Traditionally an online store is one open in a market place where people use to go and shop on their physical place. From owner's point of view they have to buy or rent the place. Depending on the market place it may cost less or very high but its a major cost on owner's part.

With un-natural rise of gas prices and sub-sequent inflation of daily used products, though it might not effected rich men but mediocre is.
A statistics tells that online sales are increased with increase in gas prices. The reason is you don't need to drive to buy an item. and so you save money by ordering it at home.