Re: Anyone know what affects what items stores have in shops?
Some shops just won't have certain items. For example, neither of the clothing shops in Bowerstone Market will ever have highwayman stuff (except for the mask) or bandit stuff unless you sell it to them. And different blacksmiths sell different kinds of weapons. However, to upgrade the weapons they sell (for example, to get them to start selling master weapons instead of just steel), you have to progress through the main story.
If there's a certain item you want, but you don't know which shop sells it, you could always just ask here. Or, if you know where to get this item, but the shop doesn't have it when you check it, they might have it the next time they restock. Just sleep for seven days and check again.