In today’s world, having an online presence for your business is a must. As a brick-and-mortar business owner, you may already have a website, but it’s time to take it one step further and create an online store. PrestaShop is an excellent platform to get started with. This article will provide you a step by step guide on how to build a PrestaShop store for your brick-and-mortar business.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Choose a Hosting Plan
The first thing you need to do is choose a hosting plan for your PrestaShop store. You can go with PrestaShop’s recommended hosting partners or choose a hosting provider of your own. The hosting plan should meet the PrestaShop requirements, which is a PHP version of 7.1 or higher.
Step 2: Download and Install PrestaShop
Once you have chosen a hosting plan for your store, it’s time to download and install PrestaShop. Head over to the PrestaShop website, and download the latest version of PrestaShop. Once the download is complete, you can install the software using the hosting provider’s control panel.
Step 3: Select a Theme
The next step is to choose a theme for your PrestaShop store. You can select one from the 2,500+ free and paid themes available in the PrestaShop marketplace. Choose a theme that suits your business and complements your brick-and-mortar store.
Step 4: Customize the Theme
After selecting a theme, you need to customize it to give your store a unique touch. You can customize the colors, fonts, layout, and more. Make sure it matches your brand image and highlights the best features of your brick-and-mortar store.
Step 5: Install and Configure Modules
PrestaShop offers a vast range of modules to add extra functionalities to your online store. You can install modules for payment gateways, shipping, marketing, and more. Configure the modules according to your business needs to enhance your customers’ shopping experience.
Step 6: Add Products
Next, it’s time to add products to your PrestaShop store. You can add them manually, import them from a CSV file, or integrate with third-party platforms like Amazon or eBay. Make sure you add complete product descriptions and images to attract customers.
Step 7: Set Up Payment Gateways
Once you have added products to your store, it’s essential to set up payment gateways to allow your customers to pay for their purchases easily. PrestaShop supports a wide range of payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net. Choose the ones that suit your business and customers.
Step 8: Set Up Shipping
After payment gateways, you need to set up shipping options. You can set up flat or calculated shipping rates and offer free shipping for specific products or purchase amounts. Choose the options that suit your business and customers’ needs.
Step 9: Test Your Store
Once you have completed all the setup, it’s time to test your PrestaShop store before going live. Purchase a product and test the checkout process, payment, and shipping options to ensure everything is working correctly.
Step 10: Go Live
After testing your store, you can finally go live and start selling your products online. Promote your store on social media and other online channels to attract customers and boost sales.
Conclusion
Building a PrestaShop store for your brick-and-mortar business is not as complicated as you might think. Follow our step by step guide to create an excellent online store that complements your physical store and enhances your customers’ shopping experience. With PrestaShop, you can take your business to the next level and reach a wider audience.