BIO

Sarah Alderson’s journey began at the grassroots of retail—as a cashier at Loblaws in a small Canadian town. Working on the frontlines, she saw firsthand how a store wasn’t just a business—it was a pillar of the community, providing dignified work and shaping the local economy. That understanding never left her.

Her entrepreneurial instincts kicked in early. In college, she ran a designer apparel business out of her car, selling directly to sorority houses. Her "storefront" was a trunk, her inventory system was instinct, and her margins? Strong. It wasn’t just about making money for school—it was an early masterclass in real world merchandising.

Sarah began her corporate career in private brands, corporate strategy, and sustainability at Walmart, gaining a broad perspective on product development, industry structures, and long-term retail strategy. She then moved into buying, where she honed her expertise in product selection, pricing, and negotiations—learning exactly what drives sales at the shelf, both digitally and physically. As a merchandising leader, she managed a $12 billion P&L, overseeing large-scale category management and retail execution. During this time, she launched a disruptive assortment accelerator model that removed barriers to entry for emerging brands—proving that retail could move faster, smarter, and more equitably.

She later led consumer technology and retail media, where she had a front-row seat to how legacy retail structures were failing to keep up with modern consumer behavior.

Recognizing these challenges, Sarah founded Merchant Collective to give businesses of all sizes access to a world-class merchandising organization, delivered as a service. Through Merchandising as a Service (MaaS), Merchant Collective is making merchandising faster, more flexible, and truly consumer-first, breaking free from the constraints of legacy systems. Whether helping a national retailer drive growth through smarter merchandising or an independent shop compete, Merchant Collective delivers world-class expertise that adapts to businesses of all sizes. Her team delivers expert merchandising services that drive real results—for businesses, consumers, and the communities they serve.