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#29 - Pivot, Test, Scale: How One Launch System Generated $24K in 60 Days
In this episode, Leah sits down with author and entrepreneur Tina Koutras, whose journey took one of the wildest turns we’ve seen inside Legacy Launchpad. What started as a plan to build an audience for her upcoming book suddenly flipped into an unexpected “side quest” — launching a niche candle brand that exploded far beyond her expectations. Tina originally joined Leah’s program to fix what past programs couldn't deliver. This time she wanted clarity, strategy, and a real social presence before releasing her next novel. But while waiting for her manuscript to come back from editing, she decided to test Leah’s launch system on something smaller… a hobby she’d always dabbled in: horror-themed candles. What happened next shocked even her.
By following the program step-by-step — without skipping the “ingredients” — Tina and her husband launched Horrified Candles, tapped into a passionate 365-day Halloween/horror niche, collected over 120 post-purchase survey responses, and generated $13,000 in the first 45 days and $24,000+ within two months. And then came the plot twist: Shopify terminated their store without warning, shutting down 30+ pending transactions. Instead of quitting, they rebuilt a new site in 24 hours, got reinstated, and kept going.
This episode is a must-listen for any entrepreneur who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or afraid to pivot — especially creatives and authors who want to build a loyal audience before their big launch.
In this episode, we explore:
* Tina’s original goal: launching her book the right way after her first attempt fell flat
* Why she chose to “test” Leah’s launch system on a candle brand
* The power of choosing a hyper-specific niche (horror fans & 365-day Halloween lovers)
* How she validated demand fast with pre-orders and early email list building
* The 120+ post-purchase survey insights that shaped her direction
* Why skipping steps in the process derails most new entrepreneurs
* Shopify shutting down her store — and how they rebuilt everything in 24 hours
* The mindset shift needed to push through “sink or swim” moments
* How this candle brand will now feed her book launch audience
* Building a 2,200+ person “seed list” before publishing
* The long-term plan: cross-pollinating readers and buyers, bundles, and loyalty fans
* Why every failure is “just a data point” — and how to use it as fuel
This conversation is encouragement, strategy, and real-world resilience all in one.
⏩ CHAPTERS
(00:00) Introduction and Initial Setback
(00:18) Welcome to Legacy Launchpad
(00:32) Meet Tina: Pivoting From Book to Candles
(04:21) Launching Horrified Candles
(05:21) Overcoming Challenges and Achieving 5-Figure Success
(12:50) Email Lists, Niche Fans & Future Book Launch Plans
(18:52) Lessons on Consistency, Research & Messy Action
(26:49) Conclusion and Where to Find Tina
GET HELP FROM LEAH:
💰⛏️ The Goldmine (for complete beginners): https://leahmchenry.com/goldmine/
⚫ Apply for Mentorship & Work with Leah: https://tidycal.com/team/legacylaunchpad/strategy-chat
❤️ CONNECT WITH LEAH:
Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/realleahmchenry/
Facebook — http://facebook.com/realleahmchenry
View all episodes
By Leah McHenryIn this episode, Leah sits down with author and entrepreneur Tina Koutras, whose journey took one of the wildest turns we’ve seen inside Legacy Launchpad. What started as a plan to build an audience for her upcoming book suddenly flipped into an unexpected “side quest” — launching a niche candle brand that exploded far beyond her expectations. Tina originally joined Leah’s program to fix what past programs couldn't deliver. This time she wanted clarity, strategy, and a real social presence before releasing her next novel. But while waiting for her manuscript to come back from editing, she decided to test Leah’s launch system on something smaller… a hobby she’d always dabbled in: horror-themed candles. What happened next shocked even her.
By following the program step-by-step — without skipping the “ingredients” — Tina and her husband launched Horrified Candles, tapped into a passionate 365-day Halloween/horror niche, collected over 120 post-purchase survey responses, and generated $13,000 in the first 45 days and $24,000+ within two months. And then came the plot twist: Shopify terminated their store without warning, shutting down 30+ pending transactions. Instead of quitting, they rebuilt a new site in 24 hours, got reinstated, and kept going.
This episode is a must-listen for any entrepreneur who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or afraid to pivot — especially creatives and authors who want to build a loyal audience before their big launch.
In this episode, we explore:
* Tina’s original goal: launching her book the right way after her first attempt fell flat
* Why she chose to “test” Leah’s launch system on a candle brand
* The power of choosing a hyper-specific niche (horror fans & 365-day Halloween lovers)
* How she validated demand fast with pre-orders and early email list building
* The 120+ post-purchase survey insights that shaped her direction
* Why skipping steps in the process derails most new entrepreneurs
* Shopify shutting down her store — and how they rebuilt everything in 24 hours
* The mindset shift needed to push through “sink or swim” moments
* How this candle brand will now feed her book launch audience
* Building a 2,200+ person “seed list” before publishing
* The long-term plan: cross-pollinating readers and buyers, bundles, and loyalty fans
* Why every failure is “just a data point” — and how to use it as fuel
This conversation is encouragement, strategy, and real-world resilience all in one.
⏩ CHAPTERS
(00:00) Introduction and Initial Setback
(00:18) Welcome to Legacy Launchpad
(00:32) Meet Tina: Pivoting From Book to Candles
(04:21) Launching Horrified Candles
(05:21) Overcoming Challenges and Achieving 5-Figure Success
(12:50) Email Lists, Niche Fans & Future Book Launch Plans
(18:52) Lessons on Consistency, Research & Messy Action
(26:49) Conclusion and Where to Find Tina
GET HELP FROM LEAH:
💰⛏️ The Goldmine (for complete beginners): https://leahmchenry.com/goldmine/
⚫ Apply for Mentorship & Work with Leah: https://tidycal.com/team/legacylaunchpad/strategy-chat
❤️ CONNECT WITH LEAH:
Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/realleahmchenry/
Facebook — http://facebook.com/realleahmchenry