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.
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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

Nestlé Purina North America

Main supply chain point of contact for key customers in veterinary diets and supplements.

Customer Facing Supply Chain Lead

CommerceIQ

Provide consultation on Amazon topics such as sales growth, share of voice growth, operational efficiency, and profitability. 
Support large brand manufacturers with onboarding and day-to-day use of CommerceIQ.
Conduct QBRs with customers giving them additional insights into sales and operations performance, as well as actions required to improve performance.

Customer Success Director, Ecommerce

The Digital Shelf Institute

Member

Bonide Products LLC

P&L owner and SLT member reporting to the CEO. Used data to build brand equity and drive discoverability both on and off ecommerce. Transitioned Bonide from a 2P on Amazon to 1P, growing POS by over 60% during a time when other brands were flat or negative to the previous year. Led a team of ecommerce professionals spanning content management, supply chain, retail media, and account management.

Vice President, Ecommerce

Director of Ecommerce

Spectrum Brands, Inc

Managed multi-channel eCommerce accounts in North America for all Spectrum Brands Business Units. Customers included Pet Specialty and big box home improvement retailers.

Ecommerce National Account Manager

Managed the implementation of projects that helped further our strategic partnership with our eCommerce customers, including ones with international workflows. These projects include:
- Price Error Resolution
- Private Label
- New product development
- Amazon Business to Business
- SIOC Packaging Initiatives
- Direct Import
- Business Development
- Amazon Transparency
- Amazon Brand Registry

Ecommerce Project Manager

Forecasted Spectrum Brands Pet and Home & Garden products for $100+ million worth of business across two customers: Dollar General and Amazon.

Senior Demand Analyst

Forecasted Spectrum Brands product for $80+ million worth of business (Amazon & Dollar General). Assigned and maintained statistical forecasting models to all items in Home & Garden and Pet. Maintained APO data for the Demand Planning Team. Worked error reporting to ensure data integrity.

Statistical Demand Analyst

The Home Depot

Managed a team of 75+ associates in all Operational Departments. Managed the store's P&L, including shrink and expense management, the Front End, the Back End, Tool Rental, and Inventory Management.

Operations Assistant Store Manager

Managed the sales and operations of the Specialty and Pro departments ($10M+) of the store. Led 30+ associates, including sales floor associates, sales specialists, and department supervisors, in order to increase sales and customer service levels in the store. Ensured customer satisfaction throughout the sales and installation process. Analyzed reports such as merchandising statistics, sales reports, and the P&L to recognize and react to trends in the business. Recruited, developed, and retained talent for all Specialty and Pro departments.

Specialty Assistant Store Manager

Managed asset protection projects, programs, and communications for the field and stores. Worked cross functionally to understand all aspects of the business to be able to communicate initiatives in the most accurate and precise way possible. 

Managed the content and execution of a monthly, company-wide asset protection training module. This included working with the 3rd party vendor to ensure that the program is created to Home Depot's specifications. Managed the overall relationship between Home Depot and the vendor to ensure the end product is the best it can be for our stores. Managed projects including an Asset Protection field restructure, the rollout of updated Weekly Shrink Plans, and the rollout of the Key Carrier Program. 

Analyzed data such as sales reports, P&L, operational metrics, etc. to recognize trends in the business and react appropriately. Managed training and policy content for all field and store asset protection associates. Oversaw the execution of internal investigations of Awareline calls. Managed Loss Prevention projects related to process improvement. Provided excellent customer service to customers to all store and field associates, regardless of the area of concern.

Manager of Programs and Communications - Loss Prevention

Project and event management for 1900+ US Stores. Supported the associates in the stores through the implementation of new processes, letting them focus on Customer Service.

Main projects included: 
- Specialty DS pilot in 200+ stores to focus on the Specialty sales in those stores.
- Specialty Simplification in all 1900+ stores so that all Specialists, Specialty DSs, and Speciality ASMs could focus on the basics and increasing sales.
- Events Management for all merchandising events. Focused on the operational tasks that needed to be done in order for the 1900+ stores to prepare for the event and properly execute the plan. Analyzed sales data and produced sales reporting on the events for Senior Leadership, up to and including the Executive Vice President of US Stores.
- Ops Day for the District Operations Managers to spend one day per quarter with their Operations Assistant Store Managers so that they could teach, coach, and train them on upcoming process changes and run-the-business topcis.

Operations Business Analyst

Managed a team of 50+ associates in all Operational Departments. Managed the store's P&L, including shrink and expense management, the Front End, the Back End, and Inventory Management.

Operations Assistant Manager

Managed multiple areas of the store including Human Resources, Garden, Flooring, the Front End and Special Services. Supervised a team of up to 300 associates.

Department Supervisor

Data-minded CPG leader with a retail and project management background.

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Joe Kovacs

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