Wal-Mart Effort To Move Up-Scale Has PR Pitfalls - 02/21/07

By Doug Cunningham

Wal-Mart is trying to attract more upper-income customers, but according to a study done by the SEIU backed Wal-Mart Watch, consumers with household incomes of $60,000 or more are more likely to have significant concerns about Wal-Mart’s business and labor practices. According to a Wal-Mart Watch survey 58 percent of those households have a negative view of Wal-Mart and am majority say Wal-Mart gives workers poor benefits. Wal-Mart Watch says for the giant retailer to reach upper-income customers it will have to change its business practices.