a little #tbt

In 1996, Gerald Karst Sr. retired from the Charleston Naval Shipyard. Gerald’s Omar Shriner buddies took it upon themselves to task him with some volunteer work – get the gang some new gear.

In all of his infinite wisdom (and new-found “free time”), Gerald realized that sourcing goods was an untapped industry with very few local resources for customized swag. And so, Karst was born.

In 2002, Gerald decided to retire yet again, leaving the helm of Karst to the guidance of his daughter, Michelle. While Karst still operates with the founding principles Gerald instilled – ethics, quality and accuracy – Michelle has successfully shifted the focus to a creative agency that takes merchandise marketing to the next level, providing unique solutions that help clients’ expand their marketing reach and cleverly engage with their target audiences.