In today’s mobile-first digital shopping environment, giving customers an easy way to find your physical stores is critical. Whether your business operates multiple locations or you want to boost local foot traffic, a store locator tool integrated within your e-commerce platform can greatly enhance the shopping experience. For PrestaShop store owners, adding a prestashop store locator helps users quickly find the nearest store, check contact details, and get directions—all directly from your website.

This guide provides a straightforward, step-by-step approach to installing, configuring, and optimizing a store locator in PrestaShop. With this setup, you’ll deliver a smooth, mobile-friendly experience for users searching for your physical locations.

Why Use a Store Locator in Your PrestaShop Store?

Before diving into setup, it’s important to understand why a store locator is valuable:

• Enhances Customer Convenience: Mobile users can find locations on the go without switching apps.

• Increases Foot Traffic: Converts online visitors into in-store customers.

• Builds Trust: Shows physical presence and legitimacy.

• Supports Local SEO: Improves visibility for “near me” searches.

• Integrates Seamlessly: Many modules tie directly into PrestaShop’s existing structure.

With over half of all web traffic coming from mobile devices, a responsive store locator plays a crucial role in bridging online and offline shopping.

Step 1: Choose and Purchase a Store Locator Module

PrestaShop does not include a built-in store locator by default. You need to install a third-party module that suits your needs. Some popular options available on the PrestaShop Addons Marketplace include:

• Store Locator with Google Maps

• Advanced Store Locator Module

• Store Finder for PrestaShop

When selecting, check for:

• Mobile responsiveness

• Google Maps integration

• SEO-friendly URL and schema markup support

• Easy store data management and bulk import

• Customizable user interface

Step 2: Install the Store Locator Module

After purchasing or downloading the module:

1. Log in to your PrestaShop back office.

2. Navigate to Modules > Module Manager.

3. Click Upload a Module and select the module’s .zip file.

4. Click Install to add it to your store.

5. Once installed, click Configure to open the module settings.

Step 3: Configure Google Maps API

Most store locator modules rely on Google Maps for geolocation and map display.

To set up:

1. Visit the Google Cloud Console.

2. Create a new project or select an existing one.

3. Enable Maps JavaScript API and Geocoding API.

4. Generate an API key with appropriate restrictions (HTTP referrers recommended).

5. Copy the API key and paste it into the store locator module settings in PrestaShop.

Correct API configuration ensures that maps load properly and geocoding works for address input.

Step 4: Add Store Locations

With the module configured, start adding your physical stores:

• Go to the store locator dashboard within your PrestaShop back office.

• Click Add New Store.

• Enter store details, including:

  • Store Name

  • Full Address

  • City, State, and Postal Code

  • Country

  • Phone Number

  • Opening Hours

  • Latitude and Longitude (if supported, or auto-generated from address)

  • Store Image or Logo (optional)

• Save the entry.

If you have many stores, check if the module supports CSV import for bulk uploading.

Step 5: Customize Front-End Display

Your store locator should blend with your website’s design and provide a user-friendly experience.

Consider customizing:

• Map appearance (zoom level, map type, colors)

• Pin icons to reflect your branding

• Layout options: map only, list only, or map + list

• Search filters (distance radius, city, services)

• Text labels and button styles for mobile usability

Test your changes on desktop and various mobile devices to ensure responsiveness and ease of use.

Step 6: Enable Mobile-Friendly Features

Because the majority of users will access your site on mobile devices, ensure your store locator is optimized for smaller screens:

• Use responsive map layouts that resize automatically

• Enable “Locate Me” functionality to allow GPS-based store searches

• Optimize touch targets (buttons and links) for finger taps

• Compress images and reduce map marker clutter for faster loading

• Use concise descriptions and clear call-to-action buttons

Regularly test using tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to catch any issues.

Step 7: Add the Store Locator to Your Website

To make the store locator accessible:

• Add a dedicated “Store Locator” link in your site’s main navigation or footer

• Embed the locator on the homepage or contact page using shortcodes or widgets provided by the module

• Promote it in your marketing emails or social media channels to increase usage

Easy access improves customer satisfaction and increases the likelihood of store visits.

Step 8: Optimize for SEO and Local Search

Enhance your locator’s impact by following SEO best practices:

• Use clean, descriptive URLs for each store location page (e.g., /store/los-angeles)

• Add structured data markup (LocalBusiness schema) for each store page

• Include unique content on each location page (hours, special offers, directions)

• Encourage customers to leave reviews linked to store pages

• Ensure fast loading speeds and mobile responsiveness

These steps help search engines display your stores in local search results and Google Maps.

Step 9: Maintain and Update Store Information Regularly

Accurate and up-to-date store details are critical:

• Review and update store hours for holidays or special events

• Change contact info if needed

• Add or remove stores as your business grows or changes

• Monitor user feedback for any issues with location accuracy

Keeping information current improves user trust and prevents frustration.

Conclusion

Adding a prestashop store locator to your e-commerce website is an effective way to improve customer experience, boost local SEO, and increase foot traffic to your physical stores. By following this step-by-step guide, you can select, install, configure, and optimize a store locator that works seamlessly on both desktop and mobile devices.

As mobile users continue to dominate online shopping, providing a fast, responsive, and easy-to-use store locator is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Implementing this tool thoughtfully will bridge the online and offline shopping journey, creating better customer satisfaction and business growth.