When thinking of family picnics of childhoods past, closed soggy sandwiches with lackluster fillings may come to mind. Floppy iceberg lettuce, cheese, and tomato, or perhaps your family preferred the classic afternoon tea-style cucumber sandwiches, perfectly cut into bite-sized triangles?

Well, it’s time to do away with the old and switch up the picnic game a notch or two. Revolutionize your picnic basket this summer with some of the best artisan products in town, and take your alfresco dining from high street pickings to haute couture fantastic!

We are going to show you what to fill your picnic basket with, and not only will you be able to choose the right products to perfectly pack for your day out with the kids, we will show you how to cut your picnic prep time in half, if not completely. You’ll be able to have these items delivered straight to your door, and most of our selected products are freshly prepared and packed and ready for you to sling into your hamper.

There will be no buttering or layering before you leave the house and by the time we’re done here, we hope you will most certainly be convinced that Aperitivo- or tapas-style picnic snacking is the way to go.

Butcher Brouillette

Angus Tips, Jerky, Cracklings, and Spiced Sausage

Forget what you think you know about dried and cured meats, Kara’s generous meat-laden bags adorned with 1950’s tattoo insignia are not just a unique take on the humble bar snack but robust with flavor and texture. The cool and quirky brand is a wonderful reflection of the creator behind all the meaty magic. Orange hair, perfectly placed piercings and awesome body art are the signature attributes of our resident femme butcher.

My favorites have to be the Angus tips, moist with just enough textured bite to get your teeth into. Lightly spiced with Spanish smoked paprika, garlic, onion, and Kampot black pepper, these morsels of yumminess are oh-so-moreish and free of artificial flavorings. Partner with a premium lager or craft beer, and for the more luxurious palate I would stretch to popping these in the mouth while washing them down with a medium dry Prosecco.

The pork cracklings were a revelation. The light and crispy texture of the cracklings are unlike pork scratchings, which are usually a little more brittle. Seasoned with a unique spice blend that Kara has coined “Piggy Stardust”, the Butcher Brouilette pork rinds resemble and taste more like perfectly fried pork crackers that could easily accompany a bowl of Chicken Chow Mein or in the case of a picnic, a glass of Pimms!

The beef jerky has a slightly more traditional taste and texture, however, is more thinly sliced into wonderful shards perfect for gnawing at. Chew alongside the spiced sausage, which I would partner with a mini, picnic-basket-sized bottle of red Bordeaux (or a normal size – who’s judging!). The packaged cured meats are ready to go and can be slung straight into the basket or hamper. Slice up the sausage as you like and pass by a local deli for some olives to add to the mix.

WeChat: humantyphoon

Jar Jar Minx

Angus Tips, Provençal Tapenade, Roasted Garlic Tapenade, and Passion Fruit Curd

I bet you were wondering when bread would make an appearance in your basket? Well, gourmet food brand Jar Jar Minx brings you Mediterranean flavors with culinary flair and creativity. These spreads and dips are the perfect accompaniment to a crusty loaf or French baguette.

No. Don’t slice or butter your bread, no need. Simply rip a generous portion of your choice of artisan bread and lovingly spread with or dip into one of Charlotte’s scrumptious tapenades. Alternatively, stack an open sandwich with a spread of your choice and enjoy.

I would also pair these tapenades with beautifully thin slices of Italian Parma Ham, and wash it down with something dry like a crisp Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio. Olives, nut and fresh herbs play key roles in Jar Jar Minx’s delicious creations, which also include a variety of unique jams and even rich liquors.

For the sweeter teeth in the picnic gang, spread some bread with the insanely sweet and potently rich passion fruit curd. Don’t go for shop-bought jars of curd, you can’t beat Charlotte’s homemade versions, which use premium, quality ingredients and of course are made with love. The passion fruit curd is epic and can be wonderfully matched with Elvira’s sumptuous jarred spreads (see below.)

The Provençal tapenade, made using black and green olives, dried tomatoes and herbes de Province is hearty and packed full of flavor. I am a massive fan of garlic and so, of course, the Roasted Garlic tapenade is perfect for those who like a powerful hit of flavor, which is beautifully partnered and slightly tempered by green olives and almonds. Yum.

WeChat: CharLouise

Elvira’s Nuts

Muesli, Spreads, Energy Balls and Coco Pops

Enter Queen of Nuts, Elvira! Free from artificial flavorings and with no added sugar, Elvira’s Nuts is the perfect brand for those seeking healthy but hearty nut-based products that can be perfectly matched with yogurts, fruit, and more!

Elvira has taken the health-conscious arena by storm without compromising on taste. There’s no shortage of choice when making a purchase of delicious items to fill your breakfast bowls, or to spread on breads, or sprinkle over just about anything of your choice. This brand is a crowd-pleaser, and your family can’t go wrong by including some of Elvira’s offerings in your picnic basket.

Elvira showed us how to stack a recycled glass jar with Greek yogurt and either her fruity muesli or crunchy granola, along with a layer of her sumptuous tooth-achingly sweet natural chocolate spread. Get the kids involved and perhaps partner it with a sustainability project (get the kids to collect used jars at home, wash them out and put to one side for picnic days). Don’t worry about doing your layering at home, get the picnic blanket down and get the kids to create their own DIY layered muesli and yogurt jars while at the park!

Elvira’s jarred spreads are equally delicious. Again, whip a bit of crusty bread from your baguette or loaf and get dipping, or get the kids to make sweet and sticky open sandwiches with almond and hazelnut chocolate spread, layered with one of Jar Jar Minx’s curds! Yes! Choose from passion fruit, Meyer lemon, and Mandarin Orange.

If the summer heat gets too much and the kids need a little pick-me-up, hand out the delicious energy balls, made with an assortment of dry seasonings, dates, goji berries, coconut, ginger, and sesame butter. Partnered with some fruit and a handful of Elvira’s homemade coco pops, they’re light and sweet and dissolve on the tongue. Save some for breakfast in the morning and serve with almond or soy milk.

You can expect so much more from this brand, including yummy muesli bars, lemon bars, and passion fruit Maracuya bars, perfect for snacking or adding to the kids’ school lunch box. Also check out her eclectic mix of homemade cereals, healthy cakes, relishes, and chutneys.

WeChat: asteroidelvira

La Factoria

Homemade Lasagna, Pasta Salad, and Artisan Pestos

So we’ve given you open sandwiches, artisan snacks, dips, and spreads and suggested what to match them with – it’s now time for a carb fest! Homemade pasta is the way to go. Don’t worry about overboiling your pasta penne, cooling and adding jarred mayonnaise, the kids probably won’t touch it and it’ll no doubt end up sitting lonely in Tupperware in plain sight of the sun, going warm.

Jorge will sort you out, with his beautifully prepared pastas and I kid you not, gastronomic Italian sauces. Founder of La Factoria, Jorge Cordero is the creator behind the brand that is a small factory churning out fresh and dry homemade pasta and sauces right here in Beijing. His passion for Italian food and flavors developed when he spent time working for a restaurant-pasta factory in Fuerteventura, Spain, owned by an Uruguayan family with Italian roots.

It might never have occurred to you to bring along lasagna to a picnic, but this a gourmet picnic after all, and when perfectly layered lasagna is made to order and delivered to your door – why not? Put under the grill for a few minutes, seal and bring along to enjoy with the family. Cooked pasta can be a joy to eat hot, slightly cooled or cold in a salad. Cordero’s Pasta Salad was prepared using his homemade fusilli, which made a wonderful addition to the artisan hamper.

You will be spoiled for choice when making an order for your picnic, and we recommend ordering some surplus for dinner! Choose from stuffed ravioli, chicken tortellini, spaghetti, tagliatelle, and robust pestos, including Genovese (made with basil), red pesto (made with tomato and nuts), pesto cream, rocket pesto (made with arugula), Bolognese and so much more!

On brown bread spread Cordero’s preservative-free Genovese pesto or red pesto, and wash down with white or red wine. You’re very welcome.

Cue slow-mo frame of you and the kids waltzing into your local park, gourmet picnic basket in hand, hair flowing in the slight summer breeze, as mouths catch flies when you bring out your epic artisan hamper. Open sandwiches? Cured spiced meats? Tapenades and homemade pestos? Yes – you’re winning! Share the gourmet love and get everyone on the epic picnic basket train.

WeChat: parrae

This article first appeared in the beijingkids April 2019 Exploring Beijing issue.
Photos: Uni You

Back in our home countries, reinventing ourselves might not be easy. But if you’re in Beijing, considered by many as the land of exciting opportunities, transformation can be sudden as long as you’re willing to take a chance. People who have successfully reinvented themselves have reached new heights in their careers and connections, and their stories motivate others who are exploring the many options this city offers.

We dedicate this special section to the makers of Beijing – the entrepreneurs, crafters, and the movers and shakers who provide new ways of experiencing this great city. We know there are many out there who have exciting endeavors in mind but are just waiting for the right moment. So we hope that you find inspiration in each maker whom we’ve invited to participate in this feature.

Elisabeth Koch
Millinery

Fabulous or flamboyant headpieces? Whatever your taste, hats definitely add flair and personality to women’s fashion. In China, there’s only one classically trained milliner, and that’s Elisabeth Koch, whose product lines are divided into two: the Pink Label for unique hats, and the Blue Label with limited-edition but affordable headgear. Koch’s creations have been worn by royalty and celebrities and have gone to Royal Ascot, the Melbourne Cup, and weddings worldwide. Her work has been featured in high fashion publications around the world, including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and Harper‘s Bazaar.

beijingkids: What inspired you to put up your business to China?
Koch: Basically from the earliest stage I can remember, I’ve been making things: if it’s a skirt from umbrellas or brooches from old Italian silk ties that my father didn’t use anymore. I’d been always keeping things and making something out of them. So it was just really a matter of time when focused all this creative energy on one thing, and that turned out to be hats. But it was a process before I realized what it was. Even before I was working in banking I would come home and draw and knit and sew and make things. So it was very much something of a natural progression.

How did you face the first few challenges that came along your way?
When I started my business here in Beijing in 2007, the first challenges were, of course, the language barrier and finding materials. My Chinese was absolutely minimal and there was no millinery materials that you could find here. So it was really difficult. And when I came here there was no WeChat or things that we have now, so it was a very different time. We were all very much emailing. Besides that, the first thing that I needed to do was to design the logo, I have to get a website made, business cards printed, and all of that was, instead of digital, very physical: you’d go somewhere, you’d meet somebody in person. But I took Chinese lessons and it’s much better now.

Tell us a story that has helped you build your brand.
One of the best things that has happened was I would wear my craziest hats. I have, of course, wearable and crazy hats, but I like to wear the craziest ones to parties. There were so many parties here around the Olympics, between 2007 and 2009, and everything was opening up. I don’t know how I did get into these parties, and of course, I went there with a lobster in my head, or the Eiffel Tower, or something that’s very much attention-grabbing, or even a motorcycle on my head. And so being in those parties with crazy hats, I would get a lot of attention, especially from magazines. So without really realizing this would have really happened, looking back it was clear that people would talk to me saying, “Oh, I work at Harper’s Bazaar,” “I work at Vogue, can we use your hats in photo shoots,” and I was like, “Sure, no problem.” And that’s how it all started, and honestly being here in just six months, I had 12 pages in Harper’s Bazaar which was amazing!

We know that Beijing is a land of opportunities so what can you tell people who are planning to set up small businesses here?
If you’re planning on setting up a small business in Beijing, I would say go for it, try it! There’s so much you can do here. Don’t let the language barrier or anything hold you back.

What’s that one thing that makes you stay in Beijing?
Definitely the opportunity. There are so many things that come up with the fact that I make hats that I would have never imagined. Obviously, I’ve been longer than most expats. I’m in my 12th year right now and even then, more and new things come out. For example, besides the fact that I make hats, I also give hat making workshops and hat lectures; I’ve given so many presentations, like the history of hats, how to wear hats, my own personal story of giving two TED talks… all of this stuff has come out of the fact that I just make hats! It’s such a fun thing because hats are just visible and I just love them.

Be fab with Elisabeth Koch’s hats! Visit her millinery at Glory Gardens Club House D-102, Xingfucun Zhonglu, Chaoyang. 北京市朝阳区幸福村中路锦绣园公寓D座102单元 (139 1043 1832, Elisabeth_Koch@icloud.com)

This is the digital version of the Making the New Beijing feature article in the beijingkids November 2018 Beijing Makers issue
Photo: Lens Studio

We dedicate this special section to the makers of Beijing – the entrepreneurs, crafters, and the movers and shakers who provide new ways of experiencing this great city. We know there are many out there who have exciting endeavors in mind but are just waiting for the right moment. So we hope that you find inspiration in each maker whom we’ve invited to participate in this feature.

Claudia Masüger
CHEERS Wines

“Cheers!” Let’s raise a glass to… good health? Check. Long life? Yes, of course! Wine in moderation may be good for the health, at least that’s what some studies have suggested, so some people like to drink it to stay youthful and gorgeous. Those qualities are obvious when you see Claudia Masüger, founder of CHEERS Wines, whose infectious laughter and grin will keep you sparkling! Aside from the smiley “ü” in her name, Masüger has embodied this joy and brought it to many people with her affordable imported wines, available from her 66 franchise outlets all over China.

beijingkids: What made you bring Cheers to China?
Masüger: In 2008 I traveled to Beijing with two suitcases of wine samples. I was looking for an adventure and I thought China would be the perfect place. After doing research and wine tastings on the streets, I have realized that there is a big potential in China for great price/value wines from all over the world. The idea of making wine drinking fun and affordable was born.

How did you face the first few challenges that came along your way?
Challenges for an entrepreneur like me is a driving motor that makes me learn and grow on a daily basis. I mostly face tough moments with a smile and an open mind. I believe that there is always a way to solve it when I stay positive. Most major challenges turned out to be an awesome opportunity at the end. One of my first big troubles was when the entire warehouse of the B2B wine distribution company that I was running burned down back in 2010. Thanks to that unwanted break, we had time to develop a new concept and created the CHEERS retail stores with which we changed the wine market in Beijing. Sometimes when challenges get too much I would open a bottle of wine and all will be fine!

How do you involve your customers in building your brand better?
The most important part for CHEERS success has been the people who stand behind the brand. Our mission, “Cheers makes you smile,” goes through the product selection, the service in the stores and online channels as well as the fun wine education we provide. The constant positive feedback I receive from our communities around the stores and from the market is overwhelming and touching. Since we allow our customers to open own retail stores with our franchise concept, we have grown up to 66 stores.

We know that Beijing is a land of opportunities so what can you tell people who are planning to set up small businesses here?
Love what you do, be persistent, stay positive, flexible and open minded and always smile!

What’s that one thing that makes you stay in Beijing?
China is a dynamic market and changes constantly. I love the adventure and especially the people!

Say cheers to a good life with CHEERS Wines! Contact them at 400 005 5500 or cheers-wines.com.

This is the digital version of the Making the New Beijing feature article in the beijingkids November 2018 Beijing Makers issue
Photo: Lens Studio

We dedicate this special section to the makers of Beijing – the entrepreneurs, crafters, and the movers and shakers who provide new ways of experiencing this great city. We know there are many out there who have exciting endeavors in mind but are just waiting for the right moment. So we hope that you find inspiration in each maker whom we’ve invited to participate in this feature.

Gael Thoreau
Beijing Sideways

You might have been to Beijing’s many famous landmarks, but how about going beyond the usual and cruising in the sidecar of a 750cc motorbike? Yes, you can do it, and Gael Thoreau’s the guy behind Beijing Sideways, which offers a thrilling ride in a roofless vehicle while you get to see the mountainous landscapes around Beijing and visit its less-known hutongs and markets. Thoreau, who caught the ‘Beijing bug’ after arriving here in 1999 to work for a garment trading company, is truly an expat insider, knowing the streets and alleys of the capital like the back of his hand.

beijingkids: What prompted you to start Beijing Sideways? Is it something related to your profession or hobby?
Thoreau: It is completely somewhere out of blue! I bought a sidecar as a form of transportation when I arrived in Beijing as they were quite popular among French expats at the time. And naturally, I brought my guests and visitors around using the sidecar. We would also make weekend trips to the mountains and the Great Wall. A friend of mine told me I should have people pay for this and one day he sent me his visiting boss from Paris

How did you face the first few challenges that came along your way?
I can’t think of any specific challenge but the biggest may be changing from being a maker of your product to a company manager.

What’s that one memorable trip that helped you build your brand? 
We had so many stories in the decade that we have been running, including a few marriage proposals on the Great Wall (such as men bringing the question with a ring to their loved one, not to us, of course!). One of my better memories though was when I did a tour for an old Beijinger lady. She was in her sixties and had a long life full of accomplishments, including being a well-renowned scientist. But in a tour with me, she reconnected with the hutongs and her childhood, shed quite a few tears remembering the starvation in the 1960s after the Great Leap Forward, and how her grandmother would bring her to and from a bell square where there would be food distribution sometimes. We also found her old house that was not far from the present location of one of the TRB branches.

Her emotion and realization that so many Beijingers have forgotten about their past in the quick run toward the new era had comforted me in the idea of my work.

Many people say that Beijing is a land of opportunities. What can you tell people who are planning to set up small businesses here?
I’m not sure that Beijing is still the land of opportunity it once was. What I can remind them is about this first business killer: the rent pressure. When you wake up every day, you need to know that you have to start working to pay for your office and home rent, and your staff as well. It’s also one reason why finding staff is more difficult.

What’s that one thing that makes you stay in Beijing?
Despite my love for the city, it’s really my family that keeps me here!

Explore Beijing’s sights with Beijing Sideways. Contact Thoreau at WeChat ID: GaelThoreau or 139 1133 4947. 

This is the digital version of the Making the New Beijing feature article in the beijingkids November 2018 Beijing Makers issue
Photo: Lens Studio

Back in our home countries, reinventing ourselves might not be easy. But if you’re in Beijing, considered by many as the land of exciting opportunities, transformation can be sudden as long as you’re willing to take a chance. People who have successfully reinvented themselves have reached new heights in their careers and connections, and their stories motivate others who are exploring the many options this city offers.

We dedicate this special section to the makers of Beijing – the entrepreneurs, crafters, and the movers and shakers who provide new ways of experiencing this great city. We know there are many out there who have exciting endeavors in mind but are just waiting for the right moment. So we hope that you find inspiration in each maker whom we’ve invited to participate in this feature.

Leandro Rolon
The 3D Food Company

Who would have thought that the mechanical apparatus held by architect and designer Leandro Rolon in the picture above could create delicious food? In fact, it uses the same 3D printing technology that’s been present in architecture and art, medicine, and manufacturing industries for decades! This mind-boggling method of food creation has recently made waves in Beijing’s food scene, courtesy of The 3D Food Company, co-founded by Rolon. He describes the 3D food creation process as “watching magic”, and that the customizable treats like candies and mooncakes are “a delight to see and taste.”

beijingkids: Tell us what inspired you to put up your business/brand. Is it something related to your profession or hobby?
Rolon: My journey as an architect has given me the opportunity to experiment with a wide array of advanced technologies such as computer-aided modeling and 3D printing. Approximately 10 years ago, I had my first experience with 3D printing. It was slow, expensive, and very very limited. But it was still like watching magic. The notion that I could design something on a computer and watch it be “grown” in front of my very eyes was exciting. As a designer, this was very empowering.

I realized then that if I wanted to create a business out of these ideas, I could very simply employ the help of a few machines without having to go through heavy investments in tooling and inventory. The idea to begin printing food in all honesty spurred from pure curiosity. That is, if I could print plastic in any shape or form, how interesting could it be if I could, for instance, do this out of chocolate? Once my team and I began exploring this concept further, it became apparent that this technology has the potential to fix a lot of the larger issues in the food industry such as food waste and distribution of nutrients, in addition to helping chefs create very precise, designer dishes. This led to my partner and I founding The 3D Food Company.

How did you face the first few challenges that came along your way?
Starting a business requires a very specific mindset. Challenges are present at each step so it’s just a matter of how to look at challenges. For us, some of our first challenges became our biggest opportunities. One example was launching an official company here in China. It’s a scary and intimidating process to go through as a foreigner but in our case, we found that organizations were willing to assist if we were willing to showcase our ideas to a larger audience. We entered into a startup competition, along with some very established brands. We did not think we would win but we worked really hard to put together a great pitch deck in a matter of days. This limitation forced us to understand aspects of our business that we would not have had the chance to see if it the path as easy. In the end, we presented our ideas and business proposal and won! A few months later we were now ready to officially launch our business in China.

Share with us a memorable story that helped you build your brand.
One interesting story was for a large project we did two years ago. We were invited to help beat a Guinness World Record using 3D printing technology. At first, we were excited about the prospect of achieving such a prestigious award but very quickly realized that we would have to 3D print a very large amount of plastic to do so. 1.87 tons of plastic to be exact! As a company and personal ethos, I believe design has the power to really change and improve the way we live on this planet. The notion of printing that much plastic didn’t sit right regardless of the prestige associated with a Guinness record. So, to fix the problem we asked our client if they would be willing to take a more sustainable approach instead of printing a ton of plastic. We teamed up with a great company making corn-based materials. After many rounds of experimentation, it was clear that we could use this material instead and so, in the end, we were able to break a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest 3D printed structure with a material almost entirely composed of corn! The best part was when the pavilion was finished, visitors could take a piece of the structure with them to be repurposed in their homes as a planter or lighting fixture!

What can you tell people who are planning to set up small businesses here?
Beijing and China at large are full of amazing opportunities. When starting a business here it’s important to talk with our actual customers to better understand what they want and desire. You will likely have to compromise a bit but in the end, you are building a product or service that really serves your core clients.

What’s that one thing that has kept you in Beijing?
Beijing is such an interesting city which functions at a speed, unlike most cities I’ve previously been too. What I like most about living here is the pace at which business and technology move, contrasted with thousands of years of history in the backdrop, including culture, architecture, and cuisine. In a strange way, they sort of complement one another which create a very unique environment to build a business.

Want to try 3D food printing? Contact Rolon and his team at WeChat – search for “3D Food Company” (their official subscription account) or visit 3dfoodcompany.com.

This is the digital version of the Making the New Beijing feature article in the beijingkids November 2018 Beijing Makers issue
Photo: Lens Studio

We dedicate this special section to the makers of Beijing – the entrepreneurs, crafters, and movers and shakers who provide new ways of experiencing this great city. We know there are many out there who have exciting endeavors in mind but are just waiting for the right moment. So we hope that you find inspiration in each maker whom we’ve invited to participate in this feature.

Drew Ezzell
Bubba’s Pantry

Preserved foodstuffs are ubiquitous at Chinese supermarkets but let’s be honest: many of us don’t really want to munch on those rubbery spicy strips called là tiáo (辣条), or vacuum-sealed marinated eggs, or other local snacks, however appetizing they look. Luckily for us, there are makers like Drew Ezzell of Bubba’s Pantry who specialize in making, preserving, and jarring food items with probiotics – living cultures that help support a healthy digestive system. And speaking of help and support, Bubba’s Pantry donates 10 percent of their sales to Lifeline Shanghai, an English-language crisis hotline across China.

beijingkids: Is Bubba’s Pantry a childhood dream? Tell us more about your business. 
Ezzell: Growing up, I was always interested in biology. As a kid, I watched the Discovery Channel way more than I watched cartoons. At a fairly young age, I got really into cooking and knew I wanted to work around food for the rest of my life. Fermentation is the natural marriage of those two interests. Bacteria, yeasts, molds get a bad rap these days but in truth, humans have been using them to preserve foods since the dawn of man. I think it is incredible that each jar of ours is its own little ecosystem with countless microorganisms calling home.

Share with us a memorable story with your customer and how did that help you build your brand better?
I’m of course very grateful to every business owner that has decided to offer Bubba’s Pantry products at their bar or restaurant. One of my regular customers bought a large picnic basket full of our products. He and his girlfriend went up to the Great Wall and enjoyed a picnic on their anniversary. They even sent me a lot of great pictures from the day! It feels great knowing my products were a part of such a special day for them.

We know that Beijing is a land of opportunities so what can you tell people who are planning to set up small businesses?
I work way more than I did prior to starting Bubba’s Pantry, but I am also way happier, and I can’t put a price on that. If you believe in it, go for it!

What’s that one thing that makes you stay in Beijing?
When I first moved to Beijing I was a teacher. While I run Bubba’s Pantry, I also work as a food tour guide for Untour Food Tours and do voice acting for a large AI company. But in all of this, the community here has kept me tied to Beijing. For such a large city, the expat community in this city is pretty tightly knit!

Contact Ezzell at WeChat ID: DrewEzzell or 157 2660 0124, drew.ezzell@outlook.com.

This is the digital version of the Making the New Beijing feature article in the beijingkids November 2018 Beijing Makers issue
Photo: Lens Studio

Having launched a successful artisan food product, which goes by the name of Halo Hummus (some of you may have tried it), I was asked by beijingkids to share the toils and triumphs of brand building in Beijing. Throughout the rapid growth of Halo Hummus, the number one question people ask me is, how did you do it? But ultimately the conversation turns to all the unanswered questions those seeking to start a business have in this bustling self-starter city.

If you are trying or thinking about creating your own startup you may have several questions you need desperate answers to: how do you navigate yourself through the Beijing Business Maze of rules and regulations? How do you find support and advice? How and where should you network? If you’re not feeling overwhelmed by these, you might be by other questions!

Look no further. There is light at the end of the business tunnel, and Beijing has a thriving small business community to glean from; and speaking of gleaning, that’s exactly where you should start!

So, you have an awesome product or idea, your close friends and family love it, and perhaps others have purchased from you, whether it be a product or service. If these purchases have been in quantities that signal you’re on to a winner, it’s time to seek out others who have been where you are and have successfully scaled up their startup. Reach out and learn from the best.

Before officially launching Halo Hummus, I took my product to a well-known and frequented makers market. Rumble in the Jumble at Modernista is described as “a Hutong market of epic proportions,” and indeed it was. I made eighty tubs of hummus in a variety of flavors and toppings, and sold all but fifteen. The remaining tubs were bought the following morning in a WeChat group created on the day of the market. I had no branding or following, and simply made something of quality, filled brown cups with it and off I went. I had no standing in the entrepreneurial community, I belonged to no ‘makers’ groups and my business acumen was zilch.

Despite this, I walked away from the event inspired. How did I know I was onto a winner? My product was liked, my product sold, my product made a profit, but where to go from there? I knew I had something that potentially had mass appeal. It was time to go on the hunt for fantastic entrepreneurs and their fountains of knowledge.

Participating in the Rumble in the Jumble market gave me access to a community that otherwise would have remained in complete obscurity to me. I had been a vendor that day and had earned an add to a number of thriving Wechat communities, including the Rumble in the Jumble vendors group, Bakers, Makers, Movers and Shakers, and the Bazaar & Markets Network.

A number of entrepreneurs are creating, building and managing growing artisanal brands. From baked goods to lotions and potions, quality homemade items are never far from reach, and in these groups I found numerous examples of successful startups. I was able to chat over brunch with one of the nutty ladies who make up half of the Naked Nut Butters duo and brand. We talked about business longevity, licensing, branding, and more.

Its important to seek out and learn all you can from someone who is where you want to be. In this meeting, it was confirmed that you need to network, have grit, sheer tenacity, belief and, of course a good if not excellent product or service.

I went home that day and did what all serious wannabe entrepreneurs should do: research, research, research. Now was the time to get familiar with my product, its history, and my vision for my brand. At the time Halo Hummus was unrecognizable. Who and what was Halo Hummus? How would I go about growing my customer base? How could I ensure that my product stood out and be recognized? How could one reach out to me? How could one order?

A vision statement sounds cliché and overspun, however it really will become the backbone of your business and the foundation upon which to build. In fact, no one needs to see it or read it (unless you get to the stage where you are ready to write a business plan for investors), but it will guide you, so write it down and keep it somewhere in plain sight or to hand.

To become recognizable was next in line. What did I want my brand to look like? I kept a notepad on my bedside table and bought a chalkboard and easel for my kitchen and sketched! I sketched down what I envisioned my logo and other branding items to look like. I went for a minimalistic, black and white stacked logo, asked a graphic designer to put it together for me, sent it to the printers and hey presto, potential and existing customers could now recognize Halo Hummus as a brand.

You don’t need to break the bank, and if you have talented friends and family, this item and many others you can try and swing at getting for free! Drawing on your own strengths in other areas can also save your new startup’s precious Renminbi. I drew on my strengths as a journalist and presented who and what Halo Hummus was using stylized promotional material; slotted them into acrylic stands and went about growing my customer base – I hit the markets!

I created Halo Hummus in October of 2017 and took advantage of the Christmas season and all its glorious festivities. Reach out to community organizers, schools, events, and functions. Shout about your awesome product and why you should be featured as a vendor. Most markets charge a reasonably affordable table fee, and provide you with incidentals and more importantly a considerable footfall of new customers.

Print out your Wechat QR code, have a table cloth printed with your logo, write a ‘My Story’ blurb and have it visible. Get customers buying and scanning, and create a Wechat group so people who want more of what you’re selling can contact you and place an order. Enjoy the buzz around your new hobby-turned-business as I did, and prepare to work hard.

What came next was an exhausting but thrilling winter season, filled with the joys of 4am wake-up calls, six to eight hours of blending in a four-by-four kitchen twice to three times a week, the filling of up to one hundred pots of hummus in a single evening, plus carefully (and obsessively) placing toppings. But this is what it will take: your blood, sweat and tears. Prepare for your home to turn into the manufacturing base for your product, and try and laugh your way through it or you will cry.

There are no such things as sweatless victories. You will need to put in the hours and often while juggling a full time job, possibly raising children, looking after the home, and having a social life (maybe make peace with not having a social life for a while). But the results will be worth it.

As my business grew it was becoming near impossible to produce from home. I was offering deliveries two to three times a week, and trying to manage at least twice weekly wholesale deliveries of chickpeas and other goods. It was time to look into production space and obtaining a business license. This journey is different for everyone; however a growing startup business in Beijing requires looking into the legalities of running a business in China.

It’s important that while growing your startup, you connect and network with local businesses that can offer production space for a fee. Look into the ways that local businesses can help you while you start the process of obtaining your own license. They will be able to connect you with agents who can brief you on what capital and documents you will need.

Be prepared. Obtaining a business license takes up to a year, and it’s always good to take advantage of presentations and events that offer advice, support and knowhow on startup formation, structure and licensing processes, such as the ones offered by Cultural Keys.

The most common type of business setup entity for mainland China-based businesses, where individuals or corporations can incorporate a 100 percent foreign-owned limited liability company is a WFOE: Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise. The one time fee for a WFOE set up, including service and consulting, will set you back roughly RMB 16,000. An agent will usually deal with your application and there are several other fees attached to the process, depending on your needs.

Remember that the road to scaling up your business through partnership, new ventures and cross-platform agreements are not always paved with gold. Research, ask questions, and collect financial data throughout the development of your business, so you know what are feasible paths for growth. Bumps and hurdles will and always do occur, but treat them as learning opportunities. You come out stronger and more knowledgeable. It’s OK to make mistakes; in fact, it’s an integral part of becoming a good businessperson.

I chose to hire kitchen space with a place of business that offered incubator services as part of the package. However, there were a lot of aspects of scaling up a business that I did not account for. Every challenge will be unique to your particular product and with mine being a freshly prepared, made-to-order consumable, I had little knowledge of how to translate and transition my domestic production line into a fully operational assembly for mass orders.

I needed not just kitchen space; I needed trained staff, an operational manager, and more. In short I had built my business to a point where for it to function and continue to grow, I needed investment. I have achieved more on my own than one usually can with a startup in little over nine months. However with my kind of growth comes the need to eventually invest substantial capital – if I wanted to take my product out of my domestic kitchen and into the big wide food industry, I would need money and lots of it, and so will every startup at some point on its journey.

My bump in the road was my lack of knowledge and preparation before venturing into unknown territory, and then came a literal bump. Eight weeks before a scheduled move into kitchen space, I found out I was pregnant! I continued production of Halo Hummus eight months into pregnancy in order to avoid sidestepping the hummus dream. The truth is, sometimes you have no choice but to adapt to changing circumstances. Adapting for me meant scaling back, looking after the new love in my life and offering a limited Halo Hummus service from home.

If you’re still at the idea phase of your business, before you can start to glean from others or design your brand, there is no better advice than to – if I may borrow for a moment the aspirational phrase of one of our favorite conglomerates – Just Do It! The right time is always now. Think of the beginning as not an obstacle course (though there will be challenges), but as a corridor of open doors. Some will lead to your desired destination while others will require you to go back on yourself until you find the right ones to walk through. Remember, you must have a vision to partner your idea, and the building blocks of a brand.

This article appeared in the beijingkids November 2018 Beijing Makers issue
Photo: Fang Yifei, Nicole Bonnah

We dedicate this special section to the makers of Beijing – the entrepreneurs, crafters, and movers and shakers who provide new ways of experiencing this great city. We know there are many out there who have exciting endeavors in mind but are just waiting for the right moment. So we hope that you find inspiration in each maker whom we’ve invited to participate in this feature.

Leng Zhao
Sweet Indulgence

Bakeries and cake shops might abound in the city, but confectioneries that put a premium on quality are few. Filipino marketing professional and teacher Leng Zhao hits that sweet spot with Sweet Indulgence, her business in which she home-makes a range of artisanal cakes, pastries, and baked goods. One of her bestsellers, the Mirror Glaze Cake, is definitely a sweet indulgence with its extravagant mousse and berry jam combination, garnished with berries and a shiny chocolate covering, making it perfect for special occasions or even as a present for the holidays.

beijingkids: You’re a marketing professional, so what inspired you to start Sweet Indulgence?
Zhao: It started when I was in Manila. I am fond of watching television networks that present programs on food, cooking, or baking especially if it’s all about desserts. I’ve always dreamed of putting up a baking business but we don’t have any equipment at home, and also, there’s this thought that I really needed to go to culinary school to learn baking. So, what I did instead was I searched for home bakers and small hidden bakeries and bought their products to resell them. I do this during the Christmas season, and actually, the income was good! But back then, I really wanted to start somewhere, so I attended short classes on learning chocolate molding, cupcakes, empanadas, and other baked goods. I kept watching baking shows on TV, as well. So, whatever I had learned I tried to do at home, tested and tasted, then sold it to officemates, friends, and relatives. And yet, I didn’t even have an oven to start with until I moved here in Beijing!

How did you face the first few challenges that came along your way?
Aside from my husband and his family, I don’t know anyone in Beijing. Most of the time, I was just home and my hope of finding a job related to my marketing career in the Philippines was fading alarmingly. So, I did what other foreigners have done here: teach English. While studying Chinese, I started to get different extra part-time jobs. But that dream of baking is still alive, so, one day, I decided to buy an oven. I took all those cut-out recipes from Manila, chose the easiest one, then bought the ingredients… and presto, I baked my first cheesecake! From then on, I made my favorites: cheesecake, banana bread, cinnamon rolls and so on. I felt confident and ready to offer my creations to others but I know no one to sell them to, because during those times the people I know were just my classmates and very few fellow Filipinos. So, what I did was, I gave them some of my products for a free taste just to get an order.

Share with us a memorable story with your customer/patron and how did that help you build your brand better?
In Manila, my former officemates were my first customers and they boosted my morale to continue doing this. They gave me an honest opinion in terms of taste, presentation, packaging, and price. But here in Beijing, it’s my husband who encouraged me to do what I really want to do for a very long time. He became my food critic, dishwasher, delivery man, and assistant rolled into one! He was also my first customer, he ordered one cheesecake, and brought it to his work. And when he arrived home, he told me all the feedback he received from his officemates about my cheesecake. This really uplifted my confidence.

We know that Beijing is a land of opportunities so what can you tell people who are planning to set up small businesses?
In all honesty, it’s very challenging. You need patience, you need to be focused because small and medium businesses are like mushrooms popping up fast here. Also, most important, take care of your customers and make sure you give your best products.

What’s that one thing that keeps you in Beijing?
Well, it is really my family, that’s why I am here.

Want to get that sweet indulgence? Contact Zhao on WeChat: Sweet_Indulgence

This is the digital version of the Making the New Beijing feature article in the beijingkids November 2018 Beijing Makers issue
Photo: Lens Studio

We dedicate this special section to the makers of Beijing – the entrepreneurs, crafters, and movers and shakers who provide new ways of experiencing this great city. We know there are many out there who have exciting endeavors in mind but are just waiting for the right moment. So we hope that you find inspiration in each maker whom we’ve invited to participate in this feature.

Martin Barnes
Mountains of Imagination

Many tasks in our careers involve public speaking and presenting: talking to clients, meeting colleagues, and so on. While it’s easy to be factual and descriptive, the real challenge for many presenters is how they can stand out, and make meaningful connections to achieve positive results. Designer Martin Barnes and his cute assistant MoI (who’s making her first-ever appearance in a publication) from Mountains of Imagination are ready to help people enjoy and improve on their pitching, presenting, and visualizing – skills needed when you’re looking into winning a client or building a personal brand!

beijingkids: What inspired you to put up your business/brand?
Barnes: Mountains Of Imagination was started after three key events:
First, an unsuccessful agency pitch where my presentation and ideas went forward without me attached. Second, seeing too many professionals struggling with building and presenting as part of their day to day work. And lastly, the insight that every professional in every industry presents as a way to create value and build success

And now, with 18 years creative experience in London and Beijing, I understand that I have a skillset I can share and help people enjoy presenting. So rather than creating commercial design work, I focus on training professionals to upgrade their presentation skills

How did you face the first few challenges that came along your way?
Always look for some form of upside – if the project didn’t work out for some reason did I learn anything which I can use again in the future. I make lists of errors as a way to externalize them and make checklists for the future so I don’t repeat them.

Share with us a memorable story with your customer/patron and how did that help you build your brand better?
I find every project has a wobble and a victory – there is always some part of your process you can refine as the challenges grow. After many slip-ups, I focused for a year on documenting all steps of our value chain and have a 20-step roadmap I use and constantly refine to manage my projects. It is essential and we have learned from all projects, not just one lightning flash moment.

We know that Beijing is a land of opportunities so what can you tell people who are planning to set up small businesses?
First, do it at your own speed – fast or slow is all good depending on our audience and market. Second, whenever you introduce your business, share why you do what you do; focus on how your “why” solves your audience’s challenges. Most pitches spend too long describing what they are, and oftentimes it is not the strongest way to start a pitch as the audience connection is weak.

What’s that one thing that keeps you in Beijing?
The creative opportunities and the speed at which they happen here. Beijing is one of the most exciting cities as we grow into the 21st century!

Contact Barnes via the official WeChat account of Mountains of Imagination: 创想如山 (type in chuàng xiǎng rúshān) or visit mountainsofimagination.com

This is the digital version of the Making the New Beijing feature article in the beijingkids November 2018 Beijing Makers issue
Photo: Lens Studio