Whether in terms of sales volume or profit margin, the growth of Apple's markets outside the United States accounts for the most significant part. Meanwhile, the Chinese region has become its largest overseas market and the most important manufacturing base in Apple's supply chain. As of January 15th of this year, Apple's list of 156 major global suppliers includes a large number of Chinese enterprises. Data shows that currently, China has developed an industry dedicated to manufacturing accessory products for Apple. Shenzhen alone is home to over 1,500 manufacturers, with an annual output value exceeding 100 billion yuan.

The number of Apple suppliers, including agents and manufacturers, is countless. In the highly competitive and constantly changing market of Apple accessories, what do suppliers rely on to "carve out" a share of the pie? How can the interests and value of Chinese enterprises in Apple's global industrial chain be enhanced? Industry insiders believe that in the fierce market competition, apart from keeping up with the ever-changing market trends, suppliers' efforts in the market and their survival after being reshuffled by competition ultimately rely on high-quality products and brand building.

The most distinctive feature of Apple lies in its constant transformation. Each time it changes, many outstanding accessory brands stand out. Those that fail to seize market opportunities will be eliminated. A distributor who has been engaged in the production and sales of Apple accessories for many years said with deep feeling that there are approximately a thousand domestic manufacturers and agents involved in Apple accessories, but only about a hundred of them perform well.

In the past two years, Apple products have been booming in the market, and the demand for its accessory products has also expanded sharply, generating considerable profit returns. But the reality is that the growth in the number of accessory suppliers has far exceeded the expansion of market demand. In the eyes of many suppliers, the Apple accessory product industry has entered a relatively mature stage, namely the so-called competitive reshuffling stage. If the performance is not good enough, it is very easy to be eliminated.

Under the market's mechanism of survival of the fittest, Apple accessory suppliers are increasingly emphasizing product quality, and some products tend to be designed as art collectibles. Take the silicone cases for mobile phones, which have a large production and sales volume and are widely used, as an example. They are bright in color, fashionable and individual, and are very popular among consumers. However, behind their bright appearance, some low-quality silicone cases have a pungent smell, and users are worried that they are toxic and harmful. Jia Yanbin said that low-quality silicone cases for mobile phones might release toxic and harmful substances, which could affect the health of users. However, at present, most accessory manufacturing enterprises have adopted the more environmentally friendly silicone material, which has no odor and does not release toxic or harmful substances.

Li Pingzhi, the person in charge of Shenzhen Yilianke Electronics Co., LTD., the manufacturer of Apple's back clip batteries, said that fashion is a major feature of the Apple accessory industry. Consumers are generally positioned in fashion consumer goods and often keep up with the latest fashion trends in the clothing and other industries. The product design and market trends are constantly changing, which prompts enterprises to improve product processes every year, continuously introduce new technologies, constantly train employees in quality control, and promptly introduce advanced foreign testing equipment. They strictly control at multiple checkpoints such as incoming material testing, production process testing, and factory testing.

At the Digital World Asia Expo and Apple Supply Chain Conference in 2012, many suppliers' exhibited products had the logo "Made for iPod/iPhone" on the front. This is Apple's certification mark for suppliers' products, meaning that the accessory products meet the requirements of Apple's main products, with technical parameters compatible with Apple products, and will not damage the functions and safety of the main products due to the accessories.

It is understood that since Tim Cook took over Apple, he has adopted stricter supervision and control over the upstream suppliers of Apple products. Some Apple suppliers have indicated that not only is the frequency of Apple's screening of suppliers' production lines increasing, but the time spent on each screening is also getting longer and longer. Apple's assessment standards for suppliers' qualifications are gradually rising.

From the perspective of Apple's suppliers, in addition to strictly controlling product quality, the shaping of product brands is also indispensable. Many suppliers have gradually shifted from acting as agents for accessory brands to building their own brands. For suppliers to avoid becoming a "supporting role" in the market, get a share and secure a place, product and service quality as well as brand building are "compulsory courses".