7 Signs It’s Time To Hire A Warehouse Manager

If you’re a seller who’s sold enough products to fill (or partially fill) a warehouse, life is probably going pretty well. That is, unless you’re also the person keeping track of inventory, organizing special products, managing additional workers, overseeing picking and packing, making dinner for yourself and the kids, and in general just trying to make it in life. You’re probably exhausted. If you’re a seller feeling overwhelmed with responsibility, it’s time to hire a warehouse manager. Here are six signs to look for if selling is becoming more than a one-man or one-woman show.

• Zero work-life balance. Life as a seller doesn’t always adhere to a 9-5 workday, but that doesn’t mean a healthy schedule shouldn’t exist either. If work life is turning into a 24-hour job, it’s time to call for backup.
• Packing orders yourself. This isn’t to say you’re too good to pack your own products, but packing orders on top of the other 100 things on your list takes time away from running a business. Hire a warehouse manager to oversee distribution, picking, and packing.
• Mis-shipments are occurring. Although you may have a small team working together to keep things in order, mistakes happen. If mis-shipments start to occur, they can trickle into a multitude of problems. Managers oversee the timely dispatch of products.
• Perpetual physical reallocation of stock. Sellers are wasting valuable time if they’re constantly moving stock around a warehouse. Warehouse managers systematically plan and organize goods, including those with special requirements.
• Angry customers knocking at the door. To avoid customers showing up at your house with pitchforks and torches, hire a warehouse manager to handle customer communication.
• Too little and too much communication. It’s essential for a seller’s team to be in sync. If too many emails go unnoticed, bad customer exchanges will follow. Warehouse managers manage teams of workers and deal with personnel issues. And if administrative tasks are piling up while your business suffers, a warehouse manager can take those on to make sure productivity targets are met.
• Products go missing. If you’ve got a sizable warehouse paired with a not-so-great inventory system, it’s easy for products to go missing or even be stolen. Warehouse managers can also help protect the building and stock.

It’s okay to ask for help, especially if the livelihood of your business is on the line. Let someone else take the reins so you can stay focused on your brand and vision. Hiring a warehouse manager can lead to a lot of positive growth.