This, needless to say, does not sound very much like a department store, and some retail specialists say this is probably a good thing.

Then I became a retail specialist, taking care of battery displays and defectives.

But other retail specialists say that a broad selection of merchandise will be the key to long-term improvement in the marketplace.

Historically it has been more difficult to convince people go downward in stores than up, retail specialists say.

Most retail specialists say they expect larger, multilevel stores to replace the single-story shops on the first floor and lower-level concourse.

But more important, some retail specialists say, they offer a better mix of products and better service.

As retail specialists see it, sales momentum will lead to higher earnings and to rising stock prices for selected companies.

Despite the alarm of some people, retail specialists said, the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood is being scouted by more pricey stores.

All retail specialists said the influx of tourists, encouraged in part by the city's improving image, has been a boon for storekeepers by increasing sales.

Despite this growth, retail specialists say that the market is far from saturated.