How Virtual Tours Help Showrooms Compete with Online Stores - and Win
In an age where e-commerce dominates, traditional showrooms face a tough challenge: how to compete with the convenience and 24/7 availability of online stores. While physical stores offer a tactile, immersive experience that online shopping simply can’t replicate, they’ve historically struggled to bring that experience to customers who aren't physically present.
That’s where Matterport 3D virtual tours come in - and it’s changing the game for showrooms.
Bringing the In-Store Experience Online
With a Matterport-powered virtual tour, your showroom becomes instantly accessible from anywhere in the world, at any time. Whether your customer is two miles away or on the other side of the globe, they can explore your space just like they would in person — walking through the displays, seeing product detail in context, and getting a feel for your brand and expertise.
This means your showroom is no longer limited by geography or opening hours. You’re open 24/7, globally.
Why Matterport Stands Out
Matterport is the gold standard when it comes to 3D virtual tours. Unlike flat 360° photos or stitched panoramas, Matterport creates a fully navigable, true-to-life 3D model of your space, offering a far more realistic and interactive experience. It’s like Google Street View for your showroom - but with much more polish and customisation.
And when you pair it with a branded overlay, the experience becomes even more powerful.
Branded Overlays: Turning Exploration Into Action
A branded overlay transforms your virtual tour from a passive walkthrough into a fully interactive digital showroom. Imagine your customers navigating through your store while being guided by branded navigation, product information hotspots, embedded videos, clickable CTAs, and even ecommerce integration.
With our custom overlays, you can:
Highlight key products with interactive tags
Link directly to your online store or enquiry form
Share videos, brochures, or promotions in-tour
Embed brand colours, logos, and messaging throughout the experience
It’s not just a tour - it’s a sales tool.
Stand Out from Competitors
Online stores rely on product images, reviews, and specs. You can offer something better: a chance to step inside your world, build trust, and see how your products work in a real setting. For design-led industries — like interiors, kitchens, bathrooms, furniture, or tiles — this is a massive advantage. People buy with their eyes, and nothing beats seeing products in a realistic, styled space.
Showrooms of the Future Are Hybrid
The most forward-thinking showrooms are now blending the physical and the virtual. A Matterport tour with branded overlay allows you to:
Reach international buyers without travel costs
Engage customers before they visit in person
Offer a follow-up tool after showroom appointments
Provide sales reps with a remote presentation tool
Track engagement and measure ROI
In short, you’re turning your showroom into a marketing engine that works around the clock.
Ready to bring your showroom online?
At The Virtual Tour Company, we specialise in creating fully branded, interactive Matterport tours that make your showroom stand out — and sell.