A hat production workshop. [Photo by Bi Nan/chinadaily.com.cn]

Currently, the workshop produces thousands of hat styles, with an annual output of 3 million units and a production value of 30 million yuan ($4.1 million). Its products are exported to over 30 countries and regions, including US, Europe, Japan and South Korea.

To scale up operations and create jobs, the factory has adopted a decentralized model of “enterprise + branch factories + processing centers + cooperatives”. It has established 30 branch factories, 53 processing centers and 1 agricultural cooperative in surrounding towns and counties, providing employment for over 20,000 people.

To further expand sales, the workshop also launched an e-commerce division and livestreaming accounts to reach online consumers and strengthen its digital presence.