Totally agree, I hate to see the little shops disappear, it saddened me when a car accessory shop shut but happy when I saw a few weeks later it open again, not sure if its the same person or not? But, the internet takes a lot of trade but not for small things that are not cost effective to post or for very large bulky items like coal, feed etc, the local councils should cut rates on property and give them rental breaks as in the long run they would be better as open shops rather than empty ones. I have been approached buy the local community about a business proposition but its possibly too expensive to fund sadly, and we certainly only have enough in our little pot to buy our own food and heat. Short term leases are also good, our town centres have changed and yes its charity shops and coffee shops but I love those any way!! Like you say, artisan shops cannot cope with all the running costs and the competition of cheaper goods on the internet!!