I interviewed the coordinator of our local Toys for Tots program and learned about the amazing work he is doing for the children of our community. Bryce Parks was just recognized as the national Campaign of the Year — out of 830 programs — and much of his success he attributes to one thing: having a warehouse. The warehouse provides him with the ability to resource toys all year long — buying at bargain prices at the post-Christmas sales, allowing him to accept bulk loads from national distributors, and spreading out the workload of collecting and sorting over twelve months instead of two.
It seems like a simple thing — and the warehouse is even donated to him by a company with excess space in a larger building — but it is a game changer. Without a warehouse, he would have to focus on one year at a time instead of always working a season ahead.
What is the equivalent of your “warehouse” — a facility, process, or person that could make all the difference in how you operate? We spend a lot of time on strategic plans, assessments, and fancy reports but sometimes forget about the infrastructure that is required to support growth. Taking time to identify and then procure that key behind-the-scenes component could be the key to a whole new level of success for you going forward.
