Case Study: From Frustrated Launches to a Record-Breaking Sales

Client: Nicole of Hudson Houndstooth, Eco-Friendly Dog Accessories & Sewing Patterns

Background

Nicole had been running her eco-conscious dog accessory brand for several years, creating zero-waste bow ties, toys, and apparel for dogs made from fashion industry scraps. While her products resonated with a niche audience, Nicole often felt stuck.

Despite investing in DIY courses and trying to stay consistent, she saw little traction: launches were disappointing, her email list growth had stalled, and social media felt like shouting into the void.

Her mindset reflected the frustration:

• “I don’t know what to post.”

• “What if no one likes my products?”

• “I’ve said everything I can say already.”
  

By early 2025, Nicole made a pivotal shift: moving away from handmade products and into digital sewing patterns for dog accessories. But with old frustrations still haunting her launches, she turned to 1:1 coaching.

The Challenge

When Nicole began coaching in June, she was:

• Disappointed by a raincoat pattern launch that "flopped" despite high interest.

• Frustrated that her audience’s enthusiasm rarely translated into sales.

• Overwhelmed by the pressure of constant content creation without a clear plan.

• Uncertain whether to even proceed with her next launch.
  

Her biggest fear? That no matter what she tried, launches would flop and she’d never figure out how to make her business sustainable.

The Coaching Approach

Over three months, we focused on launch clarity, content structure, and audience alignment.

June – Laying the Foundation

• Designed a customer survey to uncover real audience insights.

• Expanded her welcome sequence from 3 to 6 emails, adding education and testimonials.

• Built a content strategy spanning TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

• Reviewed raincoat launch data, confirming email conversions were strong but underutilized.
  

July – Building Consistency & Confidence

• Set an August 8th launch date for her dog sling pattern with an early bird discount.

• Created a content matrix of 6–7 post types to reduce overthinking.

• Achieved steady traction: YouTube shorts reached 22k views, subscriber count jumped, and raincoat sales averaged 1 per day.

• Identified patterns (not physical products) as her most scalable income stream.
  

August – Launch & Transformation

• Debriefed a record-breaking sling launch:

  • Over 100 sling patterns sold.

  • 11 made-to-order slings at $275 each.

  • 6 sling kits.

  • Launch revenue equaled her entire previous year of Etsy sales.

• Instagram reel went viral, nearing 130k views and a few thousand new followers.

• Shifted focus to building a pattern library for scalable, passive income.

The Results

In just three months, Nicole went from anxious and burned out to confident and thriving:

• Most profitable launch ever: Surpassed a full year’s Etsy revenue in weeks.

• Audience growth: Nearly 2,000 new Instagram followers and viral reach.

• Email marketing clarity: Pattern-focused emails hitting 90% open rates and 20% clicks with the right segmentation.

• Business model shift: Pivoted from labor-intensive handmade goods to scalable digital patterns.

• Confidence restored: Launches now feel exciting instead of draining. Content creation feels much easier with a repeatable system that works.
  

The Transformation

When Nicole first came to coaching, she described herself as tired of “flying by the seat of her pants” and unsure whether anyone truly wanted what she created. Launches felt like gambles, and every unsubscribe felt personal.

Three months later, she has:

• A repeatable launch system she can use again and again.

• A growing, engaged community excited about her sewing patterns.

• A vision for a sustainable, scalable business that doesn’t depend on constant production.

• Renewed joy in sharing her work.

“This launch matched my entire previous year of Etsy sales. I finally feel like I know what’s working — and I have a clear path forward.” 

Key Takeaway

Nicole’s story proves that with the right strategy, structure, and support, frustrated creators can turn their passion into a scalable, profitable business. Interested to know what we could accomplish together? Shoot me an email and let's talk.