Anastasia Gurskaya – Head Buyer, TSUM Moscow (Formerly Al Tayer Group)
Your mentor, Anastasia Gurskaya, is the Head Buyer at TSUM Moscow, one of the most influential luxury department stores in Eastern Europe. In this senior role, she drives the buying strategy across a wide portfolio of global designer brands, shaping assortments that define the fashion direction for TSUM’s flagship in Moscow and its affiliated doors.
Before returning to Russia, Anastasia was a Buyer at Al Tayer Group in Dubai, where she successfully managed a portfolio of more than 100 brands across handbags, accessories, fashion jewellery, and sunglasses for Harvey Nichols Dubai, Bloomingdales Dubai & E-com, and Bloomingdales Kuwait & E-com. Her expertise in trend forecasting, assortment planning, and commercial negotiations ensured profitability while elevating the positioning of the brands she represented.
With over a decade of experience in luxury retail across Russia, the Middle East, and Europe, Anastasia has built a reputation for her sharp eye for emerging talent and her ability to introduce pioneering designers to new markets. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in championing now-iconic names such as Jacquemus, Cecilie Bahnsen, Khaite, and Peter Do from their earliest seasons.
Recognized for balancing creative vision with commercial impact, Anastasia brings invaluable insights into brand positioning, global market trends, and the art of building long-term success in highly competitive retail environments.
RETAIL CONNECTIONS:
TSUM Moscow, Al Tayer Group, Harvey Nichols Dubai, and Bloomingdales Dubai & Kuwait
SPOKEN LANGUAGES
- English
- Russian
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Jillian Xin – LABELHOOD, Buying & Merchandising Director Joins WE are COCO
Jillian Xin is an experienced fashion buyer and merchandising expert with a strong background in supporting young designers and facilitating market entry into Greater China. Currently, she leads buying and merchandising for LABELHOOD, where she continues to foster new talent and design collections that resonate with emerging trends.
Jillian's expertise spans across China, Hong Kong, and the UK, having worked at prestigious organizations such as Lane Crawford and XINLELU. With her entrepreneurial spirit, she was instrumental in launching XINLELU, a platform that introduced independent fashion labels to Shanghai and gained significant recognition in the market.
"Fashion is about creativity, but it’s also about understanding the business landscape, especially when entering a complex market like China. My mission is to guide brands in both their creative and commercial strategies, helping them thrive in the global fashion market," says Jillian Xin.
Jillian’s ability to bridge the gap between creative vision and market strategy makes her a valuable mentor for emerging designers and brands looking to break into the competitive and rapidly evolving fashion markets in China.
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Senior Buyer at Stitch Fix - Whitney Parkhill Joins WE are COCO
Whitney Parkhill's vast experience across Bloomingdale's, Target, and Stitch Fix has equipped her with the knowledge to guide both established brands and new retailers through an ever-evolving market. Whitney’s focus on data, vendor relationships, and trend analysis has made her a forward-thinking leader in the retail space.
“I’m excited to help new brands find their unique niche and build collections that resonate with the right client,” says Whitney.
LANGUAGES:
English
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WE ARE COCO Launches Global Private Shopping Services, Led by Pippa Mellor, former Net-a-Porter UK & EU Personal Shopping Manager
WE are thrilled to announce the appointment of Pippa Mellor as the Head of VIC Services at WE ARE COCO.
With over 15 years of experience in the luxury fashion retail and e-commerce industry, Pippa brings her extensive expertise in private shopping and client relations to lead our new Global Private Shopping Services.
In this role, Pippa will spearhead the development of a global network of private stylists across the U.S. and the Middle East, acting as a direct point of contact for WE are COCO brands and private shoppers at prestigious our partner retailers such as Harrods, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and Farfetch.
"I’m thrilled to be joining the board of mentors at We Are COCO and working alongside an inspiring team of industry leaders. With 15 years of experience in luxury sales and client development, I’m excited to help brands expand their DTC sales through innovative global luxury private shopping and client development strategies." - Pippa Mellor
Her responsibilities will include providing comprehensive brand training, client services, product updates and exclusive launches, trunk shows and sales incentives.
Pippa’s career includes high-level leadership roles at NET-A-PORTER, MATCHES, Mulberry, and Liberty London. She has consistently demonstrated her ability to build and implement loyalty strategies that nurture existing clients and attract new high-value prospects.
