99designs Pty Ltd. announced it has launched a localized French-language version of its site at 99designs.fr. The company 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 has hired a Country Manager for France in Paris. 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.

99designs Pty Ltd. launched a localized German-language version of its site at 99designs.de. The site is 99designs' first non-English language offering and comes one month after its acquisition of German creative design marketplace 12designer and the establishment of its European headquarters in Berlin. The company's European headquarters in Berlin will provide support in German to both customers and designers via phone, chat and email. 99designs has hosted more than 160,000 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 $40 million to its community of 180,000 graphic designers around the world. In conjunction with the introduction of its German site, 99designs announced it has signed its first business partnership in Germany with the establishment of a strategic agreement with Jimdo, the Hamburg-based global free-website builder that has helped users create more than six million websites in 11 languages. The companies have agreed to cross-promote their complementary services and develop further integrations in the coming year to enable small businesses to launch custom-designed websites quickly and cost-effectively.

99designs Pty Ltd. announced it has launched into the UK at 99designs.co.uk and begun hiring staff locally as part of its strategic international growth plan. The UK will be the company's launch pad for its European expansion. The UK is among 99designs' fastest-growing major markets -- the company has increased its monthly UK design contests 120% year over year, and expects accelerated growth as it ramps marketing and local outreach activities.