A Prestashop redesign involves modifying the visual appearance and design of your online store without changing its technical structure or migrating to a new version. This approach allows you to modernize your e-commerce site, enhance user experience, and boost conversions while keeping all existing data and configurations intact.
Unlike a migration that involves changing versions or platforms, a Prestashop redesign focuses solely on your site’s visual aspects. This represents a more measured investment to refresh your store’s appearance.
Redesign vs migration: what’s the difference?
Understanding this distinction is crucial before starting your project. A Prestashop migration involves moving from one version to another, often requiring significant technical modifications and potential data loss. This process typically requires an experienced developer’s intervention.
Conversely, a Prestashop redesign preserves your current installation while changing only the theme and visual elements. Your products, orders, customers, and settings remain untouched. This approach presents fewer risks and allows easier rollback if needed.
3 proven approaches for your Prestashop redesign
You have three main strategies to modernize your store’s appearance. Each offers specific advantages depending on your budget, skills, and business objectives.
Keeping Prestashop’s default theme
This approach involves customizing the Classic theme provided by default with Prestashop. While less spectacular, this method has proven successful for many e-merchants who prioritize content and SEO over design.
Starting with an existing premium template
The market offers thousands of Prestashop themes, but only a handful deliver truly professional quality. This solution represents a good compromise between investment and final result.
After selecting a quality premium template, you can customize it to match your visual identity. This approach allows you to achieve a modern design without starting from scratch while maintaining a controlled budget for your Prestashop redesign.
Creating a completely custom theme
This option represents the highest investment but guarantees a unique store that meets your exact expectations. Custom development allows integrating all your business specificities and creating an optimized user experience.
Although more expensive, this approach proves particularly relevant for e-merchants with specific needs or those wanting to strongly differentiate from competitors.
When to consider redesigning your online store?
Several signals should alert you to the need for a redesign. An aging design hurts your credibility and can drive visitors to competitors. Therefore, if your theme is over 3 years old, it’s probably time to modernize it.
Other indicators include declining conversion rates, negative customer feedback about usability, or poor mobile adaptation. A well-planned Prestashop redesign can solve these issues and revitalize your business.
Finally, your product range evolution may require presentation adaptation. Thus, if you’ve developed new categories or services, your current design might no longer suit your offering.
Business benefits of a successful redesign
A successful Prestashop redesign directly impacts your commercial results. Improved user experience typically translates into increased conversion rates and average order value.
Modern, professional design also strengthens your credibility with visitors. This increased trust facilitates prospect-to-customer conversion, especially for high-value purchases.
Additionally, a redesign can improve your natural SEO if accompanied by technical optimizations. However, the primary goal remains improving customer experience to grow your revenue long-term.