showroomie

Showroomie is an informal term used to describe a consumer who engages in showrooming—visiting physical stores to examine and compare products before purchasing, typically online or from another retailer. The term emphasizes the shopper's behavior rather than a specific product category, and can apply across electronics, furniture, apparel, and automobiles. Because it is informal, its precise meaning can vary by speaker.

Etymology: The word combines showroom with the diminutive -ie suffix, following a pattern seen in other informal coinages (e.g., shopper → shop-). It has appeared in industry commentary, blogs, and social media, but is not a standard entry in major dictionaries as of 2024.

Context and impact: In retail discourse, showroomies are discussed as drivers of price sensitivity and omnichannel strategies. Retailers respond with price matching, loyalty programs, exclusive in-store experiences, and integrated online-to-offline shopping to convert showroom visits into purchases at the same retailer. The practice is shaped by factors such as product category, price points, and perceived convenience.

Variations and critique: Some argue showrooming benefits savvy consumers by increasing price transparency, while others criticize it as undermining brick-and-mortar stores. The term showroomie may be used interchangeably with showroom shopper or showroomer; differences depend on regional usage.

See also: Showrooming; Retail consumer behavior; Omnichannel retail.