As the traditional retail sector grapples with rising costs, shifting consumer expectations, and the explosion of e-commerce, one segment has remained quietly on the sidelines: home improvement.

Long viewed as a hands on, tactile market, flooring and renovation products have historically depended on showroom visits, personal consultations and paper based brochures. But change is underway.

The digital transformation sweeping through fashion, food and finance is now knocking on the door of the DIY and interiors sector. And those who answer may find themselves with a significant competitive edge. One notable example is grosvenor-flooring.com, a UK-based retailer that has recently introduced a Smart Showroom concept blending physical product engagement with cutting edge digital tools.

This move showcases a growing trend toward experiential retail that combines independence with helpful information. Today’s shoppers appreciate instant assistance, want to avoid flipping through outdated catalogs, and dislike guessing how a product might look in their home. They now expect the same level of interactivity and convenience they find online.

The new Grosvenor Floorings showroom embraces this shift, featuring QR codes, mobile integration, 24/7 self-access, and AR tools. Customers can access real-time details, visualize how a product would look in their space, and even plan their purchases without feeling pressured.

Why does this matter? Because flooring, especially luxury vinyl flooring (LVT), is a significant investment. With so many colors, materials, and price options, buyers often feel overwhelmed. Tools that make the process easier and more secure aren’t just nice to have—they’re essential.

This approach also offers strategic advantages. By anonymously tracking customer interactions, companies can learn about shopping trends, busy times, and popular products. This information helps improve inventory management and marketing, creating a smarter and more adaptable business.

As traditional showrooms face challenges like declining foot traffic and rising costs, a tech-enabled alternative could change how home improvement retailers stay competitive. If this model becomes popular, it could inspire a wider transformation in how we purchase the key elements of our homes.

While flooring might not seem glamorous, it’s becoming clear that even traditional products are ready for innovation. In this quiet evolution lies a huge potential opportunity for retail.

Smart Showrooms Are Redefining Home Improvement

Home improvement has lagged in digital adoption, but that gap is closing fast. Shoppers now expect instant product info, clear visuals, and a pressure-free path to buy, just like they get online. Grosvenor Flooring’s Smart Showroom shows how to meet that demand by pairing hands-on samples with QR codes, mobile integration, 24/7 self-access, and AR visualization. This model gives buyers confidence on high-ticket items like LVT, reduces guesswork, and shortens the time from interest to decision.

What stands out is the double win: customers get autonomy and clarity, while retailers gain data they can use. Anonymous interaction tracking can reveal peak hours, top products, and common decision paths, which improves inventory planning, merchandising, and campaign timing. For stores facing lower foot traffic and higher costs, this hybrid approach can protect margins and expand reach without losing the tactile experience that makes flooring sales work.

Practical moves you can make now

• Add scannable QR codes on every display: Link to specs, certifications, stock status, lead times, and care guides. Include a one-tap “See it in my room” AR view.
• Offer 24/7 digital companions: A mobile-friendly showroom map, product compare, and saved favorites that sync to email or text follow-ups.
• Build an AR-first product gallery: Start with top sellers; use realistic textures and true-to-life lighting so shoppers trust what they see.
• Track the right signals: Capture anonymous events like product scans, dwell time, and compare actions; review weekly to adjust placement and stock.
• Reduce friction at checkout: Pre-configure calculators for room size, underlay, trims, and installation; show total cost ranges upfront.
• Train for consults, not pitches: Let staff step in when data shows hesitation points (color match, delivery timing, install options).

What to measure

• Engagement: QR scans per visit, AR sessions, saves, compares
• Conversion: Sample-to-quote rate, quote-to-sale rate, time to decision
• Operations: Stockouts on top-viewed SKUs, install scheduling lead time, returns due to expectation mismatch

Playbook for ecommerce leaders

• Bring the showroom online: Mirror the QR and AR experience on product pages; keep specs, visualizations, and calculators consistent.
• Use behavioral data for merchandising: Push bundles and cross-sells based on common scan pairs (e.g., popular LVT plus matching trims).
• Run targeted follow-ups: Trigger emails or SMS with the exact products viewed, room-size calculators, and install timelines.
• Test before scaling: Pilot on one category and one store; expand once you hit engagement and conversion targets.

Summary Physical retail is not dying; it is evolving. Smart Showrooms make flooring shopping faster, clearer, and more confident, while giving retailers better data to run lean and grow. If you sell considered purchases, start with QR-linked specs and AR visualization, then layer in tracking and guided checkout. The brands that act now will set the standard for how home products are discovered and bought, in-store and online.

Next steps

• Start a 30-day pilot on your top five SKUs with QR, AR, and basic event tracking.
• Map one customer journey from scan to sale and remove two friction points.
• Book a walkthrough of Grosvenor-style features with your team and assign owners for QR, AR, analytics, and training.
• Use RightBlogger’s Keyword Research and People Also Ask tools to build content that answers common pre-buy questions from your data, then link those posts from your QR pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a Smart Showroom improve ROI for home improvement retailers?

A Smart Showroom blends hands-on samples with digital tools like QR codes, AR visualization, mobile integration, and 24/7 self-access. In the article’s example, shoppers scan to see real-time details and “view in room,” which reduces guesswork on big-ticket items like LVT and speeds decisions. Faster decisions and fewer returns improve conversion and protect margins.

What problems does this model solve for high-consideration products like LVT?

Buyers face choice overload on colors, materials, and price, and they hate guessing how flooring looks at home. The Smart Showroom lets them visualize products with AR, compare specs on mobile, and plan purchases without pressure. This builds confidence on a significant investment and shortens the path from browsing to buy.

How can Shopify brands mirror the Smart Showroom online?

Replicate QR-linked content on product pages with clear specs, care guides, stock status, and an AR “see it in my room” tool. Add calculators for room size, trims, and installation so shoppers see total costs upfront. Sync saved favorites to email or SMS to re-engage with exact products viewed.

What data should we track to guide merchandising and inventory?

Track anonymous interactions like QR scans, dwell time, product compares, and AR sessions. The article notes these signals reveal peak hours and popular products, helping you stock the right SKUs and time campaigns. Review weekly, then adjust display order, bundles, and safety stock.

How does this approach reduce showroom costs without hurting experience?

By offering 24/7 self-access content and mobile guidance, staff can focus on key consult moments instead of basic questions. Shoppers get instant info and pressure-free browsing, while you trim labor peaks and print costs from paper catalogs. This protects margins as foot traffic declines.

What’s a simple rollout plan for a small team?

Start with top sellers: add QR codes that link to specs, AR previews, and stock status, then test in one store or category. Measure QR scans per visit, AR sessions, and sample-to-quote rate for 30 days. Use wins to expand to more SKUs and add checkout calculators.

How do we train store staff for a hybrid experience?

Coach teams to step in at hesitation points like color match, delivery timing, and install options, not to pitch every customer. Give them a tablet view of the same specs and AR that shoppers see, so help feels seamless. This keeps autonomy for customers and raises close rates.

What misconceptions should Shopify founders challenge here?

It’s not “digital vs. physical”; the article shows the win comes from blending tactile samples with instant digital info. Also, advanced tools aren’t just for luxury brands; simple QR and AR on priority SKUs can drive real gains in confidence and conversions.

How can we turn in-store behavior into online sales growth?

Use scan and compare data to build product bundles and cross-sells on your Shopify PDPs, mirroring in-store interest. Trigger personalized follow-ups with the exact products viewed, room-size calculators, and install timelines. This connects showroom curiosity to online checkout.

What are the first three actions to take this quarter?

• Put QR codes on your top five SKUs that link to specs, certifications, stock, lead times, and AR “view in room.”
• Add a cost calculator for room size, underlay, trims, and installation to reduce sticker shock and returns.
• Set up event tracking for scans, AR sessions, and compares, then adjust merchandising and ad timing based on the top interactions.