To Retail or Not to Retail

I once had a shop on Elm Street in Montpelier. It was lovely and filled with my pastries. We've since moved on and away, to a place where I bake professionally, write about baking but all tucked from the madding and public crowds.
However, life is a little constrained when you limit yourself to internet sales, especially when locals and visitors just want to sample the wares. If you're right in the neighborhood, why spend money on shipping? And when shipping around the rural corner costs ...