Technology

Beauty retailer Sephora has launched Sephora University Beauty Classes, a new program designed to help beauty lovers of all ages and abilities master everything from building a skin care routine to creating the perfect smoky eye. Now available in more than 60 stores throughout the United States, these complimentary classes are the newest way in which Sephora is striving to further enhance the client experience.

Last Thursday, Diane von Furstenberg's studio in New York's Meatpacking district underwent a temporary transformation. Gone were the large pieces of furniture on the east-facing wall; in their place were cameras, studio lights and a half dozen production people, in addition to representatives from Google, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), public relations firm KCD as well as von Furstenberg's own design company. The occasion? Von Furstenberg was hosting the first shoppable Google+ Hangout, one in a series to be held by CFDA designers.

Staples bought e-commerce software startup Runa, looking to use the San Mateo, Calif., company's offerings to personalize its online store. "With Runa, we're adding technology to better serve our customers with personalized items, offers and delivery estimates, all in real time," said Staples Chief Executive Ronald Sargent. "Runa will allow us to tap into the wealth of engineering and e-commerce expertise in the Silicon Valley area."

Sherwin-Williams is releasing a new consumer app for Google Glass, called ColorSnap Glass. Developed for Sherwin-Williams by digital marketing agency Resource, ColorSnapp Glass provides a digital layer of color samples customers can view using the Google Glass device. "We're committed to harnessing the latest in technology in order to create superior experiences for our customers," said Ellen Moreau, VP of

The customer is at the forefront of any retail business. A satisfied customer leads to loyalty, which results in maximized sales. Meeting the consumer's expectations is an important focus for retailers, and self-service technology is transforming the customer experience for the better. In today's hectic lifestyle, consumers are looking for the next best automated service that makes their lives a bit easier. According to the 2012 American Express Global Customer Service Barometer, two-thirds of consumers would pay more for a more superior customer experience.

Nordstrom Labs is a small team of techies, designers, entrepreneurs, statisticians, researchers and artists whose mission is to discover what will be in the future of retailing. It's one of the most important initiatives underway at Nordstrom, as management looks to build on its legacy of customer service and care in a technological world. Based in Seattle, also the hometown of Amazon.com, Nordstrom is well aware that the future with its tech-savvy consumers will bring many profound changes.

J.C. Penney is going against the retail trend and dumping its newly installed in-store Wi-Fi. The department-store company, which invested about $12 million installing the free, publicly accessible Wi-Fi last year, will save about $7 million a year by halting the service, sources familiar with the situation told BuzzFeed on the condition of anonymity. While mobile checkout devices will still use wireless internet, it won't work for the public — or for store employees’ personal phones, sources say, leading to some unhappy grumbling on Twitter.

Target has become a leader in the retail industry for keeping ahead of the curve. The retailer is continuing its innovation and investments with the rollout of its Cartwheel coupon platform, expanding its footprint in smaller locations and building on its delivery capabilities. Target is building the digital acumen of the organization through hiring and collaborations with leading technology partners. Its Technology Innovation Center in San Francisco provides the opportunity to benefit from technology talent in the area and quickly explore opportunities that can be brought to Target, accelerating the pace of innovation and adoption of emerging technologies and trends.

If you're like me, you appreciate it when employees go out of their way to help you. Whether you're shopping for clothes or looking for groceries, it's always nice to know that someone is there to help. But there's always that customer service representative that goes too far. You know, that floor person who's really nice but needs to leave you alone. In today's hypercompetitive market, major retailers and small businesses alike are going out of their way to enhance the customer experience. But how far is too far?

Retailer Nordstrom says it's thinking about lots of ways that iPads can be used in stores to improve the shopping experience for customers, beyond using them as