Most of the sculptures are for export, and the most thriving period for the trade was from 1971 to 1973 when the village's monthly income amounted to NT $ 30 million (US $ 750,000).
三義鄉有不少家庭式的工廠，他們自製自銷，利潤極高。至於一般工廠所雇用的雕刻師傅，有按日計酬的，也有按件計酬的，大致說來，每個月都有一萬元以上的收入。