Small retailers such as Greetings & Readings, which operates just one store, have increasingly felt the pinch of manufacturers selling directly to consumers via their own websites or or through Amazon, often offering free shipping and special discounts. Even larger retailers haven’t been immune to shifts in the way people shop. Chains such as Sports Authority and Toys R Us have gone out of business while Sears, Kmart, Mattress Firm, Foot Locker and Gap Inc. are among retailers closing under-performing stores.