Where baby bites and tiny tots rule the roost

Nils van Doorn with his wife and son. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"When my son was born in 2008 I found it was hard to find high-quality baby products in shops in Shanghai. They did not meet my requirements in terms of quality, safety and design. So I ended up bringing back most of the baby products from food to strollers, to car seat from Europe laboriously whenever I went back to Germany, and whenever my wife and I had a friend coming back from Europe."

He jokes: "Eventually we were on the verge of losing all our frequent-flyer friends. Having to bring kilograms of baby food back from every trip to Europe can get in the way of friendships."

So he and his wife, Chen Lian, decided they needed to do something to find a solution, not only for them but for others in their situation as well, he said. They then set up Baby International, importing quality baby products.

"We first created an online shopping platform, baby-international.com. I did all the deliveries, carrying orders all over Shanghai, and met customers who in turn introduced us to their friends."

The matter of dining for children occurred to him, he said, after he once almost lost his son when the family was out dining. Why not set up a restaurant besides his store, where children have a play area and parents can enjoy decent food?

Parents do not need to while away the time waiting outside the play center, and they do not have to nip into a fast food establishment, thus compromising their children's nutrition, he said.

Bistro Blu also offers customized planning for birthday parties, mothers 'meetings and doctors' seminars.

"Our goal is to bring people together," Van Doorn says.

Van Doorn said he hopes to expand eventually, with a business model of a Bistro Blu attached to a Baby International store. There are plans for a new outlet in Hangzhou some time this year.

dongfangyu@chinadaily.com.cn