Cape Cod Life Publications
Cape Cod Life Publications is a privately held, family-owned regional publishing company that produces four lifestyle magazines (Cape Cod LIFE, Cape Cod HOME, Cape Cod ART, Cape Cod DOG), a regional website, and the annual Best of Cape Cod Readers' Choice Awards, serving advertisers and readers in the Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket market since 1979.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersMashpee, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Cape Cod Life Publications does
Cape Cod Life Publications, operating as Cape Cod Life, LLC, is a privately held regional publishing company founded in 1979 by Brian Shortsleeve and headquartered in Mashpee, Massachusetts. The company publishes a portfolio of four regional lifestyle magazines — Cape Cod LIFE, Cape Cod HOME, Cape Cod ART, and Cape Cod DOG — covering the Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket market, and supplements the magazines with the annual Cape Cod Life Seascapes Calendar, the capecodlife.com content hub, and the Best of Cape Cod & the Islands Readers' Choice Awards (held annually since 1992).
The company's technology stack is a standard regional digital publishing platform: a WordPress-based website with content management, the ezsubscription.com subscription management system, an iTunes/iPad app for digital subscriptions, and an SSL-secured e-commerce storefront at shop.capecodlife.com. Underlying proprietary assets are content- and brand-driven rather than technology-driven: 45+ years of regional editorial archive, registered trademarks across all four magazine titles plus the Best of awards and General Store, and an industry-recognized creative reputation evidenced by multiple Folio:, dotCOMM, Hermes, and GDUSA design awards between 2013 and 2017.
Cape Cod Life Publications generates revenue through three primary streams: (1) print and digital advertising sold by an in-house and field sales team to local Cape Cod businesses (the primary revenue driver, with category-specific and platinum sponsorship opportunities through the Best of awards); (2) recurring annual subscriptions across print, digital, and iPad-only tiers (Cape Cod LIFE: 8 issues + Cape Cod ART annual; Cape Cod HOME: 6 issues; digital tier at $9.95 annually); and (3) direct-to-consumer commerce through the General Store for back issues, branded merchandise, and calendars. The customer base is a long tail of regional SMB advertisers across construction, hospitality, food & beverage, retail, and the arts, plus a consumer subscriber base. The company is family-controlled following founder Brian Shortsleeve's death on May 17, 2025, with no external institutional capital, no M&A history, and no disclosed funding rounds.
Cape Cod Life Publications firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cape Cod Life Publications
- Legal name
- Cape Cod Life, LLC
- Website
- https://capecodlife.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cape Cod Life Publications is a privately held, family-owned regional publishing company that produces four lifestyle magazines (Cape Cod LIFE, Cape Cod HOME, Cape Cod ART, Cape Cod DOG), a regional website, and the annual Best of Cape Cod Readers' Choice Awards, serving advertisers and readers in the Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket market since 1979.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cape Cod Life Publications industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Regional Lifestyle Publishing
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (51312), Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Consumer Lifestyle & Fashion Magazines (MPAJAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Lifestyle, Travel & Leisure Books Publishing (MPAJAAAH)
Keywords
Where Cape Cod Life Publications is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mashpee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cape Cod Life Publications business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Print and Digital Advertising: The company generates primary revenue through selling print and digital advertising space across its magazine titles (Cape Cod LIFE, Cape Cod HOME, Cape Cod ART, Cape Cod DOG) and website. An inside/field sales team actively engages local businesses to purchase advertising placements, with media kits available for print and digital. The Best of Cape Cod awards program also creates exclusive category-specific advertising opportunities and platinum sponsorships.
- Print Subscriptions: Cape Cod LIFE subscriptions include 8 issues plus the Cape Cod ART annual. Cape Cod HOME subscriptions include 6 issues. Subscriptions are sold online, by phone (800-698-1717), and through iTunes/iPad. Delivery takes 6-8 weeks for first issue.
- Digital Subscriptions: Digital-only subscriptions provide premium online content access. iPad-only subscriptions are purchased through iTunes and are not included with print subscriptions. Website also offers free access to selected premium articles and a premium digital tier requiring subscription ($9.95 as referenced).
- Cape Cod Life General Store: The company operates an e-commerce store (shop.capecodlife.com) selling back issues of publications, merchandise, and the Cape Cod Life Seascapes Calendar. Items include branded products and general store goods.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Digital Edition Subscription - $9.95 |
| Subscription | Annual | Cape Cod LIFE Print Subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | Cape Cod HOME Print Subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | iPad-Only Subscriptions via iTunes |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cape Cod Life Publications product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cape Cod Life Publications is a regional publishing company that produces and distributes print and digital lifestyle magazines covering Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. Its core commercial products are its multi-title magazine portfolio (LIFE, HOME, ART, DOG, GARDEN), annual Seascapes Calendar, and the capecodlife.com digital platform. The business is sustained by selling advertising space to local Cape Cod businesses and paid subscriptions to readers, with ancillary revenue from branded merchandise sold through the online General Store.
Product overview
Cape Cod Life Publications is a regional publishing company that operates a portfolio of lifestyle magazines and digital media properties focused on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. The core product portfolio includes Cape Cod LIFE (regional lifestyle magazine), Cape Cod HOME (home design), Cape Cod ART (art community), and Cape Cod DOG (pet-focused guide). The company also publishes the Cape Cod Life Seascapes Calendar and maintains an e-commerce General Store. Digital presence includes capecodlife.com providing free articles, guides, and premium subscription content. Annual signature events include the Best of Cape Cod & the Islands Readers' Choice Awards and the Annual Photo Contest.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cape Cod LIFE: Regional lifestyle magazine showcasing the natural beauty and historic charm of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket for over 45 years
- Cape Cod HOME
- Cape Cod ART
- Cape Cod DOG
- Cape Cod Life Seascapes Calendar
- capecodlife.com
Products and services
- Cape Cod LIFE magazine Flagship regional lifestyle magazine covering Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket; published for year-round residents, second-homeowners, and visitors.
- Cape Cod HOME magazine Home design, architecture, and renovation magazine focused on Cape Cod residences and the regional design trade.
- Cape Cod ART magazine Magazine covering the Cape Cod art community, galleries, artists, and exhibitions.
- Cape Cod DOG magazine Regional pet-lifestyle magazine serving Cape Cod dog owners with local travel, services, and lifestyle content.
- Cape Cod Life Seascapes Calendar Annual wall calendar featuring regional seascape photography from Cape Cod and the Islands.
- capecodlife.com digital subscription platform Digital content platform hosting Cape Cod LIFE, HOME, ART, DOG, and Best of Cape Cod content; supports online subscriptions and digital editions.
- iPad digital edition iPad native app providing digital editions of Cape Cod Life's magazines via the iTunes App Store.
- Cape Cod Life General Store (online) Online store selling branded merchandise, calendars, and related Cape Cod Life products directly to consumers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 10,000 copies of Leslie Hatton's Cape Cod ABCs sold on Cape Cod, the Islands and across Massachusetts
Companies that use Cape Cod Life Publications
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cape Cod Life Publications technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Cape Cod Life Publications partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Arts Foundation of Cape CodcoreCape Cod ART is proud to partner with the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod for this valuable Cape and Islands cultural resource. The partnership supports the arts community of the region through the annual Cape Cod ART publication.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cape Cod Life Publications competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Yankee Magazine: New England regional lifestyle magazine covering travel, food, and culture across the six-state region. Most direct comparable: similar regional lifestyle magazine model with print, digital, and events (Best of New England), targeting the same affluent New England demographic that includes Cape Cod readers.
- Maine Home + Design: Maine-focused home and design magazine, sister title to Down East. Directly comparable to Cape Cod HOME as a New England coastal home/design publication with print + digital advertising targeting homeowners and design-build professionals.
- Vineyard Gazette: Weekly newspaper and digital publication serving Martha's Vineyard — a core market for Cape Cod Life Publications. Overlaps directly in covering the Cape & Islands region for residents and visitors with a regional editorial and local advertising model.
- Rhode Island Monthly: Regional lifestyle magazine covering Rhode Island and southeastern New England with print, digital, and Best Of awards program. Closely mirrors the Cape Cod Life model: regional lifestyle + Best of awards + SMB advertising.
- Down East Magazine: Maine-focused regional lifestyle magazine covering food, home, and culture with print, digital, and event components. Comparable business model as a hyper-local coastal New England lifestyle publication with a multi-title portfolio (Down East, Maine Home+Design) and a family/independently-owned operating structure.
- Nantucket Magazine: Regional lifestyle publication covering Nantucket — part of Cape Cod Life's 'Cape & Islands' market. Operates with a similar print + digital + local advertising model focused exclusively on the Nantucket audience.
Broad incumbents
- Coastal Living: National coastal lifestyle magazine (now published by Dotdash Meredith) covering beach/coastal communities across the U.S. Comparable in editorial focus (coastal home, lifestyle, travel) and demographic but operates nationally rather than at a single regional scale.
- Southern Living: Iconic regional lifestyle magazine covering the American South, published by Dotdash Meredith. Compares on the regional lifestyle publishing model with multi-title portfolio (Southern Living, Coastal Living) and significant SMB advertising and events businesses.
Others
- Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce: Regional business organization promoting Cape Cod tourism and SMB members. Adjacent rather than competing — connects Cape Cod Life to its SMB advertiser pool and to the tourism ecosystem that drives its readership.
Regional players
- Cape Cod Times: Daily/regional newspaper owned by Gannett covering Cape Cod and the Islands. Directly overlaps Cape Cod Life's territory but operates a news-focused (rather than lifestyle-focused) model with broader classified and display advertising categories.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cape Cod Life Publications social profiles
Digital presenceCape Cod Life Publications compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Cape Cod Life Publications financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cape Cod Life Publications leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Cape Cod Life Publications funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cape Cod Life Publications M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cape Cod Life Publications
What does Cape Cod Life Publications do?
Cape Cod Life Publications is a regional publishing company that produces and distributes print and digital lifestyle magazines covering Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. Its core commercial products are its multi-title magazine portfolio (LIFE, HOME, ART, DOG, GARDEN), annual Seascapes Calendar, and the capecodlife.com digital platform. The business is sustained by selling advertising space to local Cape Cod businesses and paid subscriptions to readers, with ancillary revenue from branded merchandise sold through the online General Store.
Is Cape Cod Life Publications a public or private company?
Cape Cod Life Publications is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Cape Cod Life Publications founded?
Cape Cod Life Publications was founded in 1979. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cape Cod Life Publications based?
Cape Cod Life Publications is headquartered in Mashpee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cape Cod Life Publications make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Print and Digital Advertising is the primary driver. The others are print Subscriptions, digital Subscriptions and cape Cod Life General Store.
Who are Cape Cod Life Publications's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Yankee Magazine, Maine Home + Design, Vineyard Gazette, Rhode Island Monthly, Down East Magazine and Nantucket Magazine. Broad incumbents are Coastal Living and Southern Living. Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce is listed as an others. Cape Cod Times is listed as a regional player.
Does Cape Cod Life Publications have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cape Cod Life Publications.
What industry is Cape Cod Life Publications in?
Cape Cod Life Publications's product category is Regional Lifestyle Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAA, Consumer Lifestyle & Fashion Magazines, with a secondary code of MPAJAAAH, Lifestyle, Travel & Leisure Books Publishing. Its NAICS code is 51312 and its SIC code is 2721.