Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Marketing Company Storage Clerk

🎯 Role Definition

A Marketing Company Storage Clerk is responsible for the accurate receipt, storage, organization, and distribution of marketing materials, branded merchandise, promotional kits, and related supplies. This role maintains inventory accuracy, executes regular cycle counts, supports pick-and-pack and fulfillment for campaigns, manages inbound and outbound shipments, enforces storage and labeling standards, and collaborates closely with marketing, procurement, and creative teams to ensure materials are available when and where campaigns need them. Ideal candidates combine hands-on warehouse skills (shipping/receiving, WMS, barcode scanning) with strong communication, record-keeping, and process improvement sensibilities tailored to a marketing environment.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Warehouse Associate / General Stock Clerk
Inventory Clerk / Material Handler
Office or Administrative Assistant with logistics duties

Advancement To:

Inventory Supervisor / Lead Storage Clerk
Warehouse or Fulfillment Supervisor
Logistics Coordinator or Materials Manager
Marketing Operations Specialist (with focus on campaign fulfillment)

Lateral Moves:

Purchasing / Procurement Assistant
Customer Fulfillment Coordinator
Shipping & Receiving Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Receive, inspect, and document incoming marketing materials and promotional inventory against purchase orders and packing lists, verifying quantities, item condition, and SKU accuracy before accepting shipments into inventory.
Accurately store, label, and organize marketing assets by SKU, campaign, and expiration/production date using established bin locations and company storage standards to maximize retrieval efficiency.
Process outbound orders for promotional kits, client samples, trade show materials, and direct-mail items using pick, pack, and ship workflows while following brand kit composition and packaging rules.
Operate warehouse equipment (pallet jack, hand truck, and forklift if certified) safely to move bulk inventory, stage shipments, and reorganize stock as needed to support campaign timelines.
Use the company Warehouse Management System (WMS) or Inventory Management Software to enter receipts, update quantities, create pick tickets, and close shipments to ensure real-time inventory accuracy.
Conduct regular cycle counts and full physical inventories, reconcile discrepancies, investigate root causes (mis-picks, miscounts, receiving errors), and implement corrective actions to reduce shrinkage and stock variance.
Prepare and coordinate shipments with carriers, including scheduling pickups, preparing required shipping documentation (bills of lading, commercial invoices for cross-border shipments), and ensuring compliance with carrier and customs requirements.
Pack and label shipments according to carrier and internal packaging standards, confirm address accuracy, and apply tracking, ensuring on-time delivery and damage prevention for marketing assets.
Maintain clean, safe, and organized storage areas (shelves, racks, bins), adhere to OSHA and facility safety policies, and participate in regular housekeeping and safety audits.
Support inventory forecasting and reorder point alerts by providing weekly inventory level reports, minimum stock recommendations, and lead time updates to procurement and marketing planners.
Coordinate returns processing for damaged, obsolete, or recalled promotional materials, including quarantine procedures, disposition documentation, and communication to stakeholders for approvals and credit issuance.
Track lot numbers, batch codes, and production dates for time-sensitive promotional items, ensuring first-expire/first-out (FEFO) rotation where applicable and minimizing waste of seasonal materials.
Assemble and kit campaign materials according to exact marketing specifications (inserts, brochures, samples), verifying completeness and quality before release to fulfillment or distribution channels.
Monitor and report inventory trends, slow-moving SKUs, and stockouts using standard dashboards and ad-hoc queries to help marketing teams plan future campaigns and avoid fulfillment delays.
Implement and improve standard operating procedures (SOPs) for storage, labeling, packing, and receiving to increase operational throughput and reduce errors across marketing fulfillment processes.
Serve as the primary liaison between marketing project managers and warehouse operations to prioritize rush orders, manage staging for events, and coordinate logistics for trade shows and field activations.
Maintain and troubleshoot barcode scanners, label printers, and scale equipment; request service or replacement as needed to minimize equipment downtime impacting order processing.
Ensure compliance with brand-specific packaging and handling requirements (fragile items, temperature-sensitive materials, hazardous signage for certain promotional items) to protect brand integrity.
Prepare weekly and monthly inventory reconciliation reports, variance analyses, and documentation for audits, ensuring transparent records for finance and operations reviews.
Train and mentor junior storage staff or temporary personnel on receiving, picking, packing, and safety procedures, and support staff scheduling during peak campaign seasons.
Manage vendor-supplied warehousing arrangements when applicable, including receiving vendor inventory reports, validating third-party stock levels, and reconciling discrepancies.
Coordinate disposal or donation of obsolete, excess, or sample inventory following internal sustainability and asset disposition policies, securing required approvals and documentation.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc campaign fulfillment requests, including rush deliveries, custom pack-outs, and cross-docking for same-day event deployment.
Assist marketing and procurement with vendor coordination for returns, reworks, and replacements to ensure minimal disruption to campaign timelines.
Maintain digital records of packaging designs, SKU photos, and item dimensions to streamline future pick-and-pack accuracy and carrier dimensional pricing.
Participate in continuous improvement projects such as process mapping, layout optimization, and cycle time reduction for fulfillment workflows.
Provide administrative support such as filing inbound/outbound paperwork, updating inventory master data, and responding to internal inventory inquiries.
Help prepare materials and staging for photoshoots, product launches, or sample distribution campaigns, ensuring timely access to assets.
Support sustainability initiatives by identifying opportunities to reduce packaging waste and reuse materials in fulfillment where permissible.
Assist with basic quality control checks on printed materials and assembled kits to ensure brand standards before distribution.
Act as backup for shipping coordinator responsibilities during absences, including carrier communications, rate checks, and shipment consolidation.
Participate in emergency response and contingency plans for inventory-critical campaigns, including weekend or after-hours staging when necessary.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient use of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) or Inventory Management Software (e.g., Fishbowl, NetSuite, Manhattan, Oracle WMS, SAP).
Barcode scanning, label printing, and inventory tagging expertise (Honeywell, Zebra printers, Datalogic).
Experience with shipping platforms and carrier interfaces (UPS, FedEx, DHL, and freight quoting tools).
Hands-on pick-and-pack and kitting experience with strong accuracy metrics.
Forklift operation and certification (if required) and safe operation of material handling equipment (pallet jacks, reach trucks).
Cycle counting, physical inventory reconciliation, and variance investigation techniques.
Basic knowledge of packaging standards, tape and cushioning materials, dimensional weight considerations, and damage prevention.
Familiarity with shipping documentation, bills of lading, packing lists, and basic customs paperwork for cross-border shipments.
Proficient in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables) for inventory reports, basic data analysis, and reconciliation work.
Experience maintaining SKU master data, labeling standards, and SKU-level storage instructions.
Basic equipment troubleshooting (barcode scanners, label printers, scales) and working with IT or vendors for repairs.
Understanding of safety regulations (OSHA, facility safety procedures) and hazardous material handling if relevant to promotional items.

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail with a strong accuracy focus in counting, labeling, and order assembly.
Strong time management and prioritization to keep campaign timelines and rush orders on schedule.
Clear written and verbal communication skills to coordinate with marketing, procurement, and carriers.
Team-oriented mentality and willingness to support peers during peak periods and events.
Problem-solving orientation — ability to investigate discrepancies, propose corrective actions, and follow through.
Reliability and strong attendance record to support time-sensitive marketing campaigns.
Flexibility and adaptability to shifting priorities, seasonal volume spikes, and last-minute campaign changes.
Customer-service mindset when interacting with internal stakeholders, external vendors, and fulfillment partners.
Initiative to identify workflow improvements and contribute to SOP development.
Physical stamina and ergonomics awareness for repeated lifting, bending, and standing.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent (GED).

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or certificate in Logistics, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Operations Management
Business Administration
Industrial Technology
Retail Merchandising

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–4 years of hands-on warehouse, inventory, or fulfillment experience, preferably in marketing or retail environments.

Preferred:

2+ years working in a warehouse or storage role with specialized experience in promotional materials, kitting, or campaign fulfillment.
Prior experience using WMS and conducting cycle counts, with documented accuracy improvements or process contributions.