While the showroom concept wasn't new in 2017, the idea has been gaining traction with bigger retailers.
Trendy menswear brand Bonobos, which Walmart bought for $310 million in June, has 38 so-called "Guideshops" where customers can try on clothes to make sure they fit well. These items are then ordered in-store and shipped directly to customers. The unique system means that Bonobos doesn't need to stock any inventory in its stores.
The concept has been replicated by other popular brands geared towards millennials, like Everlane and Warby Parker.