Celebrating Print, People, and Progress: How The Mag Room Came to Life

From Print Delivered to Your Door, to Print Proudly Stocked In-Store…

Being the largest print store in the North East is a milestone we could have only dreamt of achieving, where we are able to provide printed magazines to local print lovers in a physical store. We think print should be an experience, one where you can sit and immerse yourself in a different world undistracted, something our seclusion in the heart of the North East provides.

Our mission is simple: to put printed magazines into the hands of every passionate enthusiast, encouraging us all to embrace something real, tangible, and much loved. In a world where technology is more present than ever, we miss that deep longing for something you can hold, display, feel, and even smell. That’s why we created our stand-alone shop: a haven from the outside world, filled with resources for every lover of printed magazines.

Our shop transformed quickly after a simple conversation amongst staff and repeated questions from local print lovers: “Do you have a store where I can come in and browse?”  It was in those consistent questions that we answered with action and The Mag Room was born, our store and exploration of printed magazines, in the heart of the North East.

In April 2024, we opened our in-store experience, and just one year later, the transformation since has been incredible. As word spread on social media, things began to shift. Publishers wanted their magazines stocked on our shelves, customers travelled to see our inventory, colleges and schools recognised the value in our resources, and passers-by discovered our hidden gem.

As our store gets its final finishing touches, we’ll be revealing the transformed space during our Summer Open Day on Saturday, 5th July. Expect hundreds of mainstream and indie titles, many never seen before. Creatives will gather for passionate conversations, local customers will show their support for the Northern print community, and there’ll be local publishers as well as some interactive games to win our merch or some print—and of course, some really good coffee. Essentially: Magazines, Coffee, and Vibes—something we’re known for here in our cosy corner of Swalwell.

Our store now stocks over 300 independent titles and 400 more in our mainstream category, not to mention an overflow of stock in our warehouse, available upon request. We began with a focus solely on independent titles but quickly saw demand for mainstream favourites. This blend allows people to discover something new while still finding what they love and know. It’s a space for growth and discovery, as well as comfort and familiarity.

The room’s evolution has brought many changes. From separating our attached office to create a true shop experience, to relocating our kitchen to make space for overflowing stock, and even installing a new counter for smoother transactions, this space has grown so much from where it began just over a year ago.

We’re proud of how we’re evolving here at Unique Magazines, always with a focus on customer experience, satisfaction, and the love of print. The world of print is changing, and we’re changing with it—embracing new directions, new spaces, and new opportunities. Our grand opening is not just a celebration of a new space, but a celebration of change, community, and the vibrant world of print and creatives here in the North East.