Build Your First Store

Follow the shortest path from a store idea to a reviewed storefront and publication checks.

What this covers: You will create a store, give Runner a useful request, review the preview, and understand when it is ready to publish.

Use this guide for your first complete Runner workflow. It deliberately separates preview, publication, and checkout so you can verify each result.

Entry path: Workspace Home → + Store.

Before you start

Sign in and open the workspace where the store should live.
Decide whether to use Runner's native store or connect Shopify.
Prepare a short description of what you sell, who it is for, and the style you want.

Control	What happens after you select it
+ Store	Opens Create Store for the current workspace.
Build new	Starts a native Runner store setup after required details are complete.
Connect Shopify	Starts the Shopify connection path; it does not create a native store.
Send	Starts the current Runner request.
Storefront	Opens the current preview and storefront tools; it does not make the store public.
Publish	Opens or starts the publication workflow after the required readiness checks.

Select + Store in the workspace.
Choose Build new or Connect Shopify, enter the required details, and continue.
In the project conversation, describe the business, audience, visual direction, and required pages.
Answer any follow-up questions Runner shows.
Watch the work state and open Details when you need the step-by-step activity view.
Open Storefront after a preview is available.
Check the main page, product path, text, images, and desktop/mobile preview.
Ask for focused changes in chat or use Design Mode for a visible selection.
Add at least one sellable product and complete the store, stock-location, and shipping details Runner requests.
Select Publish and resolve every readiness item shown on screen.

Storefront preview

Checkpoint	What proves it	What it does not prove
Project created	The store appears in the workspace and its conversation opens.	No storefront has been built yet.
Task completed	Runner marks the turn completed and explains the result.	The storefront may still be preparing.
Preview ready	Storefront shows the generated site.	The site is not necessarily public.
Published	Runner provides a live storefront result or URL.	Checkout may still require a payment connection.
Checkout ready	The payment status shows a connected, usable provider.	Future storefront changes are not live until published.

Waiting for input: answer the displayed question or form before expecting more work.
Failed or stopped task: read the result, then send a smaller, corrected request instead of repeating an unchanged one.
Preparing preview: wait for the current build, then refresh the preview if Runner offers it.
Publish blocked: use Open Store Operations, Fix with AI, or Retry check according to the item shown.
Store is live but checkout is unavailable: complete the payment connection shown in the publish handoff or Apps.