Kari Palmer
Kari Palmer is a Retail Product Development professional at Outdoor Cap in Centerton, Arkansas, where she specializes in bringing headwear concepts from design to physical product. With a background in graphic design, she earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith in 2021, building a strong foundation in visual design tools such as Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign that now support her work in product development.
Kari began her career at Outdoor Cap in July 2022 after initially applying for a graphic design role and discovering an opportunity in product development instead. She started in the promotional product division as a Product Specialist, where she spent her first 11 months learning the end-to-end process of sample creation, factory communication, and product coordination. Her adaptability and strong design mindset led to a transition into the retail side of the business, where she now works on the Mass Network.
In her current role, Kari helps develop cap samples for major retailers including Walmart, Meijer, Canadian Tire, and Buc-ee’s, translating design concepts into physical products by selecting materials, shapes, closures, and coordinating factory production. She collaborates closely with designers, sales teams, and overseas factories to manage sample requests, cost reviews, and delivery timelines. Known for her collaborative approach and steady growth in the field, Kari has quickly become a valued part of her team at Outdoor Cap while continuing to build her expertise in product development.
• UAFS at Fort Smith- B.S.
• Headwear Expert of the Month
• Sales Network of the Quarter Q2 2025
• Sales Network of the Quarter Q4 2025
• Sales Network of the Year 2025
• Design of the Quarter 2022
• Sales Network of the Year 2022
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is something my coworkers tell me when I tend to overthink and really get into what I'm doing. They'll randomly say to me, 'It's just a hat, Carrie.' Because sometimes when I get too into it and feel like I have to do something right now, they remind me that I have time and to calm down. It helps me keep perspective and not get too stressed about the details.