nick gausling 2

About Me

Location
Texas, USA
Languages
English

You’re a retail leader with a special product or service that delivers unique value to customers, but you also know that you’re leaving money on the table.

Wouldn’t it be great to work with an expert who takes the time to listen, understands your needs, and helps you take real, actionable steps to improve profits without all the consultant-speak or unrealistic recommendations?

Nick optimizes specialty retailers to improve bottom-line profits.

In other words, he works with e-commerce brands, brick & mortar stores, and multichannel/omnichannel merchants like you, helping them take concrete actions to improve their business operations and generate more profit.

Why wait? Achieve a stronger, more profitable business.

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ACROSS SPECIALTY RETAIL

  • Multibillion-dollar specialty furniture retailer
  • SMB specialty beverage manufacturer (wholesale + retail)
  • Consumer financial services & boutique venture capital

RECOGNIZED EXPERTISE

  • Quoted by leading business press like CNBC, U.S. News & World Report, Entrepreneur, TheStreet, and CMSWire
  • Speaker at events like Retail Summits and SAC
5.00 rating from 8 reviews
Have you worked with Nick before?
Leave a review
5.00 rating from 8 reviews
Have you worked with Nick before?
Leave a review

Experience

Recent Work

RESULTS DELIVERED BY NICK INCLUDE:

  • Key member of management team that transformed enterprise from bankruptcy and nearly billion-dollar loss to public company readiness, a nearly $1.5 billion revenue increase, and an $800 million net income improvement in just 3 years.
  • Oversaw launch of new manufacturing facility that opened new revenue lines in one of the country’s most lucrative markets.
  • Led firm to become the #1 third-party retailer in the state for a Fortune 100 vendor partner.
  • Drove forward major operating initiative that converted a historic cost center into a profit center.
  • Stand up all operations including logistics, infrastructure, and sales and marketing engine for the relaunch of a D2C e-commerce publishing business.
  • Organized company-wide infrastructure upgrade with IT department to reduce sales cycle time and significantly increase revenue capture.
  • Collaborated with Corporate Vice President of Sales to negotiate and close a private label deal that boosted overall annual revenue by more than 10%.

Qualifications

Education & Professional Development

  • Certificate in Leadership & Management (The Wharton School – University of Pennsylvania)
  • Digital Innovation Strategy & Management program (Booth School of Business – University of Chicago)
  • Master of Arts – Classical Studies (Knox Theological Seminary)
  • Bachelor of Arts – History (University of Nevada, Las Vegas)

Notable Career History

Mattress Firm (2018 – 2022)

Largest specialty mattress retailer in the United States.

Roles held:

  • Director of Omnichannel Innovation & Research
  • Director of Omnichannel Optimization
  • Director of Retail Field Optimization (Northern U.S. Division)
  • Director of Strategy & Analytics (Northeast U.S. Division)

Emerald Risk Solutions (2014 – 2018)

Consumer financial services advisory firm (retail finance) and venture capital incubator.

Roles held:

  • Managing Partner

Real Water (2013 – 2015)

Nationally-distributed specialty beverage manufacturer and retailer.

Roles held:

  • Chief of Staff
  • External Affairs Manager

Various other organizations (2011 – present)

Roles held:

  • Board Member
  • Committee Vice Chair
  • Subcommittee Chair
  • Executive Director
  • Co-Founder
  • Vice President
  • Advisor
  • Investor

Knowledge Areas Knowledge Areas are the business domains and areas, or specialties, with which consultants, partners, and experts are most familiar.

Industries These are the industries and sectors in which consultants, partners, and experts have demonstrated knowledge and experience.

Recent Work

RESULTS DELIVERED BY NICK INCLUDE:

  • Key member of management team that transformed enterprise from bankruptcy and nearly billion-dollar loss to public company readiness, a nearly $1.5 billion revenue increase, and an $800 million net income improvement in just 3 years.
  • Oversaw launch of new manufacturing facility that opened new revenue lines in one of the country’s most lucrative markets.
  • Led firm to become the #1 third-party retailer in the state for a Fortune 100 vendor partner.
  • Drove forward major operating initiative that converted a historic cost center into a profit center.
  • Stand up all operations including logistics, infrastructure, and sales and marketing engine for the relaunch of a D2C e-commerce publishing business.
  • Organized company-wide infrastructure upgrade with IT department to reduce sales cycle time and significantly increase revenue capture.
  • Collaborated with Corporate Vice President of Sales to negotiate and close a private label deal that boosted overall annual revenue by more than 10%.

Education & Professional Development

  • Certificate in Leadership & Management (The Wharton School – University of Pennsylvania)
  • Digital Innovation Strategy & Management program (Booth School of Business – University of Chicago)
  • Master of Arts – Classical Studies (Knox Theological Seminary)
  • Bachelor of Arts – History (University of Nevada, Las Vegas)

Notable Career History

Mattress Firm (2018 – 2022)

Largest specialty mattress retailer in the United States.

Roles held:

  • Director of Omnichannel Innovation & Research
  • Director of Omnichannel Optimization
  • Director of Retail Field Optimization (Northern U.S. Division)
  • Director of Strategy & Analytics (Northeast U.S. Division)

Emerald Risk Solutions (2014 – 2018)

Consumer financial services advisory firm (retail finance) and venture capital incubator.

Roles held:

  • Managing Partner

Real Water (2013 – 2015)

Nationally-distributed specialty beverage manufacturer and retailer.

Roles held:

  • Chief of Staff
  • External Affairs Manager

Various other organizations (2011 – present)

Roles held:

  • Board Member
  • Committee Vice Chair
  • Subcommittee Chair
  • Executive Director
  • Co-Founder
  • Vice President
  • Advisor
  • Investor

Nick's Store

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Reviews

  • Terry G
    5 out of 5

    As I seek to sell the company that I founded almost 30 years ago, Nick's advice has been invaluable. His due diligence work helped me understand the valuation, identify what my options are, and what practical steps I should take to prepare my business for these major changes. Thank you, Nick, for all your help.

  • Jordan F
    5 out of 5

    He is incredibly intelligent and reliable. His ability to challenge status quos and assist with strategic vision while giving quality input to multiple departments is impressive.

  • Christopher C
    5 out of 5

    Nick is one of the most intelligent partners I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. His business acumen is unmatched and the pure breadth of his knowledge is impressive. There isn’t a problem he hasn’t been able to meet head on.

  • Doug S
    5 out of 5

    Nick is one of the most professional and personable individuals I know who can also deliver on promises. He is adept at gaining working knowledge of the industries he works in, and he has a business savvy that is one I've come to count on, even outside of our formal working relationship.

  • Ryan P
    5 out of 5

    Nick is a very intelligent businessman. In my time as CEO of the catering company MyWay Meals LLC Nick’s advice helped me revise my logistic capacity from local to national reach. His expertise in finance, logistics, and operations was invaluable. I would highly recommend Nick for any business that is ready to scale to the next level.

  • Jesse Law
    5 out of 5

    Nick’s attention to detail, holistic understanding of scenarios, and expertise on a wide array of matters impacting businesses is why I continue to return seeking his guidance. It’s his integrity and willingness to understand the entirety of the matter. If in a rare circumstance, Nick doesn’t have the answer or experience, he is willing to say so. Over the years, I have come to respect Nick and rely on his opinion with business and what to look for when entering partnerships or acquisitions.

  • Anthony R
    5 out of 5

    Nick consistently delivered top-tier strategic value to my department and the entire company. When I later started my own businesses, Nick’s advice was invaluable in helping me to navigate challenges and finding ways to succeed.

  • Thomas P
    5 out of 5

    Without question, Nick Gausling's contribution to the NE team was invaluable. He is still a consistent source of information and inspiration. Nick brought a large cache of financial acumen and was able to easily transfer his knowledge to the team. Under his mentorship, we were able to learn how make financial assumptions to benefit our company. Nick was able to teach large groups of District Managers effectively and his personal one on one mentorship was highly coveted within the company.

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