Not all companies pride themselves on being experts in their fields, or on keeping up with technological equipment advances and changes in technique. In fact, if more suppliers employed and trained their sales people to educate first and sell later, we would have fewer unhappy customers out there who think negatively about the supply process in general.

It all starts with the sales person. Is his goal the quick sale or the long-term relationship? Does she seek to meet her quota or to educate her customer as to what’s best to buy? It may surprise you but, more than any other single factor, education that grows into a solid foundation of knowledge is what keeps customers and repeat business. And this is nowhere more true than when it comes to purchasing an output device for digital transfers, or the transfer paper itself.

Beware the yes/yes answer

Even though many would not consider digital transfers an apt solution for high production volumes in the apparel-decorating business—and would, therefore, advocate subbing such work out to the local screen printer—17 years of experience tells me otherwise. My rule? Keep it in house and keep the profit in your pocket!