Flag, mascot makers grasp opportunities

As a hardcore soccer fan, 42-year-old Hu Hao has his predictions and preferences for the 2018 FIFA World Cup - he hopes Germany can defend their title but thinks the chance is small.

However, as a veteran businessman who has been making national flags for almost a quarter of a century and three World Cups, he is not going to apply any of his knowledge or decadelong study of the sport to his business decisions - how many flags he should make for each country.

"The most important thing (about making national flags for the World Cup) is you don't make or stock products according to any of the predictions, unless it's from Paul (the prophetic octopus)," quipped Hu, the owner of Donghao Flag Manufacturer in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province.