First-year revenue increase following a major store transformation
Austin, Texas · U.S. & International Leadership
Multi-Unit Retail Executive
Ariou Nakhaie
I build high-performing teams, strengthen operations, and deliver profitable growth. My 20+ years of leadership span big-box retail, specialty retail, wireless, luxury goods, and international expansion across the United States, UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait.
Store sales growth supported at Micro Center
International retail expansion across the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait
District profit-margin improvement while leading 11 kiosks
About
Strategy matters. Execution creates the result.
I connect people, process, and performance to turn business goals into measurable outcomes.
My leadership experience includes store and multi-location operations, P&L ownership, sales growth, merchandising, inventory, staffing, payroll, commercial accounts, vendor partnerships, and customer experience.
I have led teams in the United States and supported expansion across the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait. That combination gives me a practical view of how to adapt standards, culture, and execution across different markets.
Leadership Philosophy
Clarity creates confidence.
When people understand the goal, the standard, and their role, they make better decisions without waiting for constant direction.
Core Expertise
Practical leadership that moves a business forward.
Clear priorities, consistent coaching, disciplined execution, and measurable accountability.
Multi-Unit Operations
Aligning standards, talent, routines, and execution across multiple locations.
P&L & Sales Growth
Improving revenue, margin, productivity, conversion, and commercial-account performance.
Team Development
Building capable leaders through structured coaching, delegation, and accountability.
Operational Excellence
Strengthening workflow, inventory, payroll, merchandising, and execution standards.
Customer Experience
Creating service cultures that earn trust, loyalty, referrals, and stronger NPS results.
Growth Strategy
Turning business priorities into clear plans, measurable goals, and sustainable routines.
Experience
More than 20 years of progressive retail leadership.
Lamps Plus
Store Director
Lead sales, profit, customer experience, staffing, training, scheduling, payroll, merchandising, inventory, loss prevention, and daily operations for a high-volume retail team.
- Produced a 46% revenue increase during the first year of a major store-layout transformation.
- Built a service culture that achieved a 98% Net Promoter Score.
- Led performance routines across a staff of 45, contributing to a 30% productivity increase.
Micro Center
Retail Sales Manager
Supported sales, commercial accounts, fulfillment, vendor collaboration, product assortment, inventory, and team performance.
- Helped grow store sales from $62 million to more than $100 million.
- Helped the location achieve the #1 customer-satisfaction ranking among 25 stores.
Q Best Gold
Director of Sales
Led sales, expansion, operations, staffing, coaching, integrated marketing, e-commerce, and quality initiatives across international markets.
- Established 28 locations across the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait.
- Delivered annual sales growth ranging from 10% to 22% and maintained 89% employee retention.
Earlier leadership experience
Wireless Advocates
District Manager
2008 - 2009 · Led 11 kiosks and improved district profit margin by 17.6%.
Aaron Brothers
General Manager
2006 - 2008 · Led operations across three stores and secured a key Mercedes-Benz commercial account.
RadioShack
General Manager
2002 - 2006 · Increased store sales from approximately $800,000 to $2.2 million within two years.
Case Studies
Leadership decisions tied to measurable outcomes.
Each example shows the business challenge, the leadership actions, and the result.
Store Transformation · Lamps Plus
Rebuilding the operating rhythm around growth
- Challenge
- Improve sales performance while strengthening day-to-day execution and customer experience.
- Actions
- Led a major store-layout transformation, clarified performance expectations, strengthened coaching, and established consistent KPI review routines across a 45-person team.
- Result
- 46% first-year revenue growth, 98 NPS, 93% employee retention, and a 30% productivity improvement.
High-Volume Growth · Micro Center
Scaling revenue through commercial accounts and execution
- Challenge
- Support rapid sales growth without losing fulfillment speed, inventory discipline, or customer satisfaction.
- Actions
- Expanded commercial accounts, strengthened vendor collaboration, improved order fulfillment, and refined assortment and space allocation.
- Result
- Helped grow sales from $62 million to more than $100 million and supported the #1 customer-satisfaction ranking among 25 stores.
International Expansion · Q Best Gold
Building a scalable retail footprint across three countries
- Challenge
- Expand a retail concept across multiple countries while maintaining sales growth, quality standards, and team consistency.
- Actions
- Led market expansion, staffing, manager coaching, integrated marketing, e-commerce, data-driven targets, and ISO quality certification.
- Result
- Established 28 locations across the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait, with annual sales growth of 10% to 22% and 89% employee retention.
Independent Business Venture
Founder, ARINAZ LLC
ARINAZ LLC is an independent business venture focused on online advertising, social media management, content planning, and brand presence. It demonstrates entrepreneurship, digital operations, project execution, and practical business-building skills.
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