The Smart Showroom is Grosvenor Flooring’s revolutionary retail concept — a flooring showroom customers access independently via a personal smart-lock door code, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no appointment booking, no salespeople present, and no fixed opening hours to work around. We pioneered the Smart Showroom model at our Altrincham location and, as far as we are aware, it is the first of its kind in UK flooring retail. Customers receive a unique access code instantly by scanning a QR code on the front of the showroom or completing a short online form.
It is a deliberately different model from a traditional flooring shop. There is no opening-hours queue, no appointment booking system to wait through, and no salesperson stood over you while you compare samples. You walk in when you are ready, take your time, and get in touch when you have decided what you want to discuss.
HOW THE SMART SHOWROOM WORKS
The process is intentionally simple. From first interest to first visit can take under five minutes — we designed the Smart Showroom so you can turn up on impulse and be inside within minutes, with no advance planning required.
1. Scan the QR Code or Visit the Form Online
There is a QR code on the front of the showroom that opens the access form on your phone. Or, if you prefer to organise your visit in advance, visit the Smart Showroom access form from home or work before you travel. Both routes take you to the same short form.
2. Fill In a Short Form
Enter your name, contact details and approximate visit time. The form takes under two minutes to complete.
3. Receive Your Code Instantly
A personal smart-lock door code is generated and delivered to you the moment you submit the form. There is no waiting for someone to process the request — the code is yours immediately and is unique to you.
4. Walk In and Browse
Enter your code at the smart lock, push the door open, and the showroom lighting will come on automatically. Browse for as long as you need. When you have seen everything you want to see, take a sample home if you like, and contact us by phone, WhatsApp or email to discuss your project. We will arrange a home survey and confirm an accurate quote based on what you have chosen.
WHAT’S INSIDE THE SMART SHOWROOM
Our Altrincham Smart Showroom is laid out to let you compare every major LVT brand side by side, plus engineered wood in our dedicated Wood Room. The full layout includes:
LVT Brands on Display
Six major UK luxury vinyl flooring brands are on permanent physical display, so you can see, walk on and touch samples without an appointment: Amtico, Karndean, Invictus, Harvey Maria, Project Floors and our own-brand GF LVT. We are an approved retailer for all of our brands.
Additional LVT brands are available to view by appointment: Elements Inspirations, Textures, Nordikka and Moduleo. Contact us to arrange a viewing if any of these are of interest.
The Wood Room
Our dedicated Wood Room currently displays our own-brand GF Engineered Wood range at full length, named after towns and villages across Cheshire and South Manchester. Kährs and Parador displays are being added shortly. Read our Wood Room guide for more detail.
Pricing and Information Signs Throughout the Showroom
Most flooring showrooms don’t tell you what anything costs without first taking your details. Ours does. Double-sided A4 information signs are dotted around the showroom — one side carries a Good/Better/Best pricing guide for every LVT range on display, the other carries house rules, contact details and QR-coded resources you can scan on the spot. The fitted prices on the signs match the figures published online in our LVT supply & fit pricing guide.
AI-Powered Tools to Help You Choose
Every product on our website includes an AI room visualiser — upload a photo of your room and see your chosen flooring rendered in it before you commit. Members of our Grosvenor+ programme also have access to an AI mood-board matcher that suggests flooring based on the style of room you are designing. You can use both tools while you are in the showroom or from home.
WHY WE BUILT THE SMART SHOWROOM
At the heart of the Smart Showroom is one principle: customer empowerment. We built it because flooring retail has not kept pace with how customers actually want to research, compare and buy. Most flooring shops still operate the way they did twenty years ago — fixed opening hours, appointment-led sales conversations, samples kept behind the desk. That model serves the retailer’s operational convenience, not the customer’s.
Today’s customers expect to do the bulk of their research independently, on their own time, before committing to a purchase decision. They want to compare, photograph, take samples home, share with a partner or designer, and only contact a retailer when they have a clear question or are ready to buy. That is how every high-consideration purchase now works — cars, holidays, furniture, kitchens. Flooring is finally catching up.
The Smart Showroom is designed around that expectation. The 24/7 unstaffed access removes the appointment-and-opening-hours barrier. The pricing signs throughout the showroom remove the “ring for a quote” barrier. The trust-the-customer house rules remove the surveillance barrier. And the QR-coded resources on those same signs mean you can get answers to most questions, start a WhatsApp conversation, or read our customer reviews without waiting for staffed hours.
The model isn’t anti-staff. Our team is on site during regular hours for anyone who wants face-to-face advice on a project, and we welcome those conversations. But you do not need us present to make progress — and that is the real shift the Smart Showroom represents.
WHY VISIT THE SMART SHOWROOM?
The traditional flooring-shop model is built around the convenience of the retailer, not the customer. Standard opening hours assume you can come in during the working day. Appointment systems funnel you into the diary slots that suit the showroom. And sales-led environments add pressure to commit before you are ready.
The Smart Showroom inverts all three:
- No appointment required. Walk in when it suits you. There is no booking diary to clash with.
- No sales staff watching you. Browse, touch, compare and take photos at your own pace, without anyone hovering.
- Out-of-hours access. Visit at 7am before work, 9pm after the children are in bed, on a Sunday afternoon, or on a bank holiday. The Smart Showroom is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- Take samples home. Pick up a take-home sample of any range you are considering and see how it looks in your own light.
- See pricing upfront. Information signs throughout the showroom tell you what each range costs before you contact us.
WHO USES THE SMART SHOWROOM?
Our Smart Showroom suits anyone whose schedule doesn’t fit traditional retail hours, but it has proved particularly useful for:
Homeowners with Demanding Schedules
Working professionals, parents and shift workers who want to compare flooring options without taking time off. The most common visit slots outside staffed hours are weekday evenings and Sunday afternoons.
Landlords and Property Developers
Buyers managing multiple properties who need to scope flooring across a portfolio quickly. Smart Showroom access removes appointment friction, and our Grosvenor+ trade programme covers ongoing supply.
Designers and Architects with Clients
Bring clients to compare ranges in person without booking a slot or working around showroom staff. Sample takeaways are particularly useful for site-based design decisions.
Builders and Tradespeople
Visiting between jobs, at the end of the day, or at weekends when most showrooms are closed. The Smart Showroom fits around site schedules rather than the other way round.
Anyone Comparing Multiple Brands
Our Smart Showroom is one of the few places in the UK where you can compare every major LVT brand — Amtico, Karndean, Invictus, Harvey Maria, Project Floors and more — side by side in one visit.
WHAT TO EXPECT INSIDE THE SHOWROOM
We built the Smart Showroom on a trust-the-customer model that differs from most flooring retail. We assume our visitors are adults capable of browsing without supervision, and the experience is designed around that. Once you are inside, the space is yours for as long as you need it.
Take Photos and Share Freely
Most retail discourages photography. We encourage it. Photograph any sample, any range, any display you find useful — and posting and tagging us on social media is welcomed. Whether you are shortlisting options for a designer, comparing finishes against a fabric swatch you brought with you, or you just want to remember which range you liked, your phone is the easiest way to do it.
Take Brochures and Samples Home
There is a brochure rack inside the showroom — take whatever you want. Take-home sample tiles and sample boards are also available for every range on display, so you can see how a floor looks in your own home’s light before you commit. If a particular range catches your eye, take a sample and walk it through your own space before deciding.
QR Codes for Quick Answers
The same double-sided information signs that carry our pricing guide also carry four QR codes for visitors who want answers without waiting for staffed hours. Scanning each takes you to a specific resource:
- Start a WhatsApp conversation with our team
- View our LVT frequently asked questions
- See our recent installation work on Instagram
- Read our verified customer reviews
A Few Simple House Rules
The showroom operates on a few light-touch rules. We trust visitors to leave the showroom in the condition they found it, supervise any children (display units are not for standing on), and take their own rubbish away when they leave. That is it — there are no other restrictions on how long you stay, what you photograph, or what time you visit.
SMART SHOWROOM SAFETY AND SECURITY
We designed the Smart Showroom to be safe and welcoming for everyone who visits, regardless of the time of day. Security measures include:
- Personal door codes. Each visitor receives a unique code tied to their access request. Codes are time-limited.
- CCTV throughout. The interior and entrance are monitored.
- Automatic lighting. The showroom lights are triggered on entry, so you never walk into a dark space.
- Clear emergency exit. All standard fire and emergency routes are signed.
- Bring family, friends or clients. The showroom is family-friendly and accessible. Children are welcome.
HOW TO VISIT THE GROSVENOR FLOORING SMART SHOWROOM
There are two ways to request your access code, and both deliver it instantly:
Option 1 — Walk up and scan. Arrive at 82 Stamford New Road, Altrincham, WA14 1BS. Scan the QR code on the front of the showroom with your phone, complete the short form on the page that opens, and your unique smart-lock code appears in real time. Enter the code and walk in. Total time from arriving outside to being inside is normally under two minutes.
Option 2 — Request online before you travel. Visit the Smart Showroom security code request form from home or work. Submit your details and receive your code immediately, ready to use when you arrive. This is the easier option if you want to be sure of your access before making the journey.
The showroom is a five-minute walk from Altrincham metro and rail station, with on-street parking nearby. If you would prefer to visit during staffed hours and speak to a member of our team, regular opening hours are listed on the Altrincham showroom page.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is this the first Smart Showroom in the UK?
As far as we know, yes. The Smart Showroom is Grosvenor Flooring’s concept and our Altrincham location is the first of its kind in UK flooring retail — the first showroom to combine 24/7 unstaffed access, instant on-the-spot code issuance via QR scan, and a fully merchandised brand display with sample takeaways and pricing on view throughout. If we are wrong about that, we would genuinely like to know.
Is the Smart Showroom really open 24/7?
Yes. The Smart Showroom is accessible any time of day or night, seven days a week, 365 days a year — including bank holidays and Sundays. You need a valid door code requested in advance.
Do I need an appointment?
No. The whole point of the Smart Showroom is that no appointment is required. You request a door code online, receive it by email, and visit when it suits you.
Are staff ever present?
Yes — the showroom has regular staffed hours where our team is on site to answer questions and help you choose. The Smart Showroom system lets you visit outside those hours too, completely independently.
How quickly do I get my door code?
Instantly. Your unique smart-lock door code is generated the moment you submit the access form — whether you scanned the QR code at the door or filled in the form online before you travelled. There is no waiting period and no manual processing step.
Can I really turn up without planning ahead?
Yes. The QR code on the front of the showroom is there specifically so you can request and receive an access code on the spot. From the moment you scan the QR to the moment you walk in is typically under two minutes.
Can I take photos of the samples?
Yes — we encourage it. Photograph any sample, range or display. Most retail discourages photography; we take the opposite view. Many of our customers use photos to compare options at home, share with a partner or designer, or post on social media. If you do post, tagging Grosvenor Flooring is welcomed.
Is the Smart Showroom safe to visit alone?
Yes. The showroom has CCTV throughout, automatic lighting on entry, and a clear emergency exit. Door codes are personal and time-limited. The premises are in a busy area of Altrincham with regular footfall.
Can I bring my family or children?
Absolutely. The Smart Showroom is family-friendly and welcomes children. Many of our customers find it easier to visit at weekends or in the evening when they can bring the whole family.
Can I take samples home?
Yes. Sample boards and individual sample tiles are available to take home for every range on display. There is a sample dispatch desk inside the showroom.
Do I need to be a member of Grosvenor+ to visit?
No. The Smart Showroom is open to anyone who requests a door code — you do not need a Grosvenor+ account. Grosvenor+ is a separate trade programme for landlords, developers, builders, designers and maintenance buyers who want preferential pricing.
Where is the Smart Showroom?
The Grosvenor Flooring Smart Showroom is at 82 Stamford New Road, Altrincham, WA14 1BS — five minutes from Altrincham metro and rail station. Full directions are on the Altrincham showroom page.
Can I see pricing before I visit?
Yes. Our LVT supply & fit pricing guide publishes the same Good/Better/Best fitted prices that are on display in the showroom, organised by brand and range.
GET YOUR SMART SHOWROOM ACCESS CODE
The fastest way to visit is to request your Smart Showroom access code — it takes under two minutes and you will receive your code by email.
If you have a project in mind and want to discuss it before visiting, you can also reach us directly:
Call: 0161 706 0469
WhatsApp: 07535 325966
Email: contact@grosvenor-flooring.com
For supply & fit pricing across every LVT brand on display, see our LVT supply & fit pricing guide. For our full supply and fit service, see Flooring Supply & Fit.
