In this website, leather goods manufacturers refer to manufacturers of wallets, handbags, cellphone cases, digital camera cases, notebook covers and other goods manufactured of genuine leather or imitation leather, while manufacturers of leather hats, gloves, coats, shoes are not included.
       I often use handbags / wallets manufacturers instead of leatherware manufacturers. Because here in China, leather cellphones cases, digital camera cases, notebook covers etc. are in the business scope of handbags / wallets manufacturers.
      Nobody knows accurately how many leather goods manufacturers in China, because many small leather goods manufacturers do not register themself in related governing agent to avoid tax. They are called by related governing agents as "underground manufacturers". These underground handbags / wallets manufacturers normally hire less than 30 workers. They normally don't employ in house sales, actually, the boss himself is the only sales. They don't have outlets in handbags / wallets wholesale markets. Owners of those small size manufacturing factories are not able to afford trade shows, outlets in wholesale markets which are very expensive. Their customers are wholesalers and other mid and big size handbags / wallets manufacturers.
       Mid and big size handbags / wallets manufacturers are normally registered. They have employed sales for domestic customers. Some handbags / wallets manufacturers even have employed sales for foreign customers. Many mid and big size handbags / wallets manufacturers have outlets in handbags / wallets wholesale markets. Some of them even take part in handbags / wallets trade shows around the world.
       How can mid and big size handbags / wallets manufacturers be customers of small leather goods manufacturers, while they should be competitors?
      Answer: Because sometimes mid and big manufacturers get too many orders while their production capabilities are limited. They have to get some orders done by other manufacturers. Many small handbag / wallets manufacturing factories work as workshops of mid and big manufacturing factories. In fact, many owners of small handbags / wallets manufacturing factories worked as designers, management, or even operators for mid and big manufacturers. Driven by their ambition, they start their own business, and naturally they get orders from their former bosses when too many orders flow to those mid and big manufacturers.
      Then another question raised: why don't those mid and big handbags / wallets manufacturers improve their production capabilities?
      Answer: It's financially risky for them to increase their production capabilities, because of the seasonal fluctuation of orders. Normally autumn and winter are rush seasons for handbags / wallets manufacturers while spring and summer are off-seasons. If those manufacturers increase their production capabilities aggressively in rush seasons, they will meet problem when off-seasons come.