BTS Concept Store: Interiors & Lifestyle
Photo by Nigel McDowell-mcdowellfoto.com
Inspired by the colours and textures of the North Coast, along with the Nordic way of life, BTS Concept Store: Interiors & Lifestyle is a breath of fresh air in Coleraine. Tucked away on Queen Street, the store, which recently underwent a fabulous renovation, is run by Tracy McAllister, who has introduced an exciting new range of products and designs to consumers.
Simple coastal living with a Nordic twist…
Keen to offer an alternative shopping experience to the usual high street fare, Tracy has spent the past two years building a business which is distinctive in both its style and ethos. BTS Concept Store: Interiors & Lifestyle subsequently embodies simple coastal living with a Nordic twist, with every product connected to the coast in some way and presented in the natural colours of the landscape. From fabrics and furniture, to ceramics and art, all evoke the tones and textures of the sea and its surrounding environment.
“Because I live by the sea, I wanted to offer an alternative to the traditional primary colours associated with coastal living in my products,” says Tracy. “I wanted to bring the outside in, with the muted tones and textures of the coastline.”
BTS, of course, stands for ‘By The Sea’ – a name which couldn’t be more apt for Tracy’s business venture. Working with a natural and parred-back palette which reflects simplistic living and the soothing ambience of the coast, Tracy’s interior styling is both noticeably different and readily identifiable. It’s also proved extremely popular with customers, prompting the recent renovations and a move into more interior styling work.
“I wanted a more relevant space to display my products, especially the lighting,” says Tracy. “I also needed more display space so I could increase the range and to bring in larger items of furniture. So, we removed the ceilings and three walls to make a space that has more of a gallery feel to it. It’s also big enough for people to bring prams inside and it’s wheelchair-friendly as well.”
The three-week renovation was completed in full by Olaf Sunnotel* from The Workshed, while the electrics were done by Brian McMaster of BME Electrical. Tracy, meanwhile, designed the entire new layout of the store, which is much more spacious and is indeed, now two-and-a-half times bigger than the original. 
Bulkier pieces of furniture are also now more easily accommodated within the shop, which segues rather nicely into the new strand of the business – interior styling.
“I now offer an interiors and personal shopping service,” says Tracy. “I can meet with the client in the store or come out to their home to discuss what they want, providing everything from blinds and curtains, to tables and wallpaper. I can source in all sorts of items and furniture, supplying fabrics, cushions – basically anything they want.”
Tracy previously provided the lighting for Stone Boutique in Portstewart, and her plan is to grow the interiors part of her business in the future. She’s also styled various local events and works with both commercial and residential clients, basing her interiors, of course, on the beautiful muted coastal palette which has become her trademark. 
For those who wish to introduce statement pieces and textures that add interest to their homes and work spaces, BTS Concept Store: Interiors & Lifestyle is ideal. Sourcing stock from a mixture of Danish, Swedish, Dutch and French suppliers, along with many smaller UK traders, Tracy offers items that just can’t be found elsewhere.
Indeed, she works with a number of unique suppliers and has managed to secure exclusivity with many of these. As a result, BTS Concept Store: Interiors & Lifestyle is the only stockist for their products on the North Coast and, in some cases, in Northern Ireland.
Personally visiting the top trade shows in Paris and elsewhere, Tracy hand-picks items from around the globe for her customers to enjoy. There are beautifully scented candles; cushions, throws, lighting and exquisitely crafted ceramics. Occasional and lounge furniture is also available, along with dining tables, unisex leather bags and a range of men’s products.
BTS Concept Store: Interiors & Lifestyle is also the only North Coast stockist of Portrush stylist/designer Sara O’Neill’s Éadach range of silk scarves. Meanwhile, you can also find decorative wall charts for children, along with art and prints for young and old alike. Add to this a range of lifestyle publications such as Darling Magazine (for women) and DRIFT Magazine (which focuses on coffee culture), and you really do have something to suit everyone.
Other lifestyle magazines available instore include Cereal Travel & Style Magazine, Openhouse Magazine for architects and designers, Freckle, Oak – The Nordic Journal and the Caroline Gomez Destination Guides (of which BTS is the only stockist in Northern Ireland.)
“I only choose products that I like,” says Tracy. “And everything that I select will have some link to the coast, though maybe not always obviously so. For autumn/winter this year I’m going with a lot of gold and browns and soft greens for my colour-scheme… I’m doing a twinkly sea-inspired look for Christmas.”
Beginning life as an online store back in May 2014, there’s no doubt that BTS Concept Store: Interiors & Lifestyle has evolved – and continues to evolve – into something rather special. The original intention was simply to bring new products to the area, including that impressive range of lifestyle publications which, says Tracy, was “because my background was in communication, and I like paper.”
After the online store opened, it then became a pop-up shop in October 2014, with the intention of trading for just three months, until Christmas.
“I decided to open the pop-up shop to give customers a sensory experience,” says Tracy.
“Also, because I realised I didn’t want to work solely from home. With candles and fabrics you can’t have that sensory experience online but with the physical store, people can come in and smell and touch the products and see the quality.
“I think the way forward now is to combine online with a physical store. People expect a service and they’re interested in more of an experience when they shop nowadays.
Photo by Nigel McDowell-mcdowellfoto.com
“I want to make sure they feel welcome when they come to BTS Concept Store: Interiors & Lifestyle; that they can see I have knowledge about the product range. I also want to make sure everything’s packaged nicely for my customers. It’s all about moving away from the ‘throw-away’ society and offering something of value.”
Such was the demand for the store that Tracy stopped being a pop-up shop after those first three months and decided to maintain her Coleraine presence. It’s a decision which has ultimately proven to be the right one.
BTS Concept Store: Interiors & Lifestyle has since featured in publications such as the World of Interiors Magazine (2015) and is set to appear in an upcoming edition of Ireland’s Décor Kitchens and Interiors Magazine. With lots of other exciting projects and collaborations in the pipeline, one can only imagine what the future holds…
Website: http://www.btsconceptstore.com/
Find BTS Concept Store: Interiors & Lifestyle on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/btsconceptstore/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btsconceptstore/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/coast_lifestyle
*Olaf Sunnotel from The Workshed can be contacted via BTS Concept Store: Interiors & Lifestyle if you need help with a project.