1. Install Charlie on your dev store
Open your development store’s Shopify Admin and install Charlie from the App Store.Get Charlie on Shopify App Store
Install Charlie
Approve permissions
Charlie requests access to your locations, inventory, and order routing settings. Approve the permissions to continue.
Automatic plan detection
Charlie automatically detects that you’re on a development store and applies a Developer plan at no cost. You won’t be charged.
2. Configure Charlie
Set up Charlie the same way you plan to on your live store. Your dev store is completely separate, so there’s no risk of affecting real orders.| What to configure | Where |
|---|---|
| Locations | Enable each location that should be eligible for fulfillment |
| Capacity | Set daily order limits per location |
| Safety stock | Define inventory buffers per location |
| Fulfillment constraints | Block specific products, customers, or carts from certain locations |
| Routing rules | Set your prioritization logic — closest location, most stock, warehouse-first, etc. |
Not sure where to start? Read Build your routing strategy before configuring rules.
3. Place test orders
Once Charlie is configured, place orders on your dev store as if you were a customer. Use a test payment method to avoid any charges. After each order, check two things:- Shopify Admin → Orders — confirm the order was assigned to the location you expected
- Charlie dashboard — confirm the routing decision matches your rules
Scenarios to test
Before testing, write down what you expect to happen for each scenario. Then place the order and compare.| Scenario | What to check |
|---|---|
| Multiple locations have stock | Which location was selected — does it match your priority rules? |
| One location is at capacity | Did the order go to the next eligible location? |
| Stock is at or below the safety stock threshold | Was that location excluded from the order? |
| A fulfillment constraint applies | Was the constrained location correctly blocked? |
Related
Installation
Install Charlie on your live store
Build your routing strategy
Key decisions before configuring routing
Capacity
Set daily order limits per location
Safety stock
Protect inventory across your network