PPB February 2021

Go with a direct screen print, as it is simply more durable. Reasoning: ink to paper/paper to garment versus ink to garment. Nothing is lost in translation. DONNA LOPINTO Owner and President Print This!, Inc. Tarrytown, New York I do both in my shop. I agree with others that screen printing lasts forever (when done correctly). However, a good transfer applied correctly will last years and years of wash and wear. If it were me, and I do prefer the direct screen, I would do a transfer for this job. Beware of digital print transfers; always go with a truly fully screen-printed transfer. Lots of the companies try to sell you on a part-digital and part-printed transfer—do not get that! They are gross and plasticky! BROOKE BRADLEY Owner and Operator All American Screen Printing Santa Maria, California I actually usually prefer the look of vinyl if done right, especially in light colors—but at that size run, I would do silk screen unless it’s full color or something. BORZOU AZABDAFTARI Owner The Falcon Lab McLean, Virginia Q A DISTRIBUTOR ASKS: As we are all watching our expenses, is it still necessary to have a landline phone? As a distributor, most of my business calls come in through my mobile device, as my client and suppliers have the number. Do clients and suppliers care that there isn’t a dedicated business landline? We have a dedicated Voice-over Internet Protocol (VOIP) line through Line2, but we also have had lines using RingCentral for multiple extensions. Both tie into the cell phone. ED HAMNER Top Dog & Print Geek Howling Print & Promo Chardon, Ohio PPAI 593535, D1 I had Nextiva. I think I paid $200 a year and had all my numbers ported. All extensions went to cell phones, kind of like RingCentral. You can also have free phone numbers through Google Voice. Not sure they have a virtual assistant option, but maybe that’s something to look into. CHARITY GIBSON Account Manager Peerless Umbrella Tempe, Arizona PPAI 112666, S10 We use RingCentral and it’s great. Loads of flexibility that allows sales reps to tailor their “extension” however they like: rings at their empty desk, goes straight to voicemail, rings on their mobile, different greetings and call handlings depending on day/time. Go VOIP, you’ll never look back. It can be expensive, though. RICH PATTERSON Owner Patterson Brands Vancouver, British Colombia As a supplier, I like cell phones. I sometimes text with distributors when things are time-sensitive. IRA LICHTENSTEIN Owner and Principal Richardson Seating Corp. Chicago, Illinois PPAI 232090, S3 My kids want us to get rid of our landline, but I don’t get great cell coverage consistently, so I use my landline a lot. And I can hear better on my landline. HOLLY WOLLINS SCHOTZ Brand Consultant All Wrapped Up Columbia, Maryland PPAI 197888, D2 VOIP is the way to go, as long as your provider allows calls to roll over to a cell phone. MATT GONZALES, MAS Merchandising Director Identity Works, Inc. West Salem, Wisconsin 144318, D5 Do You Have An Answer? A Distributor Asks: What are your expectations for your business this year? Specifically, are you expecting sales to be up a lot over 2020, slightly up, flat or down? Are you feeling positive about the year or worried, and why? What’s Your Answer? Email your response to the question to Question@ppai.org for the chance to be featured in a future issue of PPB . Danielle Renda is associate editor of PPB. | FEBRUARY 2021 | 11 INNOVATE