Michael Guerriero

Michael Guerriero, a skilled operations professional based in Toronto, has experience in inventory management, wholesale operations, logistics supervision, and day-to-day business operations.

Over the course of his career, Michael Guerriero has gained valuable knowledge and a proven track record of optimizing business operations, streamlining logistics processes, and driving overall profitability.
As an inventory management specialist at Brands Gone Wild, Guerriero diligently monitors inventory levels, proactively identifies potential shortages, and ensures timely replenishment of stocks. Furthermore, he has a comprehensive understanding of wholesale operations, including effective vendor management, strategic pricing, and building strong customer relationships.

With his proficiency as a logistics supervisor, Michael Guerriero efficiently manages complex supply chain networks, oversees transportation and distribution activities, and ensures the prompt delivery of goods.

In his capacity as the head of day-to-day operations, Guerriero assumes full responsibility for overseeing various aspects of business operations, including financial management, human resources, and customer service.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

I usually start the day by reviewing emails, messages, and any overnight reports. I tend to prioritize my tasks based on urgency and importance, so each day is a little different. Then I examine inventory levels, sales data, and forecasts to identify any potential stock shortages or excesses. I analyze everything from sales trends, upcoming promotions, and market demands so I can make informed decisions about inventory planning. I conduct routine checks on inventory levels, both in stores and at the central warehouse. There, I compare physical counts with system records to identify any discrepancies and investigate potential causes of significant variances if any come up.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I bring ideas to life by simply doing it – map out a plan of action and then take the necessary steps to see it through.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I’d say automation and artificial intelligence. The integration of automation and AI technologies is becoming increasingly prevalent in inventory management. AI algorithms and machine learning techniques are being used to analyze historical data, forecast demand, optimize inventory levels, and improve supply chain efficiency.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

It might be old-fashioned, but I always believed writing things down in the form of a list is very helpful. I think I read that there are studies proving that it not only helps you remember things better, but it increases your overall productivity. It isn’t a fancy or detailed list, just a basic list of what I have to do each day, and each time I finish something, I cross it off and move on to the next one.

What advice would you give your younger self?

There’s a quote I heard once: “But one thing I’ve learned since becoming an adult is that failure is the best teacher of all. Try it. Try it all. If you’re not good at it… try some more. Being embarrassed is not the end of the world, but maybe being afraid is.”

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?

Just because you have old-school methods doesn’t mean you can’t embrace new ways of doing things.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

I highly recommend everyone to embrace lifelong learning. Learning is a valuable and fulfilling activity that can contribute to personal growth, career development, and overall well-being. Never stop trying to learn new things.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

Going back to my comments about list-making, creating a general guideline of things you have to get done and arranging their priority is very important when it comes to dealing with stress or mounting pressure. Also, seeing as I’m in the retail business, I believe in keeping very detailed data about everything you need to keep track of.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Set clear goals and expectations for yourself. The first step to attaining professional growth is for you to set defined goals for yourself. When choosing your goals, you can identify areas of inefficiency and redundancy and find ways to improve them. When you set SMART goals, meaning specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound goals, you’re more likely to succeed.

What is one failure in your career,  how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

I can’t speak to one specific failure in particular, but I’ve always overcome failures by simply accepting them, apologizing where it was necessary, learning from it, and moving right along. The longer you agonize over failure, the longer you’re wasting time.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Conduct comprehensive assessments of your business’ inventory management practices, analyze its current processes, and identify areas for improvement.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

Fishbowl is an inventory management solution designed for small and midsize businesses. It provides advanced inventory control, order management, manufacturing capabilities, and integrations with various accounting software.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?

Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

I can’t say there’s one in particular that caught my interest.

Key learnings

• Bring ideas to life by simply doing them;
• Overcoming failures by simply accepting them, apologizing where it was necessary, and learning from it