me to get into the hair salon business, and has been my mentor ever since.

Beijing has so many hair and beauty salons, how do you compete?
We never really compete with the Chinese hair salons directly. Our salon is very French and unique, and we just compete with ourselves to try and make ourselves better. We always try to have high quality customer service, keep our customers happy with good-looking hair, carry high-end hair products, and keep our salon looking clean and presentable. The hair industry is so huge and there is definitely room and opportunity for everyone.

How do you explain your success?
Eric, it’s all about Eric. (laughs) He has been here in Beijing since 1996 and pretty much started the first-born salon chain here. He did a lot of events with Loreal and Schwarzkopf, did a lot of networking with them, and helped introduce their products and hairdressing into the Chinese market. Eric is a great hairdresser, and has a background in French hairdressing, which is pretty much known worldwide. Our salon’s great hair cutting skills and high quality customer service is really the reason for our constant success.

Can you describe what is an average day at the salon is like for you?
I spend about 50 percent of my time in the salon, and about 50 percent in the office. Everyday I come into work, I check in with reception, see what kind of appointments there are for the day. I also check to see if there are any dissatisfied customers – I think it’s very important to know what makes them happy or unhappy. Next I go around and talk to all the hairdressers and get their feedback as well. We are always checking to see if we need to add any extra services or provide extra training. So that’s primarily what I focus on – the customer aspect of the job – because I am not a hairdresser. And then lastly, I usually check the salon, to make sure they have enough products on the shelves, that stands are plugged in, and of course talk to all the customers and introduce myself so that they know who I am.

Being a successful businesswoman, how do you find time in your busy schedule to balance work and your family life?
Before I had a child I had no balance in my life at all. None. Period. But that was okay because Eric and I worked together so we got to see each other all the time. And even back when I was a consultant I was working 100-hour workweeks, which was crazy, and now I look back and wonder how I ever managed to do that. But now that I’ve had a child all that has changed. Now I am always home at 6pm, so that I can get dinner ready for my son by 6:30pm, put him to sleep by 8pm, and then later in the evening I do on paperwork. Today I have a totally different mentality than before. Now I make sure to never go out more than one night a week. Before we would go out all the time because it was part of the business. I am much more organized now in my personal life, and a little more organized at work. (laughs) My son has brought a lot of balance to my life, which is really a great thing!

How do you keep your hair looking so fabulous despite being a working mom?
(laughs) Every five minutes I have free I go and do my hair! Actually my son Andreas comes with me to the salon when I do my hair, and he loves it here! He comes to play with everybody; he actually sweeps the floors while I do my hair. He’s our youngest employee here and we give him one kuai a week.

How has your time in Beijing influenced you?
Living here in Beijing has made me more patient, because we all know that doing things in China takes a lot more time. The culture and language here is different from mine, and since my Chinese is not that fluent I try to be careful when talking to my employees. I use a lot of repetition when talking to them, and am always very patient, which I don’t think I was before I came to China.

Where do you go when you need to take a break from the salon?
I actually go to two places. One place is my home. In my previous career, I lived in hotel rooms, so going home for me was like going on a holiday. To play with our son Andreas we love to go to Ritan Park. It’s beautiful, and you can see people doing all sorts of bizarre things there. You see people singing, tap dancing, playing different musical instruments, dancing… my son absolutely loves it! We don’t really go out anymore. Eric and I enjoy baking and cooking at home, and we recently bought our son a play kitchen, so when we’re in the kitchen cooking, he’s on the side playing too.

Article from Agenda, issue 71, Jan 13-Jan 26. To read more from the most recent issue of Agenda, download the PDF here. To find a copy, contact our distribution department at distribution@agendabeijing.com with an idea of where you work, live or play and we’ll tell you where you can find one near you.