Brand Guarde

I created this company because I am passionate about fighting for the things that matter in life.
I started my first business with $400 and a dream of being able to provide a better life for my family and be present for them. After a couple years of hard work and dedication to that dream, we saw our first venture grow to a multiple 6 figure business that allowed me to work from home and watch our little girls grow up. This was possible largely due to the exposure and tools the Amazon platform gave our business.
​
I have also experienced the pain and frustration of seeing those dreams threatened by doing business on Amazon. Our company has battled counterfeiters and unfair blemishes to our reputation while also navigating the shifting rules and confusing seller support. As we have worked to overcome those challenges, we have gained valuable insight into the processes and strategies necessary to succeed on Amazon.  We want to offer this experience from the trenches of e-commerce to help other businesses take control on Amazon and turn this marketplace into a channel of strength.​

Co-Founder

Legacy Market

I began dabbling in e-commerce with a dream of working from home and spending more time with my family. We started out primarily selling on Amazon.com in January of 2015. In our first year, my business partner (wife) and I were focused on learning about selling products online and mastering the Amazon platform. In year 2 we began to really grow our business, and by implementing some new strategies we able to grow to almost 250k in revenue in 2016. Best of all, my dream became a reality  when I left teaching in August 2016 to focus on Legacy Market, and I have loved every minute I get to spend with my family.  We are excited to work with new partners and expand in to new markets. We are poised to make 2017 the best year ever!

Owner

Hammond High Magnet School

I have the awesome privilege of helping educate students at an accredited World IB School. I love interacting with all different types of young people and inspiring them to think about the world from a different angle. I get to challenge seniors to learn wise financial principles and develop healthy money habits so that they avoid common pitfalls and have more options for the future. My Biology class constantly investigates how and why nature works the way it does. I so enjoy seeing the process of discovery take place. My vision is to see young people gain an appreciation for continual learning so that they can reach their full potential.

Biology and Financial Math Teacher

5 Stones Media, LLC

We help businesses target new customers and engage with current customers to drive action through Website Design, SEO, Social Media Management, and Email Marketing. Our mission is to see businesses thrive by becoming a strategic marketing partner.

Marketing Maestro

SLU Baptist Collegiate Ministry

Successfully planned and led a group of ten students on a three-week mission trip to East London, South Africa in June 2011.

Working with groups on the leadership team to plan and execute various events for the ministry.

Set up promotional displays on campus and actively engage college students with information about upcoming events.

Student Ministry Intern

Is your E-Com team struggling with maintaining MAP pricing or cleaning up 3p resellers online?  

If you are like many of our clients it can feel next to impossible because:
A) You don't have a great way to accurately track pricing and resellers online (especially big catalogs)
B) No one person owns the initiative or if they do it's an add on responsibility
C) You don't have a clear process to tackle the problems that gets results  

We have helped E-commerce teams for some of most respected brands regain pricing and distribution control online (Amazon, Walmart, and the across the internet).
 
We help them implement a 5 part LASER Framework:

• Legal Foundation for Enforcement (Reseller Policies / MAP Policies)
• Automated Monitoring via our Brand Guarde tracking software
• Seller Investigation and Identification
• Enforcement Module or Team (Physical letters, Email, Phone Calls) 
• Reporting key insights through your dashboard, email notices, and regular meetings

To learn more visit: www.brandguarde.com

Specialties: 
MAP Monitoring and Enforcement
Unauthorized Seller Removal
Brand Protection on Amazon and Walmart
Unauthorized Seller Investigations 
Distribution Strategy Consulting
Reseller Policy Creation
Amazon Brand Registry,
E-commerce strategy consulting

Learn more at www.brandguarde.com

Joe Kovacs

Chemical Guys

VP, Online Marketplaces

Director of Amazon & Marketplace Sales

Director of Internet, Amazon & Marketplace Sales

Electric Auctions, Inc.

When I parted ways with BuyBidWin (where I was responsible for interfacing with many vendors), I took one vendor with me that was supplying reconditioned air mattresses to the company. I opened Electric Auctions the next day and was selling air beds on eBay with this vendor drop shipping for me. Gradually my business grew and I became an authority on the topic. In 2007, I opened AirBedWarehouse.com as a retail channel to sell multiple brands of air beds. I also imported my first batch of air beds directly from China (first under the brand name "SUMO", then modifying it to Smart Air Beds shortly thereafter). I kept a little homage to SUMO by naming my unique, ultra large inflatable bean bag chair the SUMO.

Smart Air Beds grew into a large enterprise as a one-man operation,  sourcing, warehousing and drop shipping products for Amazon, MattressFirm, Hayneedle, Wayfair and UnbeatableSale while also concurrently running AirBesWarehouse.com and SmartAirBeds.com (> $2mm in annual sales). In 2016, I excited the air bed business, liquidated my existing inventory and focused on other endeavors.

PCW ULTRA - Independent Pro Wrestling Promotion

Founder and owner of PCW ULTRA, the largest independent pro wrestling promotion on the West Coast. We routinely drew 1,000+ fans for each event. Many of the independent wrestlers we had part of our organization have good on to successful careers in WWE, AEW, TNA Impact and NJPW. After covid hit and destroyed any event attended in California for nearly 2 years, I transferred the ownership to my partner Joe Cabbibo to contine running events, which he still does today.

Business Owner

Smarthome

Responsible for management of the Smarthome Direct business; which includes planning, implementing and executing online & print customer acquisition campaigns to generate business growth along with managing product acquisition and launch. 

*P&L responsibility, annual budgeting and marketing plans
*Develop Marketing strategies that ensure customer base growth with profitable returns
*Manage & improve existing search engine strategy (paid and organic)
*Development of acquisition and retention programs for various customer types, product segments, etc.
*Management of New Products, Smarthome.com, Online marketing programs and Print marketing programs. Utilize analytics to monitor site activity and drive strategic marketing decisions
*Develop, plan, execute and analyze all direct marketing campaigns, including landing pages, sponsorship content, acquisition and retention emails, etc.
*Drive sales while maintaining integrity of brand
*Interface closely with IT, Purchasing, Engineering, Finance and senior management on regular basis
*Develop and maintain customer loyalty programs.
*Participate as a strategic partner in the development of the company's long term plans

Director of Marketing

American Racing

As American Racing's Internet/E-Commerce Marketing Manager, I had four primary functions: website content, design and project management; Internet advertising and marketing through online ads, search engine marketing and search engine optimization; e-commerce, including product photography and copy, and order management; and project management of the Company's wholesale website which required interaction with our warehouse managers, sales people, our dealers and our internal IT staff.

Internet/E-Commerce Marketing Manager

BuyBidWin.com

At BuyBidWin.com (now defunct) I was responsible all aspects of a start up e-commerce company ( < 13 employees) including product sourcing and vendor management, channel management (yahoo & eBay), product copy and photography, order processing, and direct marketing (which included a 10 mm person mailing list and affiliates).

Director of Merchandising

Broadband Sports (Athlete Direct)

As one of the company's first employees, I was responsible for all aspects of e-commerce (product sourcing, vendor management, channel management, warehousing and customer service).

The merchandising department grew from two people (myself and an assistant) to 11 people whom I managed, and an off-site warehouse that housed over $1 mm in inventory. Sales grew from under $100k in the company's first year to over $6 mm in the company's final year of existance. We had sales and merchandising relationships with AOL, eBay, uBid, yahoo, Lycos and ESPN.com.

The Ivy League

• Editing and Publishing. Edited and designed eight issues of Ivy League Honors and two issues of the Ivy League Football and Basketball Media Guides – publications highlighting the past and present achievements of the Ivy League student-athletes. Edited and designed the Ivy League Directory and Record Book – a comprehensive 288-page collection of Ivy League athletic information since the conference’s inception. 

• Media Relations. Developed, conceptualized and maintained the Ivy League’s website – one of the first collegiate athletic websites with up-to-date conference information. Wrote weekly sport specific press releases regarding league play and individual player achievements. Addressed the media at weekly Metro Area football luncheons. Worked closely with the Sports Information Directors (SIDs) from Brown, Cornell, Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton and Yale.

Public Relations Assistant

Software Automation

Programmer

MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)

• Created and edited men's and women's basketball media guides.
• Wrote weekly press releases for men's and women's basketball, football and baseball.
• Acted as "statman" at men's basketball games - tracking stats and feeding information and anecdotes to the on-air talent
• Handled administrative tasks at the MAAC Men's & Women's Basketball Tournament in Albany, NY
• Handled administrative tasks at the First & Second Rounds of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in Albany, NY
• Worked closely with the Sports Information Directors of Canisius, Fairfield, Iona, Loyola, Manhattan, Marist, Niagara, Rider, St. Peter's and Siena.

Sports Information Assistant

LinkedIn has become super spammy, so please read this before you reach out.

I work for the fastest growing car care brand in the industry - Chemical Guys - and I am the owner of our global Amazon business. 

* I am not looking for new opportunities unless your name is John Middleton or Jeffrey Lurie.
* I have nothing to do with our logistics, HR, website, tax assistance, accounting, sponsorships, etc. I manage Amazon, so if you have questions regarding something not Amazon related or work in an industry that you want to pitch regarding something that isn't Amazon related, I'm not your guy (if I know you actually know me and want a foot in the door for something, please feel free to message me).
* We have various partners who help us with advertising, chargebacks, content, etc. on Amazon whom we are currently happy with. If you represent a business that can help our Amazon business, feel free to reach out, and I'll check out your company information, however I may not respond if I am not interested, and I do not need multiple follow ups to see if I'm interested.
* I have happy to connect people whom I know with other people I know.
* If you are a vendor to Amazon in a non-competing industry, I'd love to chat.
* I am passionate about helping Siberian Huskies. If you have a nonprofit and think I can help in some way, please feel free to reach out. I currently try to support several husky rescues in Southern California, but if my skillset can be of some service, message away!

About My Skills:
Marketing and business development professional with a strong background in ecommerce, operations and relationship development. Experienced in marketing, brand management (P&L responsibilities, advertising placement and catalog development), and merchandise management (product acquisition, development and vendor relations). CORE: Amazon. 

Specialties: Anything that has to do with being a vendor to Amazon, marketing, branding, merchandising, managing vendors/suppliers and operations.

taplio

The Battle

Joe Kovacs

Mike Scharnagl

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?