Anybody ever owned a brick and mortar business?

It seems to me at least in my local community at least, most are still very old school in their way of thinking (pen & paper, very little IT).

For finding suppliers/wholesaler, have they tapped online or is it still very much a word or mouth affairs/direct sales/etc? Knew an old guy he used to own a bricks and mortar business in the 80s and all wholesalers were local, e.g. they came to him.