Thank you all for your responses so far.
From time to time I go to Kittens Secondary Market thread in Mews and tp around to the different lms to see what is out there. I've saved links from some places I liked, but find some of them gone, moved, in a short time.
I do agree with the things that were said about lag. I don't think it's all the boxes since I've been to places that had lots of boxes but less lag. I think it's all the added scripts that cause much of the lag. And I too would only go to favorite shops and sometimes lock up trying to cam around to the point that I just give up.
Love pillows and shacks do seem to sell best. I don't often put a kitty out, but when I have they always sold.
I think that Ivy hit it right. Maybe some ppl don't realize the expense of having a sim. Land in sl is expensive, and you never know exactly how much your rents will bring in each month since some pay a long time in advance, and others week to week. There is also the constant moving of tenants. If a shop doesn't do well enough to at least cover expenses the renters move on. I know one sim owner that was paying most of her tier out of her own pocket.
It does make me sad to see cute little places go though. I love the shop I have now and have been selling well there, but it's half empty and I'm afraid I will have to move yet again.