How to Create a Private Shop in PrestaShop: A Step-by-Step Setup Guide for 2025

Customers crave access to what not everyone can have: private deals, early-access products, or VIP-only lines. For retailers, that exclusivity means increased loyalty, more control over pricing, and enhanced brand perception.

The PrestaShop Private Shop set up enables all this and more by enabling you to restrict access to selected parts of your store, conduct private sales, and show personalized login or registration pages. 

Whether you’re running a high-fashion label, a wholesale B2B store, or a seasonal boutique, a password shop gives you the means to safely and methodically communicate with those most valuable clients.

This guide covers all details related to making a private shop on PrestaShop for installation, configuration, front-end display, and troubleshooting. By the end, you’ll be able to display a private offers section that will fully transform your store’s engagement and sales. So, without further ado, let’s get started.

Prerequisites To Know Before Installation

Before we get into the details of how to enable Private shop on your Prestashop store, ensure that your setting is set up for installation.

PrestaShop Version Compatibility

The last module update works with PrestaShop 1.6. x to 9" and you will ensure improved protection, faster management, and smoother module installation.

Suppose you’re updating from an older website. First, back up your store and database. And the module will make sure it auto-detects your version and config accordingly.

Module Installation Requirements

You need the following to install this module:

• Have access to the back office of your PrestaShop.
• A working knowledge of PrestaShop’s Module Manager.

That’s it: no coding knowledge required. The module is installed in minutes, and you can see it right there in your dashboard after activation.

Step-by-Step Instructions

How to Set up Your First Private Sale or Members-Only Area. You can start creating a private sale or restricted area within minutes. Here is how you can set up your PrestaShop Private Shop module and display it on the front end.

Step 1: Install the Module and Navigate to the Admin Tab

• Go to fmemodules.com website and search for the private shop module and download it.
• Now, Log in to your PrestaShop Admin Panel.
• Go to Modules → Module Manager → New, Upload a module.
• Click “Select File” and upload the ZIP file of the module you have downloaded.
• After you install it, find Private Shop in your module list and click Configure.

A new Private Shop tab appears in your dashboard menu. This is where you will handle all restricted content, private sales, and access settings.

Step 2: Create a New Private Sale Listing

• Your first private sale/private catalog can be created from the modules admin interface.
• Visit Private Shop → Add New Sale.
• Type in a Sale Name (e.g., “Summer VIP Sale” or “Wholesale Partner Access”).

Here you can create a short description to go on the sale listing page. Keep it short and focus on the benefits.

• Add a Featured Image or banner to represent the sale visually.
• Categorize for private events (e.g., "VIP Sales", or a certain company client).
• Assign Start and End Dates to control the visibility automatically.

When saved, your listing will show in the table in the admin area, where you can configure and display it on the front end.

Step 3: Configure Module Settings

The options page will let you customize how your private shop should behave and be styled on your website.

Block Heading and Layout

Choose a Block Heading, like “Private Sales” or “Member-Only Offers”, that will sit above the private sales section on your store home page/sidebar.

Layout settings enable you to organize items in a grid, list, or carousel that reflects the structure of your theme.

Visibility for Non-Logged-In Users

Choose what guests see before they sign in:

• Hide Completely: Visitors can not browse the private pages.
• Show Teasets: Showcase sale pictures or limits with a “Login to Access” key.
• Teasers often do better for marketing as they pique interest and nudge sign-up.

Access Rules

Assign customer groups allowed to see each sale (“VIP Members,” “Wholesalers, “Distributors”). You can also automatically approve certain groups or require manual admin confirmation for new signups.

Once saved, these settings are immediately applied to your store.

Step 4: Display on Frontend.

With your private sale set up, now it’s time to promote it so that you can get the right people on your offer.

Sidebar Display

Utilise the built-in hook in your theme to show a Private Sales block in a sidebar. This is fine for returning members who recognize where to search for the new offers.

Steps:

• Go to Design → Positions.
• Locate the “displayLeftColumn” hook.
• Add the Private Shop to it and save.

The block in the sidebar should now update automatically when sales are beginning/ending.

Home Page Display

If you really want to increase visibility, post the private sale section directly on your homepage.

• Go to Modules → Positions and click on any hook.
• Include the module in the “displayHome” hook.

Here, you save and refresh the front-end view.

The front page will now list the latest or active private sales. Depending on your setup, guests will either be shown a teaser or a login prompt.

Not only does this positioning leverage exclusivity, but it also drives higher registration rates, as visitors are directed towards registrations.

Additional Tips

• Use the Product Labels to Show Private Offers
• Combine the PrestaShop Product Labels module to include banners such as “Members Only” or “Exclusive” on private items. They call the reader's eye and speak all their own value.

You can also color-code tags by access level, gold for VIPs, silver for wholesalers, etc., to make navigation easier.

Increase Leads with An Optimized Home Page

Putting the section up near banners or slideshow promotions is great for visibility. Infuse a newsletter signup or CTA button leading customers to sign up for exclusive access.

For Example:

Become a member of our Private Club and be the first to shop exclusive collections.

This delicate blend of exclusivity and urgency is how you're able to grow your memberships naturally.

Regularly Update Sales Listings

Keep your private section dynamic. Rotate offers, banners, and descriptions every two to three weeks. Regular updates show that your members-only sales are live and without precedent.

Troubleshooting the Common Problems while Using the Private Sales Module

Despite a user-friendly interface, minor installation mistakes are still possible. Some quick fixes for common problems.

Problem 1: The Private Sales Block Doesn’t Show Up

If you can’t see the module block on the front end, check if it is properly hooked to your theme.

Navigate to Design: Positions and search for “displayHome” and also “displayLeftColumn”, then make sure you have assigned the Private Shop module there and it is active.

Problem 2: Visitors Can See Restricted Pages

When testing in a browser, clear cookies or browse in private mode to see the restrictions applied correctly.

Problem 3: Images Are Not Showing Up Correctly

Please upload images in optimal formats (JPEG or WebP) and check if your theme provides options for the selected image size. Invalid or unsupported files can break the layout.

Problem 4: Incompatibility with Other Modules

If you have a third-party app to customize, please temporarily disable it and check if the issue still happens. Modules that also change the homepage (sliders, product carousels, etc) could and will cover each other's display hooks.

Take Away

Prestashop private shop is an e-commerce necessity in 2025 as it allows Prestashop merchants to manage access, secure special deals, and reward loyal customers with access that's staff-only & exclusive.

Hopefully, you have learned how to:

• Install and configure the module.
• Post private sales with descriptions and schedule.
• Increase the exposure; you might consider showing your offers on the home page or sidebar.
• Solve your setup for the performance hangs issue.
• Check out our Ultimate Resource for things like recurring membership levels, access based on subscriptions, and the ability to brand your site in a different language.