Choosing furniture involves more than finding a design you like online. Customers want to sit on a sofa, feel the upholstery, compare proportions and discuss the options with someone who understands the collection.
Before making that journey, they need a reason to choose your showroom.
360 View created a Google Maps virtual tour of George Smith’s King’s Road showroom in Chelsea, giving customers and interior designers an opportunity to explore its two floors and furniture displays before visiting.
We completed the 360 photography in approximately 40 minutes while the showroom remained open. By working around customers and the team as they moved between different spaces, we captured the displays and created a natural route through the showroom.
The George Smith Virtual Tour Project at a Glance
| Project detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Business | George Smith, British makers of handcrafted upholstered furniture |
| Location | 587–589 King’s Road, London SW6 2EH |
| Objective | Help customers and designers explore the showroom before visiting |
| Service | Google Maps virtual tour across two floors |
| Coverage | Connected viewpoints showing the layout and furniture displays |
| Photography | Approximately 40 minutes while the showroom remained open |
Explore George Smith’s Furniture Showroom
Follow the route through the showroom and pause to explore the furniture displays. The connected viewpoints show how the different spaces fit together, giving visitors a broader picture than individual photographs alone.
Introducing George Smith’s Approach to Furniture
George Smith places craftsmanship, comfort and lasting quality at the centre of its furniture. Its sofas, chairs, chaises and stools are handmade in the north of England, with opportunities to personalise details or commission bespoke pieces. Explore George Smith’s furniture.
That individual approach continues in its showrooms. The brand’s private client team guides customers through furniture choices, while its trade team supports interior designers and the requirements of professional projects. Discover George Smith’s London showrooms.
For a business built around considered choices and personal advice, a virtual tour introduces the setting where those conversations happen. Our aim was to make the online experience easy to explore and attentive to the presentation of the showroom.
Help Customers Decide to Visit Your Furniture Showroom
If you own or manage a furniture showroom, you know how much a visit can help a customer make a decision. Seat depth, upholstery texture and comfort become easier to assess when someone can experience the furniture in person.
The challenge comes earlier, when that customer is comparing places online.
Product photography introduces individual pieces. A showroom virtual tour adds another part of the picture: the extent of the displays, how the furniture is arranged and the spaces available to explore.
At George Smith, coverage across two floors reveals more of the showroom than a single view from the entrance could show. Customers can look around at their own pace and get a sense of the browsing experience before setting aside time to visit.
For furniture retailers, that is a practical reason to invest in a tour. It helps prospective visitors judge whether the showroom offers the kind of setting and selection they want to explore further.
Photographing George Smith’s Showroom While It Stayed Open
Customers were coming in and out during the photography. As they moved between floors and display areas, we adjusted the order of capture, working in spaces where customers and showroom assistants were outside the camera’s view.
The layout gave us flexibility to continue while the team served visitors elsewhere.
In approximately 40 minutes, we captured enough 360 photographs to create a natural route and show the displays from useful positions. We chose viewpoints that let online visitors follow the layout and pause to explore the furniture arrangements along the way.
This matters for showroom managers who need photography to fit around consultations, customer visits and daily service. At George Smith, the different spaces allowed us to work around activity. Other premises may benefit from an early appointment or a quieter period, depending on their layout and customer flow.
Help Interior Designers Prepare for a Showroom Visit
An interior designer may be comparing suppliers, planning a day of showroom visits or introducing a client to a furniture brand.
A virtual tour gives that preparation a shared visual reference. Designers can explore the space, send the tour to a client and explain why a visit could be useful. A client joining them can arrive with a better understanding of the showroom and the opportunity to browse.
The tour can also provide a starting point for a more specific conversation with the sales team. A designer might ask whether a particular piece remains on display or arrange to review relevant samples during an appointment.
For furniture and interiors businesses, this makes the tour useful on a showroom webpage and in conversations before a visit, as well as on Google Maps.
Keeping a Furniture Showroom Virtual Tour Useful as Displays Change
Showrooms evolve. New collections arrive, upholstery changes and furniture is rearranged to introduce different combinations.
A virtual tour records the showroom at the time of photography. Its ongoing value is in showing the layout, presentation and character of the space. Current product pages and conversations with the team provide up-to-date information about individual pieces.
That distinction is particularly relevant to bespoke furniture. An arrangement in the tour may inspire a customer to visit, where they can explore alternative fabrics, finishes and configurations.
Smaller display changes may leave the tour’s overview useful. A major refurbishment or substantial rearrangement is a good reason to review the photography and consider updated coverage.
Turn a Showroom Virtual Tour into a Starting Point for Enquiries
A showroom tour works best alongside the information customers need to act: your address, opening hours, current collections and a clear way to arrange a visit.
Place the tour on your showroom page near an invitation to contact the team or book an appointment. Someone exploring outside opening hours can then ask about display availability, request advice or plan a visit.
For marketing teams, this connects the visual experience to a practical next step. The tour helps someone understand the setting; the enquiry gives your team an opportunity to discuss what they need.
Our Google Maps virtual tour service uses connected 360 photography to help prospective visitors explore business interiors. You can also discover our virtual tours for retail stores and showrooms to see how the service applies to different retail spaces.
Questions About Virtual Tours for Furniture and Interiors Showrooms
How can a Google Maps virtual tour help customers decide to visit a furniture showroom?
A Google Maps virtual tour shows a furniture showroom’s layout, displays and overall character before a customer travels. It helps people researching furniture understand the browsing experience and decide whether to visit or contact the team. Product availability and specific display pieces should still be confirmed directly with the showroom.
What does a furniture showroom virtual tour add to product photography?
A furniture showroom virtual tour shows pieces within their surroundings and explains how the display areas connect. Product photography remains useful for individual designs, while specifications provide dimensions and finishes. Together, they help customers prepare for an in-person visit to assess comfort, materials and suitability.
Can you photograph a furniture store while it stays open?
Yes, where the layout and customer flow allow it. At George Smith’s King’s Road showroom, 360 View completed photography in approximately 40 minutes while the business remained open, working in available spaces as customers browsed elsewhere. We agree a suitable approach with each showroom before photography.
What preparation does a furniture showroom need for 360 photography?
Prepare the displays as you would for customers. Arrange cushions, accessories and samples, and clear temporary packaging or paperwork you do not want visible. Before photography, we agree which areas to include and a suitable time around appointments. 360 View handles the photography and preparation of the connected tour.
Can interior designers share a showroom virtual tour with their clients?
Yes. Interior designers can share a showroom virtual tour to introduce a furniture supplier and help clients prepare for a visit. It provides a useful visual reference for discussing the showroom. The team can then confirm current display pieces, relevant samples and appointment arrangements.
Does a furniture showroom virtual tour need updating whenever displays change?
A furniture showroom virtual tour does not necessarily need updating after every display change. It can remain useful while it accurately represents the layout and overall experience. Review the coverage after major collection changes, a refurbishment or substantial rearrangement, and keep current product information available separately.
How much does a Google Maps virtual tour cost for a furniture showroom?
Furniture showroom virtual tour pricing depends on the size, number of floors, display areas and viewpoints needed for a clear route. Send 360 View your showroom address or Google Maps link and tell us which areas you want included. We will recommend coverage and confirm the price before photography.
Enquire About a Google Maps Tour for Your Furniture Showroom
Your showroom gives customers the opportunity to discover furniture in context, compare options and receive advice from your team. A professional virtual tour introduces that experience while they are deciding where to visit.
Ask us about a virtual tour for your furniture showroom. Send your address or Google Maps link, tell us how many floors you have and which areas you would like to show.
We will explain the recommended coverage, cost and preparation, and suggest a photography time that works around your business.
