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Bid management software-maker SearchForce has launched its “Cross-Channel Marketing Tracker” platform, a tool that agencies and brands can use to monitor online campaigns and conversions across numerous media. Dhiren DSouza, president of SearchForce, said that the tool allows clients to cut down on the number of tools they use to track media. “In general, there’s a lack of a centralized reporting system for marketers. Most agencies use multiple solutions to get that information, and when they do, it takes time to consolidate it because they’re using different solutions. This helps consolidate those efforts,” said DSouza. Read the full article

The home improvement giant said fiscal Q3 profit fell a smaller-than-expected 8.9% as lower expenses offset continued weak demand for home-improvement products. Sales at comparable stores, while again outpacing smaller rival Lowe’s Cos. in the latest period, decelerated from the second quarter. “There is still a great deal of pressure in the housing and home improvement markets, though there are some positive signs of stabilization,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Frank Blake. Home Depot reported earnings of $689 million, down from $756 million a year earlier. Revenue fell 8% to $16.36 billion as same-store sales dropped 6.9%. Read the full article

The Commerce Department said total retail sales jumped 1.4% in October, compared with September’s revised decline of 2.3%. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had anticipated that October sales would grow 0.9%. With Black Friday less than two weeks away, retailers were hoping the report would show consumers signaling a willingness to spend during the all-important holiday sales period. Consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of U.S. economic activity and this data is closely watched to determine whether a recovery is underway. With unemployment at a 26-year high of 10.2%, consumers have been cash-strapped for some time. But with overall retail sales improving, one analyst said the holiday shopping season may come in stronger than expected. Read the full article

According to BDO Seidman, LLP, one of the nation’s leading accounting and consulting organizations, chief marketing officers at leading U.S. retailers expect both “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” sales to grow 1.8 percent this holiday season. When asked which product category will perform the strongest this holiday season, most of the CMOs cite toys. Meanwhile, the majority (96%) of retailers say they will increase promotions and discounts this year. When asked which in-store tactic they will be focusing on most heavily for the season, most CMOs (43%) cite special events. More than half (55%) of retailers planning online campaigns will depend on email promotions to boost holiday sales. When it comes to which product category will see the most discounts this year, more than a third (37%) say consumer electronics. Read the full article

One of the most important ways marketers can differentiate their offerings in today’s unique selling environment is by creating a remarkable customer experience. One step toward achieving this goal is to ensure they have a single database that is tightly integrated with their CRM system to capture inbound and outbound dialogue and create a multidimensional marketing view of the customer. However, marketers face some hurdles as the inbound and outbound dialogue between brands and their customers gets increasingly diluted and difficult to control. With so many more relationship channels (online/offline, traditional/emerging) that require personalization, it’s increasingly difficult for marketers to manage them. Read the full article at Electronic Commerce Time

The home improvement chain’s Q3 profit fell 30% as consumers remained reluctant to open their wallets for home improvements amid the weakened economy. Chairman and CEO Robert Niblock said he believes Lowe’s will capture additional market share as the economy and housing market “continue through the bottoming and recovery process.” Lowe’s reported earnings of $344 million, down from $488 million a year earlier. Revenue fell 3% to $11.4 billion as same-store sales declined 7.5%, which was a slight improvement over the second-quarter’s 9.5% decline. Read the full article

The TV and online retailer posted flat total web sales in the Q3 and continues to struggle with its Cornerstone business. Total web sales increased 0.7% to $238.2 million from $236.6 million in the prior year while total sales declined 4.6% to $641.2 million from $672.3 million in the third quarter of 2008. However, the web accounted for 37.1% of total sales in Q3 of 2009 compared with 35.2% in the previous-year quarter. “At HSN, sales momentum continued to build as the quarter progressed,” says CEO Mindy Grossman. “And 10 years after the launch of HSN.com, we now have one of the most video-pervasive sites in e-commerce.” Read the full article

After months of declining web sales, e-commerce revenue ticked upward for specialty apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co. in the third quarter. Web sales increased 11.1% to $63.9 million from $57.5 million. Increased international sales were a contributing factor. Total revenue declined 14.6% to $765.4 million from $896.3 million. Comparable-store sales declined 22%. The web accounted for 8.3% of total sales compared with 6.4% in the prior year. Read the full article

RichRelevance and Zugara today unveiled Fashionista, a new social shopping application that marries the benefits of the fitting room with the convenience of online shopping and the power of the social web. Launching in time for the holidays and available today on fashion site Tobi.com, Fashionista brings together three hot technologies - augmented reality, motion capture, and real-time personalization - to create a more social and intuitive way to shop for clothes on the web. Through Fashionista, shoppers can now virtually try on clothing and get instant feedback from through Facebook from friends on what works and what they should buy. Read the full article

More than half (53%) of retailers’ 2009 holiday advertising budgets are staying at the same level as last year, while 41% of retailers are seeing their ad spending allowances increase, according to analysis by Google. Sandra Heikkinen, a spokesperson for Google noted that e-commerce, a bright spot in last year’s holiday shopping picture, will again shine in 2009. Two-thirds of retailers expect online sales to increase over the 2008 holiday shopping season, while just 12% expect sales to decrease vs. last year. Read the full article at DM News