Forty Under 40: Shannon Bedore

As a big-box retail merchandiser, Shannon Bedore never realized the advantages large consumer packaged goods suppliers held over the others.

“After 20 years — my whole career — working within the walls of big retailers, I only knew what happened on the inside,” she said.

However, it didn’t take long for her as a consultant in the industry to see that many small suppliers are not able to get a seat at the table. She founded Sightline Retail in February 2015 to address the problem.

Bedore aims to help “level the playing field” by providing resources and expertise to suppliers that lack the full-time staff needed to meet the demands of retailers.

“I love working with smaller companies and helping them share their story with merchants,” Bedore said. “It’s so fun when they’re with a buyer, and they get really excited about their product and the buyer decides to buy it and put it on the shelf. That, for my company, is where the work begins, when the merchant commits.”

Bedore is originally from Michigan and has an MBA from Penn State.

Her career started at Kohl’s Department Stores Inc., and she worked for 12 years at Walmart.

Some of her proudest achievements include co-founding the NWA Birthing Center (2011) and serving as president of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation leadership board of NWA. She also sits on Indiana University’s retail advisory board, the Data Oversight Comission of the Arkansas Healthcare Transparency Board, and the Mercy Health System NWA community board.

Bedore swims 3 to 5 miles a week and bikes 20 to 40 miles a week. She also enjoys running and doing Pilates.