The PrestaShop logo reflects innovation, accessibility, and support, highlighting the brand’s role as a leading platform for creating and managing online stores. The penguin image in the design emphasizes friendliness and reliability, symbolizing the company’s commitment to helping entrepreneurs build successful online businesses. The company provides powerful and flexible e-commerce tools, making it easier for users worldwide to launch and grow online stores.
PrestaShop: Brand overview
Founded in 2007 in the heart of Paris, France, by the visionary duo of Bruno Leveque and Igor Schlumberger, PrestaShop has become a beacon for aspiring retailers looking to make a name for themselves online. This e-commerce toolkit, based on open-source technology, was created to give small businesses the ability to create online stores at no cost.
In the beginning, PrestaShop was mainly focused on the European market, but it didn’t stay there for long. It soon spread worldwide, making it a leading open-source e-commerce platform. From a rudimentary shopping cart mechanism, PrestaShop has evolved into a sophisticated platform replete with multiple themes and add-ons. The platform has undergone a significant metamorphosis, releasing landmark versions such as PrestaShop 1.0 in 2009, 1.5 in 2013, and 1.7 in 2017, each bringing significant technological and functional improvements.
In 2013, PrestaShop joined forces with PayPal to streamline the payment process for a variety of customers. As the platform evolved, it strengthened its position through alliances, providing a more comprehensive set of services. By 2023, the benefits of PrestaShop could be seen in over 300,000 digital storefronts, spread from the busy streets of Europe and America to the diverse worlds of Asia and Africa in 60 languages.
The heart and soul of PrestaShop has always been its open-source ethos. Although PrestaShop offers premium services and add-ons aimed at corporate audiences, its foundation remains consistently free. Still based in Paris, PrestaShop, with CEO Bruno Leveque at the helm, epitomizes the panacea of e-commerce for SMEs worldwide.
Meaning and History
What is PrestaShop?
PrestaShop is a remarkable free and open-source e-commerce platform developed in PHP language that has significantly changed the field of online stores. Over 300,000 active implementations – from small online stores to multinational companies – use PrestaShop to manage their online stores. The platform originated from the pioneering ideas of two scientists, Igor Schlumberger and Bruno Leveque, at the EPITECH School of Information Technology in Paris, France. Originally presented under the name phpOpenStore and available in English and French, it was quickly translated into thirteen languages within three months, confirming PrestaShop’s global appeal.
2007 – today
The PrestaShop logo, despite its cartoonish appearance, carries a serious message. It represents an online platform that sells software under the OSL license. The centerpiece is a playful bird character resembling a puffin with a bright red beak and a wide smile. The character’s head is composed of gray triangles in two shades, black circles, and curved elements, all set against a blue background that resembles a sphere.
Below the character is the brand name, displayed in a blocky font. The name consists of one word but is visually divided by color: “Presta” is colored plum, while “Shop” is purple. The font is mostly lowercase, giving the logo a friendly and approachable feel.
The character’s smile and bright colors create a sense of friendliness and warmth. The mix of shapes and colors on the puffin’s head resembles a puzzle, subtly suggesting that the software has many facets and capabilities. Using two different colors for “Presta” and “Shop” makes the name easy to read and memorable, highlighting the distinction between two important aspects of the brand.