Professional Summary
Professional Overview
Maria Kotskaia is a seasoned Category Manager with extensive experience in the fashion and retail industry. She possesses a robust background in product management, data-driven decision making, and leading high-performing teams to drive business growth.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As the Category Manager at Gold Apple, Maria is responsible for overseeing the planning, procurement, and merchandising of key product categories. She leverages her deep market insights, consumer trends analysis, and strategic decision-making skills to optimize product assortment, improve inventory management, and enhance the overall customer experience.
Career Progression
Prior to her current role, Maria served as the Head of Group at Melon Fashion Group, where she led a diverse team of buyers and merchandisers in delivering exceptional results. She played a pivotal role in expanding the company's international footprint, strengthening brand partnerships, and driving innovative product strategies.
Earlier in her career, Maria held positions as a Fashion Buyer for E-Commerce at Babadu, where she successfully grew the Kids, Women's Clothing, Footwear, Accessories, and Jewelry categories. She also gained valuable experience in the luxury fashion sector, working as a Luxury Fashion Assistant Buyer and Consultant at BABOCHKA.
Academic Background
Maria holds a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising from a leading university, where she graduated with distinction.
Areas of Expertise
- Category management and product life cycle optimization
- Omnichannel retail strategy and customer-centric merchandising
- Data analysis and performance-driven decision making
- Cross-functional collaboration and team leadership
- Trend forecasting and brand development
Professional Impact
During her tenure at Melon Fashion Group, Maria spearheaded the implementation of a robust supply chain optimization initiative, resulting in a 15% reduction in inventory costs and a 20% increase in product availability. Additionally, she led the successful launch of a new private label line that garnered a loyal customer following and contributed significantly to the company's revenue growth.
Conclusion
With a proven track record of driving business impact and a deep passion for the fashion industry, Maria Kotskaia is poised to continue her professional trajectory as a strategic and innovative Category Manager. Her ability to blend data-driven insights, customer-centric thinking, and collaborative leadership makes her an invaluable asset to any organization.
