Howard Davidowitz, chairman of Davidowitz & Associates, a retail consulting and investment firm, says F.A.O. Schwarz needs to find top employees who can sell high-end merchandise.

Some 20 years later, it moved into retail consulting.

Howard Davidowtz, chairman of a Manhattan-based retail consulting and investment banking firm, says the business relies especially heavily on marketing and packaging.

Services, such as radio and press promotion, independent record distribution, video campaigns, internet services, tour merchandise and retail consulting, have earned Mia Mind Music's staff 23 gold and platinum records.

Mr. Donoho will also assist in formulating a strategy for retail consulting and will represent the firm in industry trade association activities.

"H&M appears to be doing a large number of transactions," said Richard B. Hodos, the president of HGCD Retail Service, a retail consulting and brokerage firm.

Additionally, retailers are "more selective in where they will go," said Ted Kraus, who heads a retail consulting and publishing firm in Mercerville.

"Food would be a very important component there," said Howard Davidowitz, chairman of Davidowitz & Associates, a retail consulting and investment banking firm based in New York.

Walter F. Loeb, president of Loeb Associates Inc., a retail consulting and research company, said: "Everyone knew it was coming.

"Bradlees has been rudderless for the last three years," said Walter F. Loeb, president of Loeb Associates Inc., a retail consulting and research firm.