Shopify Masters How Issues Magazine Shop Raised $120K to Prove Print Isn’t Dead
Sep 2, 2025
In this discussion, Nicola Hamilton, founder of Issues Magazine Shop and an art director, shares her journey raising $120,000 for her curated retail space celebrating independent magazines. She highlights the challenges of launching a print shop in a digital world while emphasizing community engagement and thoughtful growth. Nicola delves into the art of curation, balancing editorial quality with artistic design, and discusses innovative funding strategies and the importance of mentorship in building a sustainable business.
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Why She Opened A Physical Magazine Store
- Nicola opened Issues because she personally wanted a physical magazine space in Toronto and couldn't find one.
- She built the shop as a selfish dream to recreate the tactile discovery experience she missed while traveling.
Tactility Drives Magazine Discovery
- Physical magazines offer sensory cues like size, texture, and smell that online browsing can't replicate.
- Those tactile elements drive discovery and deepen customers' connection to the product.
Curate Like An Editor
- Act as your own editor when curating inventory and choose titles that reflect your perspective.
- Use your taste and industry knowledge to shape a distinctive selection customers can't find elsewhere.