New 3D Cloud Study Shows Hybrid Furniture Shopping Now the Dominant Path to Purchase

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Mar 07, 2025, 09:25 ET

2025 study by Provoke Insights and 3D Cloud shows surge in online-only shopping while in-store-only declines, and hybrid dominates home furnishings shopping.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hybrid shopping has become the dominant path to furniture purchases, with online-only shopping continuing to rise while in-store-only shopping declines, according to the newly released 3D Cloud Furniture Shopping Trends Study, 2025. Conducted in partnership with Provoke Insights, the study reveals shifting consumer behaviors reshaping the furniture retail landscape.

A hybrid experience remains the most popular way to shop for furniture. Online-only shopping increased substantially while in-store-only shopping slid but remained popular with shoppers over 50.

Hybrid shopping remains the dominant approach for furniture buyers, particularly those leveraging 3D room planners to bridge online and in-store experiences. Price negotiation is driving in-store visits, while conveniences, price comparisons, and wider selection fuel online purchases.

Shoppers are highly receptive to 3D imagery provided the 3D representation is a true representation of the product.

75% want to use 3D visualization whenever shopping for furniture; 68% prefer shopping at retailers offering 3D visualization and are more likely to stay loyal to retailers that do.

The research found that 45% of shoppers now engage with both digital and in-store channels, reinforcing the need for a seamless omnichannel experience. At the same time, the percentage of consumers shopping exclusively online has increased, particularly among female shoppers, while in-store-only shopping continues to decline.

"The shift in shopping behaviors underscores the growing reliance on digital experiences," said Carly Fink, President and Head of Research at Provoke Insights. "Retailers must ensure they are delivering engaging, seamless, and intuitive digital experiences that enhance both online and in-store journeys. Consumers want the best of both worlds—the convenience of online shopping and the tactile confidence of in-store visits."

Topline results from the study include:

45% shopped both online and in-store; 62% of millennials shopped both channels
26% growth in online-only shopping
46% of shoppers visited websites first before purchasing in a store
58% of shoppers want more help with furniture visualization when visiting stores
86% are satisfied with either traditional photos or 3D images, as long as they represent the real product

While omnichannel experiences remain critical, the study also highlights the rising focus on AI-powered tools in the furniture industry. Retailers and consumers alike are eager for AI-driven solutions that improve visualization and decision-making, but the challenge remains in finding practical applications that deliver real value.

"At 3D Cloud, we've spent years pushing the boundaries of 3D visualization to help retailers meet customers where they are," said Beck Besecker, CEO and Co-Founder of 3D Cloud. "The future of furniture shopping is dynamic, immersive, and full of opportunity. Retailers who embrace a hybrid model and invest in intuitive technology will be the ones who win."

The 3D Cloud Furniture Shopping Trends Study, 2025 is available for download at 3dcloud.com/furniture-trends.

Join us for the 3D Cloud Furniture Shopping Trends Study, 2025 webinar. Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to hear from Beck Besecker of 3D Cloud and Carly Fink of Provoke Insights as they dive into the data and break down key findings from the 3D Cloud Furniture Shopping Trends Study. Reserve your spot today, Register here

About 3D Cloud
3D Cloud is the 3D digital asset management platform for 3D product visualization, 3D product configurators, and 3D room planning and the global leader in 3D e-commerce for furniture, kitchen, bath, outdoor, office furniture, closets, and storage. The 3D Cloud 3D digital asset management platform is a B2B SaaS that allows retailers and brands to build endless applications from a single 3D product catalog. With 3D Cloud, 3D content is created, managed, and published to all 3D applications from a single source of truth for consistency across every touchpoint in the customer journey. Applications that run on 3D Cloud include 3D Cloud Product Configurators, 3D Cloud Sectional Configurator, 3D Cloud Room Planner with Design from Photo, 3D Cloud Kitchen Designer, 3D Cloud Virtual Reality, 3D Cloud 360 Product Spins, 3D Cloud Product Renders, and 3D Cloud WebAR Augmented Reality. 3D Cloud has offices in Miamisburg, Ohio; St. Petersburg, Florida; and London, England. Clients include a major U.S.-based home improvement retailer, MillerKnoll, Herman Miller, Kingfisher plc, Bob's Discount Furniture, Macy's, Raymour & Flanigan, Flexsteel, HNI Corporation, La-Z-Boy, Joybird, and John Lewis and Partners. The company is backed by Dan Gilbert and Arnie Bellini. For more information, visit 3Dcloud.com.

The 3D Cloud Network is now open to manufacturers looking to syndicate their 3D assets to retailers. For more information or to join, contact 3D Cloud today or visit 3Dcloud.com/network.

About the Survey
3D Cloud commissioned Provoke Insights, an independent market research firm, to conduct an online survey among 400 furniture purchasers. The sample was designed to match the U.S. Census in terms of geography, age, gender, ethnicity, and household income. The survey was distributed in October 2024. Statistical differences between subgroups were tested at a 95% confidence level, with a margin of error of ±4.89%.

SOURCE 3D Cloud