Paper Shoot Camera’s 69% Global Sales Boost by Simplifying International Shipping

Introduction

Paper Shoot Camera began as a passion project in 2012 when engineer George Lin combined analog simplicity with sustainable design. Each camera features stone-based materials and a digital sensor, giving photos a unique look while keeping environmental impact low. By 2021, CEO Gillian Gallant and CFO Jack Bisson joined to expand beyond Asia into North America, South America, and Europe. They shipped orders from Gillian’s Ottawa living room until success created constant production and fulfillment headaches.

The Challenge

Rapid demand made manual packing unsustainable. Friends and family helped for a while, but handling thousands of orders across borders required a scalable setup. In 2022, Paper Shoot Camera hired a US-based third-party logistics (3PL) partner, yet shipping costs, unexpected duties, and custom fees ate into margins and frustrated customers who paid at the door.

The leadership team explored alternatives: using their Houston warehouse, finding a global 3PL with regional overlap, or opening multiple local warehouses. Each option added complexity—staff hires, long-distance shipping, in-country compliance checks, potential fraud risks, and new rent. They needed a solution that would simplify cross-border rules without scattering inventory worldwide.

The Solution

At the end of 2023, Paper Shoot Camera adopted Shopify’s Managed Markets, a merchant-of-record model. This handled duties, taxes, and local compliance behind the scenes and let customers shop in local currencies with familiar payment methods at checkout.

With one warehouse feeding orders directly to customers at fair rates, Paper Shoot eliminated the need for multiple local facilities and complex 3PL contracts. Setup was handled in a few clicks within Shopify, avoiding months of supplier vetting or travel expenses. They could keep inventory centralized while giving customers a seamless international experience.

The Results

Within four months, Paper Shoot Camera saw:

• 69% increase in global sales
• 12% uplift in overall conversion
• 105% conversion boost in Italy
• 48% conversion growth in Mexico

Looking Ahead

Paper Shoot Camera now focuses on product innovation and audience growth. They’re rolling out new color options and collaborating with local artists on limited editions. Fulfillment is no longer a bottleneck, thanks to Shopify’s international tools, and the team plans to explore new markets where stone-camera aesthetics are just as appealing.