Okay, so David has 48 years of experience in the retail industry, which is a long time. He's also the owner of a sales agency, which suggests he has strong business skills. His skills in merchandising, sales, and brand development are also in demand. However, his experience is not in a specific company, but rather as an independent business owner. This might put him at a slightly lower rate than someone with similar experience in a corporate setting. Looking at industry benchmarks, experienced retail executives with similar skills can earn around $100-$200 per hour. Considering David's long tenure and business acumen, I'd estimate his hourly rate to be around $125.