virtual fitting room business plan

• Start free trial

Unify online and in-person sales today.

Explore the Point of Sale system with everything you need to sell in person, backed by everything you need to sell online.

What Are Virtual Fitting Rooms and How Do They Work? (2024)

A virtual fitting room is a type of technology that allows shoppers to try on items virtually. Shoppers can virtually try on clothing items or beauty products without physically touching the item itself.

A virtual fitting room is a type of technology that lets shoppers try on items virtually. 

Shoppers can virtually try on clothing items or beauty products without physically touching the items themselves. The augmented reality (AR) or artificial intelligence (AI) technology places the item over live imaging of the customer, so they can check the size, style, and fit of a product they’re thinking of buying.

It’s predicted that the global virtual fitting room market will grow from $4.03 billion in 2022 to $14.87 billion by 2029. That’s a compound annual growth rate of 13.44%.

That’s why brands like Walmart are investing in virtual fitting rooms. The retail giant recently acquired Zeekit, a virtual dressing room startup, which allows shoppers to see how clothes fit on body types similar to theirs. 

Interested in creating your own virtual dressing rooms? In this article, we’ll walk you through how virtual fitting room technology works (with examples), and the advantages for retailers.

Table of Contents

What is a virtual fitting room?

How virtual fitting room technology works, the benefits of virtual fitting rooms, the limitations of virtual fitting rooms, virtual fitting room examples.

A virtual fitting room allows shoppers to try on items without touching them. It works by overlaying an item on a live video feed of a customer via smartphones or mirrors. The shopper can see the size, style, and fit of an item before they buy it. 

Most virtual fitting rooms work using augmented reality . In this case, a webcam scans a person’s body to create a 360-degree 3D model. 

Other virtual fitting rooms are powered by artificial intelligence. Similar to augmented reality, AI uses algorithms and machine learning to take body measurements and create full-body 3D models of the shopper standing in front of the camera. 

The 3D model created by AI or AR is combined with radio frequency identification (RFID) . This is another technology that scans the products a shopper has taken to the virtual fitting room. 

Virtual reality technology overlays the scanned products on the 3D model of the shopper. That way, they can see what they look like wearing an item—without needing to physically try it on. It's an easy way to build a try before you buy program virtually. 

Various retailers are creating their own software to do this. Apple’s augmented reality platform, ARKit , can be used to create virtual fitting rooms for iOS applications. Amazon also reportedly patented its own “ blended-reality” mirror , which works using augmented reality.

Other key players in the virtual fitting room software space are:

• PITCOFiT (Shopify App)
• Klarna Virtual Shopping

There are several different companies that offer this service and their pricing ranges with the level of features. Many require interested brands to reach out for a quote, but some costs range from $129 to $549 per month.

There are multiple benefits a virtual fitting room experience can provide for retailers.

Support online sales 

Some 65% of visitors are more likely to place an order after interacting with a product in AR, fashion brand Rebecca Minkof found. 

Retailers can take advantage of this and install virtual mirrors in their brick-and-mortar stores. There’s no need to dedicate valuable retail space to changing rooms. Instead, that space can be used to showcase stock and create visual merchandising displays . 

Convenience 

Did you know that 97% of consumers have abandoned a shopping purchase because it wasn’t convenient enough? 

Choosing the correct clothing size from the hanger, walking over to a physical changing room, and swapping their clothing is inconvenient. Virtual fitting rooms, on the other hand, eliminate all of that. Shoppers can walk over to a virtual mirror and quickly see what the clothing looks like on them—no changing needed. 

Build connections with customers

Customer loyalty is a long-term goal for most retailers. To build long-term relationships with customers, you need to first build a connection with them through diverse shopping experiences.

Virtual fitting rooms play a role in that process. If you’re allowing shoppers to try items on virtually in the comfort of their own home or in the middle of a safe retail store, you’re solving a huge problem for them.

Overall, virtual fitting rooms make online shopping more fun. That’s a surefire way to get customers coming back . 

Reduce return rates

High return rates plague fashion brands. It’s an administrative headache and cuts into profits (especially if you’re offering free returns ).

It’s estimated that 30% of ecommerce returns happen because the size is too small. Another 22% happen because the customer ordered the item in a size that’s too big. 

Offering an online fitting room helps solve that problem. Shoppers—regardless of whether they’re trying on in-store or online—get to see what the item looks like on their body … without needing to touch it. 

Zeekit co-founder Yael Vizel says Zeekit, a retail technology company, has seen a 36% reduction in return rates since it started using virtual fitting rooms.

Customers still can’t physically touch items

If you’re using a virtual fitting solution for your online store, there’s still a risk that people won’t buy the items they’re trying on. 

Some 57% of consumers said they want to view and touch products before buying them online. While virtual fitting rooms help shoppers see what items will look like on their body, they’re unable to feel the fabric. 

Distrust of virtual items looking the same 

Ever bought something online that looks totally different from the item that arrived in the mail? 

While virtual fitting room technology is advanced, some shoppers still don’t feel confident in its ability to portray items the way they look in real life. They fear that items overlaid on a human body may be altered and won’t look the same when they try it on for the first time.

The technology can seem complicated

Virtual reality technology only became popular within the retail industry over the past decade. Retailers like Adidas, ASOS, and Macy’s are employing virtual fitting rooms in their stores and ecommerce platforms . 

Because of this, there’s an idea that virtual fitting rooms would be an out-of-reach investment for smaller companies. Terri-Anne Turton, founder of The Tur-Shirt Company , says,“I’d not considered a virtual fitting room because I saw it as something the big brands do—not small businesses. I’m a small company with a limited marketing budget, and thought AR technology was too big of an investment for me to make.” 

“I’ve quickly realized by being a unique, innovative small business that I absolutely should use a virtual fitting room, and that it is accessible to my brand. We shouldn’t assume something is out of reach just because the big brands are doing it,” she adds.

The easiest way to get started with AR retail is to use a premade application. There are several available through the Shopify App Store, like YouCam Makeup .

Warby Parker

Warby Parker is a DTC retail company that sells eyeglasses exclusively through its website. In a bid to make shoppers feel more confident in their online purchase, it launched a virtual try-on feature through its iOS app. 

The feature uses Apple’s ARKit and TrueDepth technology to show glasses on a shopper’s face. They get a 3D model of the product to see whether it suits them before committing to buying it.

Knix did most of its business through two showroom stores before the pandemic. 

The retailer prided itself on giving incredible customer experiences that helped customers find their perfect fit. However, lockdowns meant it had to move its business online. Knix created a virtual fitting room for ecommerce customers to get the same service as visitors to its physical stores. 

Now, Knix’s website hosts thousands of virtual fittings every month. The vast majority of available time slots to date have been booked.

Gucci 

Luxury retailer Gucci partnered with long-term AR pioneer Snapchat to create its first four AR try-on shoes. 

It created a virtual lens that overlaid a digital version of the shoe onto a shopper’s foot. Tied with a Shop Now button that directed shoppers to its online store , Gucci reached 18.9 million Snapchat users and reported a positive return on ad spend (ROAS) from the AR campaign. 

Charlotte Tilbury

It’s not just the fashion retailers that can use virtual fitting rooms to engage in-store shoppers.

Beauty brand Charlotte Tilbury installed a virtual mirror in its flagship London store. Shoppers could walk up to the mirror and see one of 10 famous makeup looks on their own face. They could take a photo of the makeup look and email themselves a list of products used to create it. 

After using the virtual mirrors, Charlotte Tilbury found shoppers were m o re likely to purchase cosmetics in-store. 

Get started with your own virtual fitting room

The key to succeeding in modern-day retail is giving customers the virtual shopping experiences they want. 

Long gone are the days of visiting a store, queuing for a fitting room, and changing clothes. People want convenience—something a virtual fitting room delivers, regardless of where the shopper is browsing. They’ll reduce return rates, build connections with shoppers, and support online sales.

• Augmented Reality in Retail: How Retailers are Using AR for Better Shopping Experiences
• What Is Virtual Shopping in Retail? 11 Benefits & Examples
• Appointment Shopping 101: How to Create Safe, Sales-Boosting In-Store Experiences
• Retail Technology: Upgrade Your Toolstack With These 6 Trends
• Lightspeed vs Shopify POS: The Best of All Lightspeed Alternatives
• 18 Signs It’s Time to Switch POS System Providers
• How Retail Store Owners Can Optimize Their Mobile Presence
• 5 Strategies to Future Proof Your Brick-and-Mortar Store
• How to Create a Cohesive Customer Experience For Online and Offline Sales

Virtual fitting room FAQ

How does a virtual fitting room work, how much does a virtual fitting room cost, which brands have a virtual fitting room, what is virtual fitting technology.

Grow your retail business

Get exclusive behind-the-scenes merchant stories, industry trends, and tips for creating standout brick-and-mortar experiences.

No charge. Unsubscribe anytime.

popular posts

The point of sale for every sale.

Latest from Shopify

Aug 8, 2024

Jul 25, 2024

Jul 24, 2024

Jul 22, 2024

Jul 15, 2024

Sell anywhere with Shopify

Learn on the go. Try Shopify for free, and explore all the tools you need to start, run, and grow your business.

More From Forbes

Virtual dressing rooms: a guide for fashion retailers.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Chief Product Officer at  Vue.ai , a company that builds AI products for Retail in the areas of Process Automation and Personalization.

As the initial fascination with e-commerce fades, retailers must find ways that they can gamify, personalize and offer truly memorable shopping experiences online. Templated emails, basic site experiences and recommendations simply won't cut it anymore, and so retailers have to consider what they can offer beyond the industry average to truly stand out. 

This is where virtual dressing rooms come in — at a time when the future of the pandemic is still uncertain and threatens to disrupt the return to physical stores, the ability to create engaging dressing room experiences for each shopper poses tremendous advantages to retailers. It's predicted that the global virtual fitting room market will grow from $3 million in 2019 to $6.5 million by 2025 .

Here are four of the reasons to consider virtual fitting rooms:

• Convenient, safe fitting experiences. More than half of all women and men no longer feel safe trying on clothes in fitting rooms, at 65% and 54%, respectively . Due to rising concerns around Covid-19 variants, retailers have rolled out various safety measures in most brick-and-mortar stores and are looking at tech-driven dressing to rapidly replace the fitting room experience that was once the main selling point of in-person stores.

• Improve conversions. As of 2017, 62% of shoppers preferred shopping in-store because they are able to see, touch, feel and try out items. With virtual dressing rooms, retailers can help shoppers determine size, fit and style and equip them to make informed purchase decisions. Additionally, retailers can finally offer truly inclusive and diverse shopping experiences to their shoppers with the use of virtual models — with virtual dressing rooms, shoppers can pick a digital model in a skin tone, size and body type that is relatable to them. 

The Best Kitchen Towels, According To Professional Chefs And Caterers

• Make customers out of casual browsers. Before making a purchase, 88% of shoppers research online, and 49% of consumers say smartphones have changed how they shop. Creating personalized, inclusive and engaging dressing room experiences will help retailers convert these "casual browsers" in fashion e-commerce. (Also know that 66% of consumers will not purchase from a site when they feel the content does not speak to their specific interests.)

• Increase loyalty and retention with virtual fitting rooms. Thirty-nine percent of retailers ranked the "ability to turn customer data into intelligent and actionable insight" as one of their greatest challenges, according to a SAP survey. According to my company's internal research, retailers have seen over 23% uplift in their average order value with AI-powered styling.With virtual dressing rooms, fashion retailers can harness an ocean of customer data that can enable them to better understand their shoppers. They can judge which collection is received with enthusiasm and drill down on how customers are merchandising products — what garments they put together in an outfit; the popular sizes and body types. This data can help retailers make informed decisions about future assortment and product photography

With tech-driven virtual dressing rooms, retailers offer shoppers more control over their choices, and this translates to a satisfying shopping experience online. A shopper can judge how the shirt and skirt ensemble she picked out looks tucked in versus tucked out, for example. Or style different shades of the same blouse with the skirt to see which shade she likes best. 

Now that we've explored why retailers should consider virtual dressing rooms, here are a couple of tips for how your retail business can get started with them:

1. Choose your technology after weighing the pros and cons. There are a number of ways in which retailers can approach dressing rooms, whether it's augmented reality (AR) or artificial intelligence (AI). AR allows shoppers to virtually see what the garment or accessory might look like. My company, for example, offers an AI-driven dressing room interface that allows shoppers to create their own looks by mixing and matching outfits on models that look similar to them.

Every technology option comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. AR is great for accessories, but might not be as conducive for apparel and to showcase styling and fit. AI-driven options, on the other hand, are perfect for apparel, but might not be as compelling for beauty. Each retailer must decide which technology they want to go with to power their virtual try-ons based on their product and audience. 

2. Prepare your data. The virtual dressing room is only as good as the retailer's imagery. Retailers must have high-quality product images that are shot on mannequins for the output to high quality, especially for AI-driven interfaces.

For retailers who wish to develop fitting rooms with AR, they must invest in developing 3D assets of their inventory. They should also consider that AR is highly dependent on the customer's lighting and technology. If the lighting or the device that the customer is using isn't advanced enough, the result can be underwhelming and might put them off the purchase.

By investing in virtual fitting rooms, retailers may be able to improve conversions, increase basket size and get priceless data insights on their customers that will enable them to offer even better shopping experiences. What's more, virtual fitting rooms provide retailers the opportunity to further bridge the gap between offline and online shopping experiences while offering their customers a shopping experience that is as safe as it is satisfying.

Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

Virtual Fitting Room Online Business Plan Term Paper

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Marketing Objectives

Description of the target market, description of target business partners and sponsors, marketing-mix strategy, sales strategy and forecast, monitoring and measuring performance.

The marketing objectives that our company aims to attain are as follows: First, in terms of customer growth, we have a target of one customer, i.e. eBay, in the first year and then extend it to Victoria’s Secret in the second year. But we intend to spread our awareness through e-retailers like traditional companies such as Nike, Adidas, Marks and Spencer, and Wal-Mart, who are new entrants in the business.

We intend to capture their accounts by the third year. Second, our target is to provide impeccable service quality to our customers. Though our product is in the B2B arena, we intend to provide customer service to our clients by providing an online visual merchandising experience through our software, which will enhance the feel of the virtual fitting room and its attractiveness. We will help the clients to store the preferences of their end-customers and their details so that it can be retrieved by the client company to do their product enhancement or do a study on their consumers. However, this feature will involve an incremental R&D cost, which we can fulfill only after the second year. We want to spread the awareness of our brand internationally.

Our primary target market for the year 2008 is eBay and the Victoria’s Secrets. EBay has an international presence through the internet and has become the top 10 clothing sites in 2006 with net increase in visits being 20%. Further eBay earns 10% of the entire world’s ecommerce sales. (www.fashionunited.co.uk/news/eBay.htm)

Figure 1 shows that the number of customers available with eBay who are active and the number are increasing over the years. Increase in customer base over the years will definitely increase our revenue and make our association with the company profitable.

Further figure 3 shows the revenue status eBay had till 2003 which actually gives us a glimpse of the increasing financial stronghold of the company and the expected sales that where are expected to get from being associated with this company.

Victoria’s Secrets has seen a sales increase of 20% over 2007 and is expected to grow further with its increasing online sales went from practically zero in 1998 to over $200 million in 2001.

Table 1. Annual Income Statements. Source: Hoovers.

All amounts in millions of US Dollars.

As table 1 shows that there exists an increasing trend of revenue state for Victoria’s Secrets. In 1998, management launched www.VictoriasSecret.com with little fanfare. This high-impact web presence translated into strong growth for the online division, whose sales grew from practically zero in 1998 to over $200 million in 2001. Performance metrics for the web included sales growth, the number of “new to file” customers (i.e., newly acquired customers), average order size, and purchase rates.

Our presence with both traditional retailers like Victoria’s Secrets and online retailers like eBay will help us establish our presence among both the type of companies. Moreover, the pricing strategies and promotion will be advantageous for our presence to be felt among the target group of clients.

As our product gets more sophisticated, we may consider collaborating with Macromedia to run our modeling results on their popular Macromedia Flash player. However, this will be subject to the condition of us integrating the player into our Virtual Fitting Room. This way, the end users will not be required to go through the additional step of downloading Macromedia Flash Player to view the 3D models, a practice many websites are currently engaged in. This will protect our interests, the copyrights of the product as well as retain our bargaining power. In return, Macromedia shall increase the network externalities of their flash player with satisfied users of their fine imaging results and resolution of our models.

This tool will enhance our product and an association with them will help in our R&D pursuits. For instance, with this we will provide added convenience to the end-customers of our clients which will create customer delight for them. So, they will have convenience and will visit the site more often due to ease of use. This in turn will increase our revenue and will induce them more to purchase apparels which will help our clients increase their revenue. Further, this will enhance our customized avatar to be seen and experienced by the end customers of our clients. Increased ease of use will increase the number of visitors to the sites of clients as well as our sites. Further, with heightened end-customer satisfaction that our product will provide, more e-retailers will find our product interesting buy fro their sites. They will want to buy the product as it will give them a competitive advantage against their competitors and hence will increase our brand awareness. Further it will provide our product a competitive edge over our competitors who still have to use a downloaded flash player.

Price: Our Company’s revenue model will be based on three sources:

• We would charge our clients US$200 for digitization of their garments.
• A 20% charge for every visit by the end-user to the client’s site.
• To integrate the virtual model into the client Web site we would charge US$1000.

Clearly, we adopt a penetration pricing strategy which is equivalent to our competitor. We propose to offer the prices in bundle to provide the allied services such as integration of the model with client web site. The goal of such a pricing strategy is to derive the maximum revenue and profit from the market. Further a 20% surcharge on visits by end-customers will ensure that our recurring income comes from the client. Hence the price will cover our cost of making the software as well as the cost of helping our clients to set up the software in their website.

Place: As ours is a web-based business so we would target any customer from any geographic location. The distribution of the software will off course depend on the demand pull from the new clients. Since the product requires to be installed once and then it can be continually used, we do not have to consider a supply chain of delivering the product.

Promotion: we will indulge in direct selling model to customers. So, we would need to adopt direct promotional strategies. Further, we would participate in trade shows initially to increase brand awareness among the e-retailers. Further we would print our advertisement in retailer’s magazines. We adopt the above-mentioned promotion mediums because they will B2B marketing are about increasing one-to-one awareness among customers. Thus, direct promotion is an inevitable option. So, we need to have representatives who would visit the clients. Moreover, emailing becomes imperative for an online business.

So, we will adopt an online promotional strategy for absolutely virtual organizations like eBay. Trade shows will again be a big part of our promotional plan as we can reach out to the maximum number of clients through such shows. But we will take part in virtual online trade shows. The estimated cost of direct emailing will be minimal. The PR people who would do direct promotion will cost their salary plus other minor expenses. The cost of taking part in the trade shows will be around $300 to $500 per event to $1000 per event as per the scale of the show. The cost of advertising the product in magazines will be around $45 to $55 depending on the content of the advertisement. In the first year we will rely only on direct mailing and direct PR promotions. Then in the second year we will participate in trade shows where in we can enhance our presence. From third year onwards we will promote our products through advertisements in magazines as well as online advertisements.

Product: Our product as discussed earlier is a unique software which would help to recreate a virtual fitting room for the purchasers of apparels online. The software will help our clients to attract more customers and reduce the number of discontent that online purchase has with apparel sales. Our product differentiates from the competitors on personalization element. We aim to offer a product which will customize the end user preference along with the proper graphical depictions of the garments of our clients and their textures. Further no other software provides virtual assistance in making a choice of the costume to be chosen. This is an additional feature that our clients will have through our product. So, we position our product son this customization model. That is, we aim to position our product on the basis of customized solution to our clients. The product offering that we will have is first the software which is our core product, assistance in setting up the software in the client’s site if requested by the customer, third, providing online visual merchandising for the customers if so desired by the client and various other services to the customers.

We assume that fro the first year our customers are eBay and Victoria’s Secrets Direct. From table 1 we see in 2006 the number of people visited the websites to purchase apparels in these two sites. So, if we multiply the 20% i.e. $40 charges for every customer who visits the site for this purpose, we see that the revenue in 2006 standard would be $11280 in 2006 standard.

Now if we have to forecast that an expected increase of 20% customers is expected in 2008 from 2006 then we see that the rise on customers’ amount to an increase in revenue only from surcharges to be around $132336. Hence, we see that the major factors that we need to consider for forecasting sales are the number of visits to the sites to purchase apparels and the number of new customers we make. Further once we increase our customer base to other companies like Gap or Levi or Old navy will definitely see a further increase in sales revenue in the third to fifth year. So, by the end of fifth year we will expect a sale of $409577.5 with the same assumptions on 20% increase in visits to he sites every year and inclusion of Gap and Old navy the other two popular online shopping destinations in our clientele. Our analysis is based on the assumption that the prices for our product are kept same over the years and other environmental conditions remain constant.

The expected revenue to be earned in 2008 and the expected costs associated in the first year are shown in table 2.

The table clearly shows that we expect to break even in the first year itself and the ROI calculated over the first year in 1.1%. We expect it to increase over the years as the cost of our fixed investments will decrease with increasing sales and so will the average variable cost, and revenue will increase thus increasing the profit. Thus, this monitoring of the sales figures will help us to understand the company’s sales situations.

Now if we forecast the increase in sales over a five-year period, we get the following figure.

The above figure shows the sales growth that we expect over a period of five years.

Further we expect the ROI to increase over this five-year period.

From figure 4 we see the ROI forecast for the next five years of operation are given. We assume that the other variables remaining same, we calculated the increase in revenue in a nominal 20% rate annually and the basis of which we calculated the ROI. The calculation is shown in the following table.

Clearly table 4 gives the financial forecast over the next five years which helps us to make an approximate estimation of the financial performance of our company ion and ideal situation. Bu t we need to bear in mind that these results will definitely be affected by the market conditions and competition’s strategy which will force us to change our strategy. But overall these will b e the broad marketing strategy that we propose to employ.

• Computers: Science and Scientists Review
• Agile Methodology for Software
• eBay Strategic Marketing
• EBay Company in E-business
• Cyber Attack on eBay Company: The Summer of 2014
• Python: Programming Language and Concepts
• Linear Programming and Network Models
• ASP.NET and JavaScript Web Development Technologies
• Situational Factors in the Software Development Process
• Software Development: Integrated Perspective
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2021, September 3). Virtual Fitting Room Online Business Plan. https://ivypanda.com/essays/virtual-fitting-room-online-business-plan/

"Virtual Fitting Room Online Business Plan." IvyPanda , 3 Sept. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/virtual-fitting-room-online-business-plan/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Virtual Fitting Room Online Business Plan'. 3 September.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Virtual Fitting Room Online Business Plan." September 3, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/virtual-fitting-room-online-business-plan/.

1. IvyPanda . "Virtual Fitting Room Online Business Plan." September 3, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/virtual-fitting-room-online-business-plan/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Virtual Fitting Room Online Business Plan." September 3, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/virtual-fitting-room-online-business-plan/.

FASHION DISCOVERY SOLUTIONS

Complete The Look

Visually Similar

Hyper-Personalised

Visual Search

Virtual Try-On

CONTENT MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

Attribute Tagging

Merchandising Platform

E-COMMERCE SOLUTIONS

E-mail & Retargeting

E-commerce Recommendations

• Case Studies

Virtual Fitting Rooms: A Complete Guide For Retailers and Brands

Online shopping has never been more popular. According to Statista , ecommerce annual revenue will reach the $6.5 trillion mark by 2023. Still, that doesn’t mean that online shopping isn’t without its challenges. The fashion industry, for example, has to deal with the cost and hassle of returns and virtual fitting rooms might be the solution.

Shopify’s Fashion Industry report states that online shopping return rates are as high as 30% or more. Retailers that are pressed to keep pricing low and customers happy have yet to discover ways of reducing this. Fortunately, there may be a solution. 

Virtual fitting rooms can help clients address the most common issues with online clothes shopping. By using augmented reality and artificial intelligence, virtual fitting rooms let clients try on their clothes before clicking the checkout button – in a virtual, online environment. 

What Is a Virtual Fitting Room? 

A virtual dressing room can help you visualize what an item of clothing will look like on their bodies. It not only solves sizing issues but helps customers determine whether or not an item’s colour, pattern, or fit suits their personal style and appearance. These virtual fitting rooms involve a combination of virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence. 

To use a virtual fitting room, shoppers use a live video feed of themselves. They grant access to the camera, and the technology solution overlays clothing and accessories. The camera will scan their face in the frame to place products in a lifelike manner. Some in-store fitting rooms use body scanners that take an entire scan of a person instead of a video feed so that the person doesn’t have to physically try on the clothes. Not all solutions produce the same result, however. 

Some virtual fitting rooms produce 3D renders. Customers select their own weight and height, and then the technology creates a virtual mannequin to show what the product would look like. Others allow customers to choose one of the various human models with different shapes and sizes. These solutions are easier to implement than others and do provide visualization guidance, but they aren’t always 100% accurate. After all, no two bodies are the same, and manual entry can introduce human error to the process. 

Some iterations of virtual dressing rooms render virtual clothing on a customer’s body in real-time through a mobile device. This doesn’t always account for fit but helps customers visualize what an item will look like on their body.

How Does Virtual Fitting Room Technology Work? 

Most virtual fitting rooms use some form of augmented reality, e.g., webcams that scan your body to create a 360-degree 3D model. Others are powered by artificial intelligence and use algorithms and machine learning to create fully-body 3D models of each shopper. Others use RFID or radio frequency identification (RFID) to scan products that a shopper brings to a virtual fitting room and overlays them on a 3D model so that the customer can see what items look like without trying them on.

  Amazon has supposedly gone even further and developed a blended-reality mirror that uses augmented reality and LCD screens to show customers what they would look like with various clothing items on. Companies like Warby Parker use try-on smart glasses, while many other retailers have app-based virtual try-on tools.  

These tools mainly focus on virtual fitting rooms that customers can use from the comfort of their own homes, but retailers are experimenting with in-store iterations as well. This includes body scanners, RFID tech, and virtual reality experiences that customers can access through headsets. 

The technology fuelling virtual room includes:

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality enhances the real world by overlaying virtual elements onto physical objects or bodies, including digital makeup, clothing, or shoes. This overlay is displayed on LCD screens that reflect images back to customers. 

Artificial Intelligence 

AI simulates human intelligence in a number of ways. AI is considered foundational to the success of many virtual fitting rooms as it is deployed in everything from image recognition to machine learning. Form-fitting algorithms are a type of AI that can create an accurate model of shoppers’ bodies. These algorithms use information gathered from customers as well as items to match the clothes to the person. Image-recognition algorithms are trained to recognize patterns or objects within a photo to detect what shoppers look like. Through machine learning, these algorithms become adept at detecting customers’ sizes and distinguishing colours and different fabrics. 

Many virtual fitting rooms use depth-sensing cameras (either on phones or as standalone) to create a 3D recreation that can measure depth and distance. Cameras like Microsoft Kinect (which are found in Xboxes) can also control systems using physical gestures and voice commands. Smartphone technology has also improved enough to process depth, distance, and light and can superimpose items onto images, but these are mostly used to try on smaller items like shoes or makeup. 

Light Detection and Ranging

Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) is a remote-sensing method that uses light reflected from lasers to measure the depth and distance between objects. This is used in autonomous vehicle technology, where it helps cars navigate the road, but in fitting rooms, it can help shoppers determine how clothes fit with greater accuracy.

What Are The Benefits Of Virtual Fitting Rooms?

There are several benefits to using a virtual fitting room for retailers and their customers.

Access to Customer Data

Virtual fitting rooms collect customer data that can be analyzed. For example, if large numbers of customers with similar body types use a virtual fitting room, the retailer can ensure that they have significant stock to meet the demand of that body measurement and type. You can also collect customer feedback about the garments they bought or rejected through surveys.

Bringing in New Customers

Most businesses need to sell online in order to compete. More than half of businesses say they generate more revenue through online sales than in-store sales. Younger consumers are particularly prone to online shopping. By creating more positive experiences and eliminating the frustration of returning items that do not fit or aren’t flattering, companies can bring in new customers. 

Upselling, Space Saving, and Increased Sales 

40% of shoppers are willing to pay more for products that could be experienced through AR, and 71% say they would shop at a retail store more often if they used augmented reality. Virtual mirrors and fitting rooms can also open up additional floor space because it reduces the need for fitting rooms, which can be used to display more stock or merchandising displays. These virtual fitting rooms can be configured to require customer social media logins or email addresses. Measurements can be stored to profiles and reused online, enabling a complete omnichannel experience that combines on- and offline shopping. 

Convenience

Virtual fitting rooms are more convenient than in-store shopping. There’s no need to try on clothing and swap it out if it doesn’t fit or flatter the customer. Similarly, it’s more convenient than ordering an item online, trying it on, not liking it, and sending it back (which involves repackaging the item, filing a return, organizing and waiting for collection and your refund to be processed).

Better Customer Experiences

Not all men and women feel safe trying on clothes in fitting rooms. By letting customers try on clothing in their homes or in-store without getting undressed, you can solve a huge problem for them. If the experience is more positive and convenient, it’s more fun – and more likely to get customers coming back for more.

Cost Savings

High return rates are an administrative headache for retailers, and free returns can cut into profits. Most returns can be attributed to sizing issues (i.e., an item that is too big or too small). Virtual fitting rooms allow customers to try on items without touching them, reducing the odds of returns.

Examples Of Virtual Fitting Rooms 

There are already several companies that have launched virtual dressing rooms with great success, including:

Knix had two showroom stores, which couldn’t operate during the lockdown. They created a virtual fitting room to provide a fitting service to clients online. Their site currently hosts thousands of virtual fittings every single month, and these booking slots are often fully booked well in advance.

Nesting Olive 

Nesting Olive is a maternity brand that offers a virtual fitting room experience. Users can input their height and weight and then select their body type to create an avatar. Then, they can dress their avatar with various Nesting Olive products. The virtual dressing room also offers sizing recommendations and the ability to edit your avatar. The company reported that the virtual dressing room boosted user engagement considerably.

Warby Parker

Warby Parker is a retail company that sells eyeglasses through its website. They currently offer a try-on feature through their iOS app to show what glasses look like on a shopper’s face before they buy them.

1822 Denim believes that they can find the perfect fit of jeans for every body, shape, and size. They created an online fitting room experience that uses just two uploaded images of the shopper and then provides personalized size and fit recommendations. The company has reduced its returns and now uses the data collected from virtual fitting rooms to make better manufacturing and forecasting decisions about sizing.

Gucci used Snapchat to create AR shoes after shopping malls closed during the pandemic. This created a virtual lens that would overlay a digital version of the shoe onto a shopper’s foot. Customers could use a “shop now” option on Snapchat to go straight to Gucci product pages to make a purchase. 

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren uses virtual mirrors in-store that are equipped with RFID technology. This technology is combined with product data about available sizes and colours to make product recommendations if customers aren’t quite finding what they are looking for.

Conclusion  

In a world that is increasingly competitive, retailers have to play every card they can to stay ahead in the game. Virtual fitting rooms are innovative and engaging options for retailers that want to gain an edge over their competition. According to some studies, the virtual fitting market was already worth $2.97 billion in 2021 and will grow to $8.5 billion by 2028. If you are a retailer that wants to reduce your return rate, improve performance, increase sales and boost engagement, send us a message . Intelistyle’s virtual fitting rooms might just be the solution you’ve been waiting for. 

Book a free consultation

Brands we work with

© Intelistyle 2024 All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions

Privacy Overview

Explore. Learn. Thrive. Fastlane Media Network

• OUR MISSION
• WRITE FOR US
• SPONSORSHIP
• AI Commerce
• DROPSHIPPING
• Print On Demand
• SHOPIFY PLUS
• BIG COMMERCE
• WOO COMMERCE
• COMMERCE TOOLS
• SQUARESPACE
• ADOBE COMMERCE
• SALESFORCE COMMERCE CLOUD
• ECOMMERCE SEO
• SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
• CONTENT MARKETING
• EMAIL MARKETING
• SMS MARKETING
• PUSH NOTIFICATIONS
• AI CHAT BOTS
• INFLUENCER MARKETING
• LOYALTY MARKETING
• RETENTION MARKETING
• COLLABORATIONS
• EVENT MARKETING
• Referral Marketing
• Video Marketing
• Community Building
• BRANDING & DESIGN
• PUBLIC RELATIONS
• CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE (CX)
• User Generated Content (UGC)
• Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
• SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION (SEO)
• CLOUD COMPUTING
• CYBERSECURITY
• EMERGING TRENDS
• BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
• AGRICULTURE
• FASHION & APPAREL
• ELECTRONICS
• INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
• SUPPLY CHAIN
• DATA ANALYTICS
• DEVELOPMENT
• CUSTOMER SUPPORT
• BRICK + MORTAR
• BUSINESS LAW
• HUMAN RESOURCES
• SUSTAINABILITY
• Payment Processing
• Return Management
• TAX PLANNING & FILING
• FUNDRAISING
• MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
• Budgeting and Forecasting
• Cash Flow Management
• Pricing Strategies
• Financial Analytics and Reporting
• ONLINE SURVEYS
• FREELANCING
• CONTENT CREATOR
• COACHING & TUTORING
• DIGITAL PRODUCTS
• AFFILIATE MARKETING
• SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER
• Online Courses
• Virtual Assisting
• Stock Photography
• Gaming and eSports
• Entrepreneurship
• LATEST NEWS
• SHOPIFY INSIGHTS
• SHOPIFY RETAIL
• SHOPIFY DEVELOPER
• SHOPIFY PARTNERS
• ECOMMERCE FASTLANE
• ECOSYSTEM PODCASTS
• The Shopify Story
• Shopify Podcasts
• Shopify Apps
• Shopify Free Trial
• Shopify Development
• Shopify Marketing
• APP PARTNERS
• PARTNER WITH US
• WRITE A GUEST POST
• SPONSOR THE PODCAST
• BE A PODCAST GUEST
• HOMEPAGE+PARTNER PORTAL

Popular Topics

• ecommerce marketing
• email marketing

Trending Now View All

10+ Best Wholesale Suppliers In The USA For 2024

How To Evaluate The Worth Of An eCommerce Business 2024

Unlocking The Potential Of Walmart Marketplace: Updated Review (2024)

11 Applications Of Artificial Intelligence (AI) In eCommerce

Virtual fitting rooms: the next big thing in ecommerce for small businesses.

In This Article

Every now and then, technology comes along to revolutionize the way business is done. For example, consider what call center VoIP solutions did for the omnichannel customer experience. 

Now, new tech is shaking up the world of eCommerce. We’re talking about virtual fitting rooms.

Image sourced from insideretail.asia

The popularity of virtual try-on solutions has boomed over the last few years, and predictions suggest it will continue to rise. 

Although certainly boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic, this growth is primarily due to the fact that virtual fitting rooms solve an age-old issue: they allow customers to enjoy the comfort and convenience of online shopping without the fear of their clothes not fitting.

As well as providing your customers with an easy and intuitive customer experience, virtual fitting rooms can boost sales, reduce return rates (and therefore delivery costs), and help create an omnichannel customer experience. 

In this blog, we’ll run through:  

• What virtual fitting rooms are 
• Who should consider investing in them 
• Why they’re beneficial

What is a Virtual Fitting Room?

A virtual fitting room is a type of technology that allows customers to see how clothes, apparel, or make-up might look on them before purchasing from an online retailer.  

Using a combination of video, images, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality , they impose visualizations of a product over a 3D model or image of the customer. They are, essentially, the virtual equivalent of an in-store dressing room. 

Virtual fitting rooms are now widely available and in use by a growing number of major online retailers . The use of an integrated QR Code in e-commerce using an online QR code generator can further enhance the shopping experience by providing quick access to virtual fitting rooms, product information, or even discounts.

Why Are Virtual Fitting Rooms Significant in eCommerce?

We all know the importance of keeping up to date with consumer trends , and in 2023, the popularity of virtual fitting rooms in eCommerce is on the rise. There’s a good reason why.

eCommerce is an ever-growing market, yet people still favor in-store shopping within the fashion and beauty industries. This is for one simple reason: in-person shopping allows them to try things on.

Image sourced from  tidio.com

With virtual fitting rooms, this is no longer such an issue. Customers can try clothes on without ever even touching them. Not only does this improve customer experience, but there are several ways it can streamline business for online shops (we’ll get into those later). 

It’s small businesses that stand to benefit the most from virtual fitting rooms. Fashion and beauty businesses that are just starting out and can’t afford brick-and-mortar stores have long been at a distinct disadvantage compared to larger chains and their high-street outlets. 

Virtual fitting rooms level the playing field and allow smaller online businesses, even those operating exclusively via eCommerce, to compete more fairly with better-known brands. 

B2B ecommerce software can also benefit from virtual fitting rooms, as they provide a more efficient way for retailers to sell to other businesses without needing in-person meetings or samples.

With great eCommerce website development and virtual fitting rooms, they’re far less disadvantaged than previously. 

How Do Virtual Fitting Rooms Work?

With any new technology that appears, different variants tend to flood the market. Just as there are now countless video call alternatives to Zoom , each with its own specialized niche, the market for virtual fitting rooms is becoming equally complex. 

There are a variety of visual try-on solutions available, each working slightly differently and each with its benefits and shortcomings. At current, the main types of virtual fitting rooms you’ll find are: 

• Customizable 3D models. Some of these virtual fitting rooms simply offer customers a selection of human models in various shapes and sizes. In contrast, others generate a personalized 3D model based on measurements (weight, height, waist size, etc.) entered by the customer. As a rule, these are the most widely accessible virtual fitting rooms. They’re quick and easy to use and allow customers a rough idea of how clothes will look on them. However, they don’t produce an exact replica of the customer’s body, so they aren’t as precise as other options.
• Mobile fitting rooms. This solution renders a 2D representation of clothing over the top of a video of the customer in real time. Essentially, this works much like a Snapchat filter. While mobile fitting rooms may require users to download software or apps, they’re fun, and interactive. They can be combined with virtual photo booths for an easily accessible source of user-generated content. However, they do lack one of the main benefits of virtual fitting room technology: actually reflecting how the garment will fit.
• Augmented reality. A more advanced version of mobile device virtual fitting rooms is augmented reality. This solution generates photo-realistic visualizations mapped onto unique 3D avatars produced from multiple measurement points. As well as working on mobile devices, this software can be used with smart mirrors. This advanced technology tends to be more expensive, and the time-consuming avatar creation process can deter the more casual shopper. Nevertheless, these are the most proficient form of virtual fitting rooms out there, providing a reliable and realistic fitting experience.

Who Should Consider Investing in Virtual Fitting Rooms?

In case we weren’t clear before, small businesses should! If a business doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar store, virtual fitting rooms are the best way to offer customers the chance to try clothes on.

That said, virtual fitting rooms can be advantageous for high-street shops, too, and represent a practical step toward establishing an omnichannel retail experience . They can also streamline in-store operations and are a great draw to get people in the door.

How to Make the Most of Virtual Fitting Rooms

As we said, virtual fitting rooms are increasingly popular, and it’s expected that most major eCommerce retailers will be using them in the near future. So, the best advice we can offer is to get ahead of the curve and start investigating them now.

That being said, you want to ensure you’re making the most of their benefits. Here are a few tips to help you do that.

Use deep data analysis

Virtual fitting rooms are a great way for eCommerce retailers to collect information from their customers. They can be used to gather reams of data about their body types, measurements, and behavior. This can then be used to keep track of distribution needs, create more targeted marketing campaigns, and tailor new products to customers’ preferences.

So, ensure you track and utilize all the data your virtual fitting rooms provide.

Create an omnichannel experience

Yes, virtual fitting rooms are great for eCommerce, but if your business operates through multiple channels, there’s another use for them too. 

Using the online experience to enhance in-store shopping has been around for a while. BOPIS services, in-store mobile searches, and visual navigation aids are nothing new. 

What Millennials Want From Reviews – And How This Content Shapes Purchase Behavior

Gluten-Free Ecommerce Market & Trends

You may also like.

How Restaurants Are Using Shopify To Sell More Than Just Food

The Ins And Outs Of Retail Pricing: An In-Depth Guide

David Jones: An Array Of Luxury In Retail

Crafting The Backbone Of Online Retail: Strategic Enterprise Networking For E-commerce Success

• Student Success
• Research and Innovation
• In the News
• Giving Back
• Honors and Awards

What is a Virtual Fitting Room? Advantages and Early Adopters

This article was originally published by members of the Wilson College of Textiles’ Fashion Textile and Business Excellence Cooperative .

One of the major concerns of online shopping is a consumer’s inability to touch, feel and experience products. This concern is more problematic for fashion products, when the right fit is critical for purchase decisions. Virtual Fitting Room (VFR), a technology that allows consumers to test size and fit without having to try clothing on themselves, eases this concern.

What is a Virtual Fitting Room (VFR)?

A Virtual Fitting Room (VFR) is a function that shows and visualizes a shopper’s outfit without physically trying on and touching items. VFR utilizes Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). By using AR for VFR, a webcam scans the body shape of shoppers and creates a 360-degree, 3D model based on their body shape. 

AI further operates VFR by using algorithms and machine learning to design a full-body 3D model of a shopper standing in front of the camera. A combination of AR and AI technology allows VFR to place items on real-time images as a live video so that customers can check the size, style and fit of the products they’re considering purchasing. 

Shoppers can try on clothes and shoes at home without visiting a physical store. In order to do this, customers need to first make sure they have the right settings on their phone. Then, they download a brands’ mobile applications with the Virtual Fitting Room function or visit apparel brands’ websites that support this VFR function and upload a photo of their body shape. Some brands allow a customer to create an avatar using their body shape to test out the fashion items virtually, instead of uploading a photo of themselves. 

How does using a Virtual Fitting Room benefit fashion retailers?

• Provides a convenient shopping experience Research conducted by the National Retail Federation in 2020 stated that 97% of consumers have ended a shopping trip or stopped searching for the item they had in mind because the process was inconvenient. Shoppers surveyed not only said that in-person shopping was inconvenient but that online shopping felt even more inconvenient to them.  VFR eliminates all of these processes. Shoppers can walk over to the VFR and see what the clothes look like quickly without needing to change them.
• Overcomes the limitations of online shopping As of 2017, 62% of shoppers preferred to shop at physical apparel stores because they could see, touch, feel and experience products. This was a major problem that online shopping could not overcome. VFR solves this problem effectively. According to a Retail Perceptions Report, about 40% of buyers said they would be willing to pay more if they could experience the product through AR technology. By incorporating new technologies, VFR makes shopping fun and offers a personalized shopping experience to customers, which can attract more people to online channels. 
• Reduces the return rate High return rates are a big administrative headache for fashion brands. Moreover, it threatens to cut into the profits of fashion brands if they offer free returns. 30% of the return rate in e-commerce fashion shopping is due to purchases of small-sized products, and another 22% happens due to purchases of too large-sized products. However, VFR alleviates this problem. Whether in store or online, people can check the fit and size of items without having to wear them themselves.

Which brands are already using Virtual Fitting Room (VFR) technology?

Gucci is the first luxury brand which adopted VFR.  They partnered with Snapchat to launch an augmented reality shoe try-on campaign. It created a virtual lens that superimposed and overlaid a digital version of the shoe on the shopper’s foot when the foot was photographed using a cell phone camera. 

Along with the Shop Now button, which guides shoppers to its online store, Gucci achieved 18.9 million Snapchat users and reported positive return on ad spend, which is a marketing metric that measures the amount of revenue earned on all dollars spent on advertising from this campaign. 

Otero Menswear

Otero Menswear is a brand focused on apparel for men shorter than 5’10”. Otero added VFR software to its online store to provide perfect fitting sizes to its customers. First, it asks customers four quick questions about their height, leg length, waist size and body type. Then, it offers a virtual avatar corresponding with the answers. Shoppers then use this avatar to see how different sizes of Otero clothing would look on them. 

In May 2021, Walmart announced that they plan to acquire Zeekit , a virtual fitting room platform, to provide enhanced and social shopping experiences for customers during the pandemic. 

When customers upload pictures of themselves and enter their body dimensions, Zeekit builds a virtual body and then customers can dress it accordingly. Customers will simply post their photos or choose virtual models on the platform that represent the best fitting of their height, body and skin tone. Shoppers can even share their virtual clothes with others to get various opinions. Walmart brings a comprehensive and social experience to digital shopping for customers through this acquisition of VFR .

According to research by Valuates Reports, it is expected that sales of the global virtual fitting room market will grow to $6.5 million by 2025 . By adopting VFR, consumers will be able to experience convenience in an advanced shopping environment. At the same time, fashion retailers will be able to increase online sales and reduce return rates by offering customers personalized online shopping experiences using VFR technology.

Dopson, E. (2021, May 20). What are Virtual Fitting Rooms and Why Should Retailers Use Them? . Shopify. Retrieved from https://www.shopify.com/retail/virtual-fitting-rooms#1

Byrne, A. (2020, October 15). Virtual fitting room market forecast to double by 2025 . FASHIONUNITED. Retrieved from https://fashionunited.uk/news/retail/virtual-fitting-room-market-forecast-to-double-by-2025/2020101551399

Dietmar, J. (2021, September 16). Virtual Dressing Rooms: A Guide For Fashion Retailers . Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/09/16/virtual-dressing-rooms-a-guide-for-fashion-retailers/?sh=1d9288cfb87e

Expert Commentator of Smart Insights. (2020, January 28). Convenience is driving e-commerce growth and influencing consumer decisions . Smart Insights. Retrieved from https://www.smartinsights.com/ecommerce/convenience-is-driving-e-commerce-growth-and-influencing-consumer-decisions/

Danny, P. (2021, August 10). Virtual fitting and size-inclusive brands are a perfect match . Glossy. Retrieved from https://www.glossy.co/fashion/virtual-fitting-and-size-inclusive-brands-are-a-perfect-match/

Walmart. (2021, May 13). Walmart Announces Plans To Acquire Zeekit, a Leading Virtual Fitting Room Platform, To Enable Enhanced and Social Shopping Experience for Customer . Walmart. Retrieved from https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2021/05/13/walmart-announces-plans-to-acquire-zeekit-a-leading-virtual-fitting-room-platform-to-enable-enhanced-and-social-shopping-experience-for-customer

• Department of Textile and Apparel Technology and Management
• Faculty Research
• Fashion and Textile Business Excellence Cooperative
• Wilson College of Textiles

More From Wilson College of Textiles

Wilson College Research Projects Awarded External Funding 

Wilson College of Textiles Sponsors a Team in the Andrews Launch Accelerator Sparking a New Partnership in Innovation 

Researching Sustainable Dyes for College Credit at NC State 

Virtual Fitting Rooms. How Can They Benefit Your Business?

by 4Experience Crew | Nov 17, 2021 | - AR , Business

The market of virtual fitting rooms has seen increased growth and demand in the last few years, reaching a market value of 2.97 billion USD in 2020 . This growth has been noticeably accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic which changed our shopping habits and made us turn to e-commerce more than ever before. Now, nearly 35% of this market is owned by virtual dressing room apps.

Implementing an augmented reality dressing room in your business will draw customers’ attention and might positively affect your brand’s image. Most people like new technologies and innovations, which means they are naturally attracted to them. What’s most important, a virtual dressing room app can also lower the return rate and increase sales resulting in higher revenue.

In this article you will find out:

• how virtual fitting rooms work
• what benefits they bring
• how they can help out your business
• what challenges you might face when developing one
• how you can incorporate this solution into your enterprise

How do AR dressing rooms work?

Most virtual fitting rooms are based on augmented reality technology. They allow customers to try on clothes without the need to wear or even touch them physically. Any potential client with a smartphone can take advantage of such a tool. Using a dedicated app, they can see a live image of themselves in any available article. This technology is already used in many popular apps like Snapchat.

How it works is quite simple. An overlaying image of the chosen article is presented on a live video feed of the user. In other words, the customer can see how any given cut, size and style will look once they put it on. When it comes to regular shops, most retailers set up dedicated stands with large displays in front or in place of physical dressing rooms. They work on the same principle as the AR applications.

Significance of virtual try-ons in e-commerce

Having turned to online clothing shopping, many of us found it challenging to decide which clothes and in what sizes would fit us best. After all, you can’t exactly try anything on before ordering and receiving it. Most or all online clothing stores offer a size chart or even size guide, but these are often either imprecise or the products simply don’t match the given dimensions accurately enough.

Furthermore, it’s not always easy to imagine how exactly a piece of clothing will look once you wear it. A solution to this is a free return policy used by most marketplaces. It seems reasonable at first glance, but it creates an excessively high return rate, which can soar to an alarming 70% for some categories. This in turn significantly lowers the actual sales margin on each product and in extreme cases makes the business unprofitable. Especially if you offer free shipping.

That’s where the option to try clothes on virtually can prove to be significantly beneficial. By providing your customers a way to see how each item looks on their body, they can make more informed decisions. Therefore, fewer of them will want to return their orders.

How brick-and-mortar retailers can utilize virtual fitting rooms

Virtual fitting rooms can also be utilized with good results in regular fashion retail. As mentioned above, most stores that use this technology put up a large mirror which is in fact a display screen. These are often referred to as smart mirrors. The customers see a live image of themselves, just like in a regular mirror, except overlaying images can be projected on them.

Modern technology even allows users to have a 360-degree view of themselves while w earing a virtual piece of clothing. It’s worth noting that smart mirrors can also recommend items based on what the shopper is looking for. That’s a way to increase sales volume with almost no effort. And finally, you can present an unlimited range of products to the customers and not just the ones which are currently physically exhibited.

Limitations and solutions

Of course, every technology has its limitations and will not be perfect. Arguably, the most common concern is that the presented products will look different in real life or that the material composition might be different than expected. Here are some examples of the challenges of virtual fitting rooms and ways to overcome them.

The inability to touch the items

Unfortunately, even though customers can have a great representation of how the clothes will look, they still can’t to uch them. And getting the feel of the fabric is an essential part of shopping for clothes for some people.

There is no easy solution to this problem, but a few ideas could be implemented. For stores using AR smart mirrors, you can provide samples of the most popular material compositions next to the device. For e-commerce, a detailed description of the used fabrics and how they feel to the touch might prove satisfactory for many consumers. After all, looks matter the most when it comes to fashion, don’t they?

Articles look different in real life

Customers may also be concerned that the virtual items may not represent the product they will receive well. Oftentimes visualizations are indeed slightly inaccurate or the colors on screen vary from the real thing.

Fortunately, thanks to advanced software, knowledge and experience, it is possible to recreate objects with very high accuracy. Moreover, with the correct equipment, you can even use high-definition, 360-degree models, based on images, enabling a photorealistic representation of the product.

Most of the time, it all comes to the quality of the software design and virtual clothes models. We, at 4Experience, put a strong emphasis on quality, functionality and looks whenever we develop a new piece of software. You can find some examples in our portfolio .

The technology and implementation might seem complicated

One concern a business owner might have is the complicity of creating and implementing a virtual dressing room application. It is also crucial for the software itself to be user-friendly and have an intuitive UI. Otherwise, customers might not want to use it.

4Experience offers to develop the software from scratch with all the necessary support to implement the technology. From helping you come up with an idea, through graphic design, all the way to explaining how to use the finished product. Moreover, we always make sure that the UI is simple, yet functional. Here is a good example .

The greatest advantages of virtual fitting rooms

We have already gone through some of the advantages of augmented reality technologies in fashion retail. Here is a quick reminder of why you should consider developing virtual fitting rooms for your business. Important benefits:

• Significantly lower return rate. Reports show that it can drop by as much as 36% which means a larger sales margin and more revenue. This is especially important for e-commerce, where the RR reaches much higher levels.
• Notably greater turnover. AR try-ons have been reported to improve conversion rates and the average order value, which increases the turnover.
• Positive image of your brand. Creating virtual fitting rooms makes consumers view your brand as more innovative and customer-oriented. By combining these efforts with a marketing campaign, your brand can grow exponentially.
• Convenient and faster shopping experience . According to a recent study , 97% of consumers gave up on a purchase, because it wasn’t convenient enough. Physically trying on multiple products is undoubtedly inconvenient and time-consuming. Even more when it comes to online shopping.
• Drawing customers in. Incorporating new technologies makes shopping fun and that’s what attracts many people.
• Virtual shopping assistant . Customers can get a more tailored experience. A virtual assistant can recommend additional products furtherly increasing the order value with little to no effort.

One good example of how you can draw the attention of customers and increase sales through an augmented reality ap p is what Gucci did in collaboration with Snapchat . They launched a campaign using Snapchat’s shoppable AR technology. Any user c ould virtually try on a pair of Gucci shoes through a dedicated filter. A “shop now” button was available f or easy purchase. Not only was the ROAS positive, but the campaign also dragged media attention and was a great way of promoting the brand.

How can I implement a virtual dressing room app into my business?

AR technology is innovative, fun and practical while remaining easily accessible and intuitive. We can expect all major companies will ma ke use of it in the near future. Now is your chance to get ahead of your competition and stand out from the crowd while simultaneously increasing your revenue. Whether you need a smart mirror for your store or a virtual fitting room for e-commerce, your priority should be choosing the right team of professionals for your project.

As we already discussed, the quality of design and software plays a monumental role in the success of AR solutions. Once you choose a company to partner with, you will need to work out a general concept, agree on the visual and technical design, wait for the program or application to be developed and decide how to properly implement it. Are you uncertain about what you need? Haven’t got a detailed concept yet? No worries, we are here to help.

4Experience offers a comprehensive customer support model – we can assist you in coming up with the ideal solution, suggest ways of implementation and develop all software from scratch. As a client, you are informed about every step of the designing and development process. We are an experienced team of problem solvers who are always proactive as well as open to suggestions and improvements. Your satisfaction with the final result is a top priority.

Still hesitant? We will be more than happy to address any concerns you may have and work together on bringing exciting new solutions to your business. Feel free to contact us by filling out the form available here .

Share with:

4Experience Crew

• – Art
• – Construction & Real Estate
• – E-commerce
• – Education
• – Emergency Services
• – Engineering
• – Entertainment
• – Gaming
• – Healthcare
• – Metaverses
• – Military
• – Training
• – Project Management
• – Software Development
• – Tutorials

• B2B Management & Operations
• Integrations & API
• Online Order Entry
• Branded Selling Tools
• B2B Marketplace
• Event Microsites
• Case Studies
• Recommend A Brand

Virtual Fitting Rooms Explained: A Guide for Retailers

We've all been there – hesitating at an online-checkout, trying to figure out if the clothes we’re buying are actually going to fit when they arrive. This is the dilemma of online shopping, there’s a convenience to buying at home, but that convenience is often undercut by the concern of a new brand not fitting how it’s supposed to. 

This is where virtual fitting rooms (VFRs) come in. Since the 2010s, some of the biggest brands in the world have adopted VFRs for compelling reasons: they help customers shop with confidence by sidestepping the guesswork and allow businesses to thrive by providing a unique and tailored shopping experience.

Below we'll go over the basics of virtual fitting rooms, breaking down what they are, how they work and what they mean for the future of retail.

What Are Virtual Fitting Rooms?

VFRs are exactly what they sound like: a digital version of an in-store fitting room. Through advanced technologies, customers are presented with opportunities to virtually slip into various items of clothing. This allows them to see what certain products look on them without having to physically try them on.

In a matter of a few clicks, you get a trustworthy read of a selected clothing item, from style to pattern, from size to color. Virtual fitting rooms are interactive, convenient and trustworthy which means customers are provided with a streamlined shopping experience that eliminates the need for multiple order attempts, return trips or endless dressing room queues.

You can see how RepSpark implements a virtual fitting room on our guide to getting started with Virtual Showrooms . 

How Does a Virtual Fitting Room Work?

From image diffusion, through pose estimation, augmented reality and AI-software , the technology required to bring the dressing room experience to the screen is constantly advancing. While not all VFRs work the same way, most rely on similar underlying principles for an advanced try-before-you-buy experience. Let's go over the key mechanisms that drive their functionality.

Body Scanning

o The starting point for all VFR-services are precise measurements, meaning that a realistic avatar of the customer must be built before they can try anything on. This can be done by using depth sensors, cameras, live-videos or user-generated input. Each method captures data points on the body's contours and proportions and relies primarily on AR for accuracy and AI algorithms for fine-tuning and consistency.

3D-Modeling and Simulation

o Personalized measurements are processed into a 360-degree 3D-model of the user's body. The user can then put the virtual clothing onto their 3D model using AI-assisted tech and an AR-enhanced environment for quick and efficient adjustments. This allows the shopper to visualize their choices and interact with them in real-time.

Benefits of a Virtual Fitting Room

Enhanced Shopping Experience

o   Personalizing the browsing process, reducing uncertainty of purchases and minimizing the hassle of returns means that customers enjoy a convenient, engaging and seamless shopping experience. VFRs empower shoppers by combining in-store benefits with online convenience.

Building Connections with Customers

o   A satisfied customer is a returning customer, and fine-tuning their shopping process fosters loyalty and trust, both vital for a long-term business relationship. Optimizing VFRs to stimulate consumers further solidifies this bond by clearly signaling that their individual choices are valued.

Increased Online Sales

o   From a business standpoint, the convenience of home-shopping and practicality of VFRs translate to significant boosts in online sales. Fewer barriers for purchase ultimately increase overall sales conversion rates, meaning the integration of VFRs is a smart strategy for businesses looking to capitalize on their e-commerce channel. 

Clearer Stats

o   Virtual fitting rooms provide valuable data on customer behavior and preferences. Backed by this information, retailers can better adjust their offerings, recommend options based on past purchases or make informed decisions on new trends, inventory and marketing strategies.

Reduced Returns

o   Reduced returns are a notable benefit of virtual fitting rooms as they minimize the likelihood of receiving items that don't meet customer expectations in any respect. In the long run, this means decreasing expenses (processing, restocking, potential markdowns) as well as enhancing customer loyalty.

Biggest Challenges and Limitations of Virtual Fitting Rooms

While there are several benefits to virtual fitting rooms, they’re not without drawbacks. Successfully implementing VFR technology requires hefty investments and technical expertise and even then the system isn't foolproof. Impacting consumer habits is an uphill battle and you'll need to dissuade distrust of emerging tech and accompanying security risks. Understanding these potential challenges will help you develop strategies to mitigate risks and maximize benefits.

Implementation and Integration

o Integrating virtual fitting room software with existing platforms and sales management systems can be tricky. If you want to facilitate coordination within your ecosystem or minimize downtime, look into optimization techniques early on.

Data Privacy

o   In all business, trust is key, which holds particularly true with emerging tech in digital landscapes. You'll simply need to take extra care safeguarding private data. Customers need to know the personal information they provide is handled with the utmost security and that systems are in place to protect them from potential breaches.

User Adoption

o   It can be hard for consumers to try out new technology that wasn’t previously part of their shopping habits, so don't expect everyone to sign on. There will be a learning curve for you and your customers, so be aware that it won’t be a perfectly smooth transition. 

Limitations of Current Technology

o   Getting accurate virtual representations of items or customers will be an ongoing effort. So prepare for a long virtual haul and make sure to keep up with advancements for a fully efficient VFR.

How to Implement Virtual Fitting Rooms in Your Business  

If you’ve read everything so far and you want to try virtual fitting rooms for your business, here’s what you need to know.

Assessing Your Needs and Objectives

By clearly outlining what you hope to gain from integrating VFR-options in your offer, you'll be able to create a sound strategy that aligns with your business goals. Here are factors to think about:

• Primary Goal: Increasing online sales, reducing return rates, boosting customer experience
• Target Audience: Their demographic, preferences and behavior
• Current Technological Infrastructure: Website compatibility, data management systems and customer support
• Long-Term Expenses : Implementation with maintenance and upgrades

Choosing the Right Technology and Partners

Knowing who to trust is key to solidifying your position in the market and the right partner will fully focus on guiding you where you want to be. To implement virtual fitting rooms in your business structure, you'll need to opt for the best in partnership, technology and expertise. A VFR solution supported by a partner you trust will let you tailor the tech based on your operational requirements. This way, you’ll always be making the best decisions to drive business forward.

RepSpark's Virtual Showrooms

Virtual Showrooms are our version of a virtual fitting room. In the simplest terms, our virtual showrooms are your product line launch videos. 

You record the footage of models in your showroom, wearing your merchandise, and retailers can interact with your videos to walk through your new collection. 

A retailer can add any product they see in your virtual showroom to their cart, or favorite a product for later. 

There's a lot more to our Virtual Showrooms, so if you want to learn more, as well as how to use it on our platform, check out our Getting Started Guide to Virtual Showrooms . 

You May Also Like

These Related Stories

How to Deliver a Custom Experience for Retailers on RepSpark

SKYTRAK and RepSpark Systems Swing into Action: A Hole-in-One for Golf Retail and Training

Stix Golf Partners with RepSpark to Revolutionize Golfing Experience

Get email notifications.

• Market Reports >
• Virtual Fitting Room Market

Virtual Fitting Room Market: By Component (Hardware, Software, and Services), By Application (Apparel, Beauty and Cosmetics, Eyewear, Footwear, Jewellery and watches, and Others), By End User (Physical Store and Virtual Store), and Geography  

Purchase Option

Virtual Fitting Room Market size was valued at USD 3,335.9 million in 2023, growing at a 22.1% CAGR from 2024 to 2030. A virtual fitting room is a type of augmented reality (AR) or artificial intelligence (AI) technology that allows shoppers virtually try on clothing items or beauty products without physically touching the item itself. It works by overlaying an item on a live video feed of a customer, so they can check the size, style, and fit of a product they are thinking of buying. It is also known as virtual dressing rooms, it become more popular since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nowadays it is more convenient to build connections with customers and support online sales. Augmented reality (AR) or artificial intelligence (AI) technology will further drive the market in the upcoming years. Apparel companies are shifting towards augmented reality to upgrade their virtual fitting tools. For example, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Gucci, and others shifted towards AR technology. For instance, Walmart, the multinational retail corporation dresses up fitting room experiences with Zeekit virtual fitting room technology for users of the Walmart app and online channel. Furthermore, the rising popularity of the e-commerce sector, growing concerns of online fashion retailers, and the customized demands of customers will maintain the global virtual fitting room market growth. The competitive apparel market is also expected to create promising growth opportunities for the market over the forecast period. However, customers still can not physically touch items, there is still a risk that customers wont buy the items they are trying on. Hence, it will hamper the global adoption rate of the virtual fitting room. Although, advancement in technology, high internet speed, and the ubiquity of intelligent technologies, such as high-quality integrated smartphone cameras, smart mirrors, and high-definition lenses, is expected to drive the growth of the virtual fitting room market over the forecast period.

Recent Market Developments:

• In July 2022, Hugo Boss partnered with Reactive Reality, a virtual try-on platform, to launch 3D digital dressing room technology on its website.
• In Aug 2021, Otero Menswear partnered with Perfitly to bring virtual fitting room technology to the forefront of its new website.

Key Developments: -->