Has Wal-Mart lost its edge?

NEW YORK - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is facing a new reality: Its customers want more than just the lowest price.

The world’s largest retailer, which only a few years ago could do no wrong, is experiencing the kind of problems that have beset weaker rivals like Kmart: cluttered stores, merchandise that puts off shoppers and poor service.

Meanwhile, Target Corp., while about six times smaller than Wal-Mart, is setting a new standard for discount retailing.

Wal-Mart’s sales growth has sagged, partly because the Bentonville, Ark., retailer, while still a low-price leader, doesn’t have products that attract today’s shoppers — particularly in apparel, home furnishings and consumer electronics. It also has a problem with slow checkout service, and its stores look uninspiring.

Target, however, keeps sharpening its appeal to a higher-income customer with affordable fashions and home merchandise from designers including Cynthia Rowley and Isaac Mizrahi.

Its stores boast a colorful assortment of merchandise that focus on the must-haves of the season — this spring, consumers will find such items as turquoise moccasins, slim lace tunics and metallic sandals. Its service at the checkout is speedy, according to analysts.

Howard Davidowitz, chairman of Davidowitz & Associates, a retail consulting and investment banking firm, joined other analysts in saying that rising gasoline prices and job uncertainty have hurt Wal-Mart, prompting lower-income shoppers to spend less at stores.

But, he said, “for the past six months they have dropped the ball. The fact is that Wal-Mart has failed to execute as well as they have always done.”

Said Bob Buchanan, a retail analyst with St. Louis-based A.G. Edwards: “Wal-Mart is not as crisp in their execution as they have been. Target continues to do a lot better in merchandising.”

He also said “morale is not as high as it has been” at Wal-Mart, which has had to defend its business practices from criticism by unions and community activist groups; they contend the retailer takes advantage of workers and hampers competition.

It also has defended itself in highly publicized lawsuits. Wal-Mart recently said it would pay a fine to settle federal charges that underage workers operated dangerous machinery, and it agreed to pay $11 million to settle charges that its cleaning contractors hired illegal aliens. Meanwhile, it faces a class-action lawsuit by female employees who say Wal-Mart discriminated against them because of their sex.

Within its stores, Wal-Mart is already taking steps to stock better quality and trendier merchandise and to make housekeeping changes. But Mr. Davidowitz said it will take until at least the fourth quarter to see improved business, given its size.

The effect of the differing shopping experiences at Wal-Mart and Target was evident in financial results released last week.

Wal-Mart, which generated sales of $285 billion last year, said first-quarter profits, while up a robust 14 percent, fell short of Wall Street expectations and that it will miss analysts’ forecasts for the current quarter. The company also said it will be difficult to meet its annual profit goal.

Target, with sales of $46.8 billion last year, had first-quarter results that exceeded expectations and offered an upbeat outlook.

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