In some areas, every housewife in an entire village would be busy sewing Christmas stockings from January to September, the peak season, while the men continued to work in the fields. The modern-day Santa's helpers have no idea what Christmas is about, but their lives depend on it. However, part of the success of the industry in China is due to the growing entrepreneurial spirit of its companies. Ms Cai's enterprise, for example, designs 70 per cent of its products. She said her company sends staff to international trade shows and shopping malls in foreign countries to check out the latest styles and gauge the tastes of consumers.
Toys make up a big part of the picture.
China has a tenth of the world's toy market, according to Ma Yin, a spokesman at the China Toy Association. But it may take years before China becomes a big market for the massive amounts of Christmas items it makes. The Age Company Ltd 2000. Any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited.