Since Prestashop version 1.5, it has been possible to create and manage more than one store from a single interface. If you have several niches or would like to have more than one store, to segment your products for different markets for example, the Prestashop Multiboutique option lets you do just that. Find out about the advantages of this option, how to install it and how to manage your different stores.
Why opt for Prestashop’s multi-boutique mode?
Different geographical targets
Multi-boutique allows you to create a store for each region or country, with specific currencies and languages.
Segmented markets
When a company wants to appeal to very different customer segments, multi-boutique helps to adapt the catalog and design to each audience.
Multi-brand management
This feature can be used to manage multiple brands under one roof, with full customization of branding and navigation per store.
Some examples of real-life cases
For a cosmetics company
Separate stores are set up for the organic and conventional product ranges, each with its own design and catalog.
For international sales
A clothing company deploys boutiques by continent, adapted to local currencies and styles.
Prestashop multi-store advantages
A single interface for different stores
The Prestashop multi-shop option makes it easy to manage your different stores. Without it, you’d be navigating from one interface to another, logging in, logging out and logging back in to manage each store. The advantage is that you can manage several online stores from a single interface. What’s more, multi-shop functionality centralizes management actions while allowing total differentiation. You can create a store with a unique design for each product group, share or separate customers, orders and even categories according to the specific needs of each market.
Time-saving
When everything is managed from a single back-office, you save time, especially on inventory management and order processing. Since different stores can share several functionalities, you save two to three times more management time.
Customized SEO for every store
SEO optimization is an important benefit of multi-boutique. Each store can have its own URL and SEO parameters, maximizing search engine visibility. This shop-by-shop customization offers better indexing for each store, based on keywords or local themes.
NB: if you have a single store, but would like it to be available in several languages or currencies, you don’t need to activate the Multiboutique option.
Installing a Prestashop Multiboutique
Activate option
All versions of Prestashop from 1.5 onwards feature theMultiboutique option, which you simply need to activate. To activate Multiboutique in Prestashop 1.6:
- Go to “Preferences”.
- Go to “General”.
- Activate the Multiboutique option.
- Record.
To set up multiple store management on Prestashop 1.7 :
- Go to “Shop settings”.
- Then “General settings”.
- Activate the Multiboutique option.
- Record.
The steps following activation are the same for Prestashop versions 1.6 and 1.7.
Add a store group
Add your different stores to a group to facilitate their management. To do this, go to “Advanced settings”, then “Multi-shop” and “Add a new store group”.
NB: once you activate the sharing of customers and orders between your stores, this option can no longer be deactivated.
Creation of a new store
To create a new store, click on the “Add a new store” option in the top right-hand corner. Name your store and associate it with a group. Define a root category. Each store can have its own home page and specific categories. You can configure the rest of your new store later: theme, categories, data import, URL, etc.
Find out more about installing Prestashop’s multistore mode
If you’d like to know more about Prestashop’s multi-boutique mode, take a look at this video.
Managing a Prestashop Multistore
The interface
Your interface, which is dedicated to Multiboutique mode, is divided into three categories.
- On the left, the “multistore tree” shows you an overview of your stores with their web addresses.
- On the right, you have the multi-boutique group, which lists all your boutiques. You can modify these stores by clicking on “Edit”.
- Finally, under the Multi-shop group, you have the “Multi-shop options”. Set a default store from which you will manage all your other stores. It’s this default store that appears when you’re logged in.
Store management
A selector at the top of your screen lets you choose which store to modify: a single store, a group or all stores. You can customize each of these options, as they are filled in automatically and globally. Some options, such as categories, taxation, declinations, prices, etc., are applicable to all stores. Other options must be modified one by one for each store: promotion, basket settings, country restrictions, image carousels, etc. Note that you can also put a store under maintenance without affecting the others that are online.
Prestashop multistore FAQ
Is it possible to manage orders independently for each store?
Yes, each store can have independent ordering systems, allowing you to adapt the process to suit local conditions.
Can I apply different prices to different stores?
Yes, PrestaShop allows separate price management for each store, useful for adjustments linked to market differences.
Are products automatically shared between stores?
No, this is an option you define at the time of creation. Each store can have specific products or share common items.
To conclude on Prestashop’s multi-store concept
Once you’ve set up your Prestashop Multiboutique, you can easily manage and customize your different stores. For all your e-commerce configuration needs, don’t hesitate to call on me. As a Prestashop developer since 2008, I’d be delighted to help you with your web project.
