99designs Launches Localized French-Language Site at 99designs.fr

SAN FRANCISCO & PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--99designs, the largest online graphic design marketplace in the world, today announced it has launched a localized French-language version of its site at 99designs.fr. In addition, the company has hired a Country Manager for France in Paris and will now offer French-language support to its customers in the region. The moves signify important next steps in 99design’s European growth initiatives following its August acquisition of multilingual European creative design marketplace 12designer and September launch of 99designs.de, the company’s first non-English language site.

“France is a critical part of our early European success. We’re pleased to welcome Siham to the team and expect that her leadership and our new service offerings will accelerate our expansion there and in other French-speaking regions of Europe”

“As one of the cornerstone economies of the European Union, France is already an important market for 99designs. One of our key strategic goals this year has been to introduce a French-language site, on-the-ground local leadership and support for the French market,” said 99designs President and CEO Patrick Llewellyn. “We’re very excited this is now a reality. Under the capable leadership of our new country manager in Paris, Siham Belouadheh, we are well positioned to learn, adapt and aggressively grow our services in France.”

Belouadheh joins 99designs with experience in public relations, business development and marketing management; most recently she led marketing and business development activities for Kaplan in France and Belgium. As country manager for France, she will oversee 99design’s French expansion from Paris and be tasked with growing awareness and adoption of the design marketplace among French designers, business owners, and local technology entrepreneurs and startup communities.

“France is a critical part of our early European success. We’re pleased to welcome Siham to the team and expect that her leadership and our new service offerings will accelerate our expansion there and in other French-speaking regions of Europe,” said Eva Missling, 99designs’ General Manager of Europe and founder of 12designer, with whom Belouadheh will work closely. “The launch of 99designs.fr will allow French customers to run contests more efficiently and effectively, and will encourage more skilled French graphic designers to participate on our platform.”

99designs has hosted more than 175,000 graphic design contests for small businesses, startups and other organizations around the world since its founding in 2008. In the same period, the company has paid out more than $43 million to its community of 190,000 graphic designers from around the world. European customers currently account for more than 15 percent of design contests on 99designs.

About 99designs

99designs is the world's largest online graphic design marketplace, connecting businesses looking for design work with more than 190,000 graphic designers from 192 countries around the world. Businesses can source graphic design work quickly and affordably by launching design contests to the community, working 1-on-1 with individual designers, or purchasing design templates from 99designs' readymade logo store. The company was co-founded by serial entrepreneurs Mark Harbottle and Matt Mickiewicz (SitePoint, Flippa), and is backed by Accel Partners and angel investors Michael Dearing (eBay, Harrison Metal), Dave Goldberg (Survey Monkey), Stewart Butterfield (Flickr, Tiny Speck) and Anthony Casalena (Squarespace). To learn more about 99designs, including where the company is hiring, visit www.99designs.com.