Rooted in the North: Supporting Local Print and People

Our hub here in the Northeast of England is all about two things: print and people. We strive to make this space one of exploration and opportunity — especially for our local community.

As Northerners ourselves, one thing we recognise is the limited opportunity here in the North, something you may have heard us speak about before. But instead of dwelling on what’s lacking, we decided to be the change — the kind that fuels our current and aspiring creatives to move forward with their goals and budding future.

When Darkus magazine reached out to explore the possibility of stocking their printed magazine in our store, we were thrilled to be on board but even more excited when we learned this would be a milestone moment for them. We became the only store in the UK to stock their publication, and in doing so, gave them the platform to expand into more locations. People could now buy Darkus physically, right here from our mag room.

Since then, the founder of Darkus has been back to collaborate with us on social media and in video interviews, diving deeper into the story behind the publication and his wider mission. During our chat, he described himself as a “dreamer” something that really stood out to me. Many of us Northerners have the passion and grit to get things done, but when opportunities feel scarce, those dreams can seem just out of reach. We want to help change that mindset. We want to support local people with big ambitions and be part of their journey.

But it’s not just established publishers we support — we love being part of the very beginning of creative stories too. Recently, we met Meg, a Northumbria University fashion graduate, who decided to turn her final year project into her first-ever publication. It’s a fresh take on the world of print, spotlighting local talent and ideas from the working-class economy, and proudly embracing Northern culture and identity.

As the first store to stock her magazine ‘Radge’, we feel honoured to be part of something so bold and exciting. It speaks to us deeply — especially as proud Geordies — and we’re thrilled to support her as she continues her journey into bold print.

Our commitment goes beyond publishers it extends to the whole community. We’ve visited local colleges and universities with our pop-up stalls and a wide selection of print, offering inspiration and support to students. Recently, we donated magazines to Newcastle College students on art and design courses, giving them affordable access to quality resources that spark creativity. Shortly after, we became an official sponsor for the college — excited to get involved in their future events and support the next generation of creatives.

In December, we attended an event for Northumbria’s Magazine Society, sharing the spirit of local students and offering a range of inspirational material to help them take their next steps in creativity.

We’ve also celebrated local talent at events like the Born To Elevate fashion show, where one local creative showcased work honouring his Gambian heritage through British contemporary fashion. His mission to celebrate community and creative talent in the Northeast completely aligned with our own values.

These are just some of the ways we support our local creative communities — with even more to come. We’re currently connecting with local charitable organisations, including Changing Lives, who do vital work tackling homelessness in the region, to see if there are ways, we can support local even more.

We may seem small, but our voice is huge — and we’ll always use it to champion local people, publishers, community spirit, and new opportunities.