How to Hide Specific Categories for Different Customer Groups in PrestaShop

Managing product visibility is crucial for an efficient PrestaShop store. Sometimes, you may want to restrict certain categories for specific customer groups, such as wholesalers, VIP customers, or regular buyers. The best way to achieve this is by using the PrestaShop Restrict Product by Customer Groups Module.

This module allows store owners to control product and category visibility based on customer groups. Whether you want to limit access to exclusive products or hide certain categories for unregistered users, this module provides a simple and effective solution.

Why Restrict Categories in PrestaShop?

Using the PrestaShop Restrict Product by Customer Groups Module has many benefits, including:

✔ Better control over product access for different customers.
✔ Offering exclusive products to VIP members or wholesalers.
✔ Improving customer experience by showing relevant products.
✔ Avoiding unnecessary product visibility for restricted users.

By setting up category restrictions, you ensure that only the right customers see specific products, improving both user experience and sales strategy.

How to Hide Specific Categories Using the PrestaShop Restrict Product by Customer Groups Module

To hide categories for different customer groups, follow these steps:

Step 1: Install the PrestaShop Restrict Product by Customer Groups Module

1. Log in to your PrestaShop admin panel.
2. Go to “Modules” > “Module Manager”.
3. Search for "PrestaShop Restrict Product by Customer Groups Module".
4. Click “Install” and wait for the installation to complete.
5. Activate the module to start restricting categories.

Once installed, you can set rules for different customer groups and control who can access specific categories.

Step 2: Define Customer Groups

Before restricting categories, make sure you have customer groups set up:

1. Go to “Customers” > “Groups” in the admin panel.
2. Click “Add New Group” to create custom groups like:
   • Retail Customers
   • Wholesale Buyers
   • VIP Members
3. Assign customers to these groups based on their purchase type.

With proper customer grouping, you can now restrict categories effectively.

Step 3: Select Categories to Restrict

Once customer groups are created, you can hide specific categories for them:

1. Go to the “Modules” section and open the PrestaShop Restrict Product by Customer Groups Module.
2. Find the category restriction settings.
3. Select the categories you want to restrict (e.g., Wholesale products, Exclusive deals).
4. Choose which customer groups should be restricted.

For example, you can hide premium categories from general customers while making them visible only to VIP members.

Step 4: Configure Access Rules

After selecting categories, you need to set the access rules:

✔ Completely hide restricted categories for blocked customer groups.
✔ Show a "Login to View" message for unregistered users.
✔ Redirect restricted users to a different page.

This step ensures that restricted categories remain invisible to unauthorized customers.

Step 5: Test the Category Restrictions

Before making the changes live, test the settings:

1. Log in with different customer accounts (retail, wholesale, guest).
2. Check if the restricted categories are hidden for unauthorized users.
3. Ensure the right customers can access the correct categories.

If the restrictions work properly, you can save the settings and apply them to your live store.

Advanced Features of the PrestaShop Restrict Product by Customer Groups Module

The PrestaShop Restrict Product by Customer Groups Module comes with extra features to enhance product visibility control:

✔ Restrict entire categories or individual products.
✔ Control visibility based on user roles (e.g., wholesalers, retailers).
✔ Set time-based restrictions for seasonal products.
✔ Display custom messages for restricted products.
✔ Improve store organization and customer targeting.

With these advanced settings, you can manage your store more effectively and offer exclusive access to different customers.

Benefits of Using the PrestaShop Restrict Product by Customer Groups Module

By implementing category restrictions, you can:

✔ Create a personalized shopping experience for different customers.
✔ Boost sales by offering exclusive access to high-value customers.
✔ Improve store security by limiting unauthorized product access.
✔ Enhance SEO by preventing duplicate content exposure.

Restricting certain categories helps optimize your store’s performance while ensuring the right customers see the right products.

Common Use Cases for Category Restrictions

The PrestaShop Restrict Product by Customer Groups Module is useful in many scenarios, such as:

✔ Wholesale businesses – Hide bulk pricing categories from retail customers.
✔ VIP memberships – Offer exclusive products to high-value buyers.
✔ B2B Stores – Restrict certain categories for B2C customers.
✔ Regional Restrictions – Hide categories based on geographic location.

These use cases show how category restrictions can be a powerful strategy for managing product visibility.

How to Ensure a Smooth Customer Experience While Restricting Categories?

To keep your store user-friendly while hiding categories, follow these best practices:

✔ Provide clear messages when restricting categories.
✔ Use smart redirects to guide users to available products.
✔ Regularly update customer groups for better accuracy.
✔ Test restrictions before applying them to the live store.

A well-optimized category restriction system enhances user satisfaction and store efficiency.

Final Thoughts

The PrestaShop Restrict Product by Customer Groups Module is a powerful tool for controlling product visibility in your store. By hiding specific categories for different customer groups, you can create a customized shopping experience, increase customer engagement, and boost sales efficiency.

With easy-to-use settings and flexible restrictions, this module helps manage your store more effectively while keeping it organized and professional.