"Growing with Trends"

The Distinct Ink has a fresh outlook and approach to the promotional industry, and Evie Marcotte has been the driving force for this approach. Armed with a staff that ranges from members who have been in the industry with years of experience to those who are new to the industry with expertise in entirely different industries, Evie has been taking the company to new heights. “This diversity allows us to have a unique point of view and adapt quickly to changes and transitions industry-wide,” says Evie.

Distinct Ink is a woman-owned business located in downtown Wichita, Kansas. Evie and her ‘Gurus’ have over 25 years combined experience in the promo product and apparel industry, including imprinting, embroidery, promotional merchandise, and corporate gifts. The team is fiercely committed to their company values and service to their clients. Their ability to put God first, control the client experience, and drive and embrace innovation make them unforgettable in the industry.

Evie and her company are active in their local community through groups designed just for women. The Hive and The Thread are two networks in which Evie and her other female gurus are involved. “This has put us in a position to meet other small business owners and allowed us to assist them with their branding needs,” she says. Evie leads her team through her drive, work ethic, and positivity. She highly values and desires the ability to be a solid support system for her team. Evie takes a ‘do what you say you’re going to do’ approach, stays true to the values, and believes communication is a key component to continued success!

“Finding success will always be a moving target for me. We have come a long way in the short 5 years, but we also have a long way to go. My advice would be to trust the process and stay true to yourself always. Hard work beats talent,” adds Evie. “When I started The Distinct Ink, I had no leadership experience. I jumped all in with no clue what I was getting into or a full understanding of how difficult the journey ahead would prove to be. I came from a sales role where I was in full control of myself and my clients.”

She quickly discovered managing people is significantly different than managing herself. “I made myself vulnerable and an active listener. I made the decision early on to lead with compassion and strength, even if I didn’t have it that day. There was a lot of self-taught lessons along the way as I transitioned from prioritizing myself to prioritizing others,” explains Evie. “My big emotions tend to take over and I must reel myself back in. As we grew, I quickly realized each employee goes through different seasons. I am now in a position to support and help guide others through those seasons. Helping others is empowering and fulfilling in my role as a female leader.”

It is pertinent to mention, The Distinct Ink is actively growing its in-house production options. The latest addition to their product line-up is direct to garment printer. This has given Evie and her team a competitive edge on quality control and turn times. “Our online platforms continue to grow as we mature with this trend,” she asserts. “To date, our biggest achievement is putting ourselves in a position for growth even through a pandemic. The world shut down and our employees kept going and kept moving forward together. We grew through it! We have had lots of victories and a few failures. We do not let the failures drag us down, instead we learn from them and keep pushing.”

The Distinct Ink is just getting started. Currently, its focus is on growing its sales staff. “This year we are adapting to the pivot. Right now, my 5-year plan includes adding production, growing the internal staff and either finding a new building or a building expansion at our current location,” says Evie. “I give our commitment to our customers and our employees the credit for our success. We hold a lot of pride in our customer service and that along with the value we bring has taken us far.” WL