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The joy of shopping — and how to recapture it online | Nimisha Jain

Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more. Shopping is about more than just what you buy: it’s a treasure hunt to discover something new, a negotiation to get a great deal, a time to catch up with friends and family. But for many, online shopping has…

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Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.

Shopping is about more than just what you buy: it’s a treasure hunt to discover something new, a negotiation to get a great deal, a time to catch up with friends and family. But for many, online shopping has turned the experience into an impersonal, unsatisfactory event. Is there a way to bring back the magic? With exciting examples from companies in India, Thailand and China, consumer expert Nimisha Jain introduces us to “conversational commerce,” a new retail model that combines the convenience of a digital experience with the personalized touch of a real, human interaction.

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You’re welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know.

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55 Comments

55 Comments

  1. кто-то

    February 11, 2021 at 5:41 pm

    This must be the worst Ted-talk ever. Encouraging to consume and buy more unnecessary crap? And presented by a person from India, a country that has enough environmental issues? Those items that she has shopped has probably been manufactured with child labor.

  2. Prashant Negi

    February 11, 2021 at 5:42 pm

    Women Be Shoppin

  3. ScatterBrained

    February 11, 2021 at 5:48 pm

    SPEND SPEND SPEND SPEND SPEND SPEND SPEND DONT STOP SPENDING DEAR GOD

  4. Carl Southern

    February 11, 2021 at 5:53 pm

    TED has joined the ranks of promoting mindless consumerism. Good to know they’ve lost credibility.

  5. Tyrankoos of the deep

    February 11, 2021 at 5:55 pm

    its ok we have infinite recourses 🤔 . and its not like you being able to shop to buy crap advertisements tricked you in to wanting does not come at the cost of billions of ppl being poor. or the destruction of the planet . oh wait .

  6. DomingoDeSantaClara

    February 11, 2021 at 6:26 pm

    Shopping shouldn’t be a “joy”,rather it should be done out of necessity…no wonder consumerism is destroying our world.

  7. Panglo55

    February 11, 2021 at 6:30 pm

    Next on TED: “The joy of working for minimum wage.”

  8. Scot Fretwell

    February 11, 2021 at 6:34 pm

    Your possession own you.

  9. Chris F

    February 11, 2021 at 6:36 pm

    Unsubscribed.

  10. COQ0828

    February 11, 2021 at 6:47 pm

    This is embarrassing

  11. L F

    February 11, 2021 at 6:49 pm

    Yikes. You’re tone deaf.
    Can’t hear me?
    YOU’RE TONE DEAF!

  12. D G

    February 11, 2021 at 7:06 pm

    I recommend donating money to food banks or clothing to homeless shelters if you’ve got the income to burn. Especially right now, what with the record unemployment and all that.
    You know, instead of giving $$$$ to a billion dollar corporation who uses slave labor to make those fancy clothes you would just die for if only they weren’t so expensive. Don’t forget though you have a credit card, and only need to make the minimum payment, so let’s get shopping!
    Or perhaps spend your time reading books like Howard Zinn’s _A People’s History of the United States_ or Noam Chomsky’s _Manufacturing Consent_ to figure out why people want you to spend without thought in the first place. Then go out and create a community that isn’t dependent on sucking the teat of the wealthy for basic human dignity.

  13. פיזיקה בכר

    February 11, 2021 at 7:29 pm

    intresting but I am not sure we ned to shop so much

  14. Emanuil Spasov

    February 11, 2021 at 7:49 pm

    im broke

  15. Al

    February 11, 2021 at 7:58 pm

    Sexist

  16. Назик Мал

    February 11, 2021 at 8:00 pm

    When you watch ted talks to develop your english , but you see advertisement 🗿

  17. Nox uinddau

    February 11, 2021 at 8:05 pm

    I thought TED was more about helping yourself and helping others, cool ideas. But just reading the title, I’m like…naaaah I don’t need a well edited explanation as to why I should be more shallow, materialistic or superficial

    • THINK BEFORE U ACT

      February 12, 2021 at 4:03 am

      Excellent comment!!

    • Nox uinddau

      February 12, 2021 at 4:07 am

      @THINK BEFORE U ACT thx!

  18. Cristina Bock

    February 11, 2021 at 8:40 pm

    hahaha the title. I’m like what is that?! the only thing i like shopping for is food lol.

  19. Noah Aubrey Linus Sorensen

    February 11, 2021 at 8:45 pm

    capitalism rules 😎💸

  20. Can K'Man

    February 11, 2021 at 8:59 pm

    I have listened to it 4 days ago! On app it is easier! Anyway good speech!

  21. C G

    February 11, 2021 at 9:00 pm

    Mixed feelings. I’m severely homebound, since 2013, online shopping is my life. There is an art to buying for sure, the best sellers have quality descriptions, photos and genuine reviews. The way to shop though is really tough because what you see in one eye view in the store takes pages and pages of scrolling online. That to me is the real most important issue to fix if returns is a problem. But really Big companies return policies have become so generous in past years, I’m not at all surprised people just order a bunch of stuff and return what they don’t like instead of spending hours carefully reading. I do that due to my health cause I’ve got the time but which mom with kids and a job has the time for that? Including personalized shopping online. Way too time consuming! I feel her ideas are geared at women who don’t have a job, therefore wealthy or single without kids.
    Also, I don’t feel good asking someone to try clothes after clothes for me. People would to help a disabled person like me I’m sure, but if I were healthy I’d never think of having someone do the hard work in my place. What about all the Karens out there who would just love taking advantage of that service and buy nothing or barely enough. Not to mention we have so many different body shapes in America, unless you have someone on hand, it’s useless to know how it would fit on me. Anyway, pass for me.

  22. Schwim Dandy

    February 11, 2021 at 9:44 pm

    What a pathetic TED talk. We’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel for educational content.

  23. MrLoobu

    February 11, 2021 at 10:23 pm

    You dont, you learn to love life with less joy allowed! We are all children again hurray

  24. anushka977

    February 11, 2021 at 10:31 pm

    In ordered about 5 things from m and s expecting it to come in a few days in one bag instead I had 5 separate deliveries on 3 different days….
    So much plastic and petrol wasted!

  25. Jonathan Lipps

    February 12, 2021 at 12:41 am

    You just posted a video about climate change two days ago…now your promoting overconsumption.

    • THINK BEFORE U ACT

      February 12, 2021 at 3:57 am

      One word: hypocrisy

  26. Kathy Martin

    February 12, 2021 at 1:41 am

    How pathetic. Nothing more to say, except unsubscribe.

  27. Tim Huffman

    February 12, 2021 at 3:10 am

    Fire whoever writes your titles definitely missed the mark on this one

  28. THINK BEFORE U ACT

    February 12, 2021 at 3:47 am

    This video should be called “digital consumerism: Why we should make it more powerful, and Why India is so good at this”

  29. THINK BEFORE U ACT

    February 12, 2021 at 3:50 am

    New title: “Advertisement About digital consumerism”

  30. bestape

    February 12, 2021 at 3:54 am

    Amen. Companies like Twilio can follow this advice too. Though, I think Amazon sells stuff that doesn’t need this. Depends on the type of item. Not a panacea. Nothing is a panacea.

  31. Stellular Nebulla

    February 12, 2021 at 3:57 am

    I thought the like / dislike ratio was gonna be something like that…

  32. D N

    February 12, 2021 at 5:44 am

    About to unsubscribe

  33. questioum

    February 12, 2021 at 6:09 am

    !??

  34. Thais Koch

    February 12, 2021 at 8:30 am

    So disappointed… how come TED stimulates a sector that has been highly profitable during pandemic?! Clearly the solution for world crisis is buying a new handbag.

  35. Mahmudul Hasan

    February 12, 2021 at 8:44 am

    🙂 nice

  36. 徳村俊雄

    February 12, 2021 at 9:32 am

    楽しかった❗️

  37. Bruce Wayne

    February 12, 2021 at 12:43 pm

    A wise man once said:
    “We buy things we dont need to impress people we dont like”

  38. Humanity come first :- Proud Indian

    February 12, 2021 at 3:27 pm

    Love you mam from India 🇮🇳🇮🇳

  39. Thomas Ackland

    February 12, 2021 at 6:16 pm

    LOL!!! Yeah, what they all said vvv. Retail therapy in lieu of actual therapy.

  40. oli ht

    February 13, 2021 at 1:10 am

    Clicked for the comments, not disappointed, there is still hope for humanity. This is not a topic for any talk

  41. M W

    February 13, 2021 at 7:32 am

    I would rather go to a store and get stuff. You get it quicker and no shipping costs. Getting stuff online is NOT MORE CONVENIENT, ITS SLOW and you dont feel as if the government is trying to keep all citizens in their houses so they’re easier to control!😄👍

  42. Sanjana Sandeep

    February 13, 2021 at 8:31 am

    No thanks. I don’t need a Ted talk to convince me to do something I am already doing

  43. Kongolox

    February 13, 2021 at 1:02 pm

    speak for yourself lady!
    Online shopping for is FAR more enjoyably, lots more option, reviews, prices & deliveries.

  44. Rugon

    February 13, 2021 at 2:18 pm

    Just terrible. Has TED sold out?

  45. Lisa Love Ministries

    February 13, 2021 at 3:45 pm

    John 3:16💕
    1 Corinthians 15 👑

  46. Vasudha Cidambi

    February 13, 2021 at 4:52 pm

    the nostalgia with which “our arms overflowing with dozens of shopping bags” was said is,,, telling🧐

  47. ARSHED MUSTHAFA V P

    February 14, 2021 at 4:09 am

    How is this important for anyone? 🤦🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

  48. 0 0

    February 14, 2021 at 8:08 am

    Waste of time. Glad your mom has time like that. Spend time learning or hobby or family. Shopping?

  49. Yamari Yami

    February 14, 2021 at 9:36 am

    It’s easy to talk about consumerism, when you live in the rich country of the 1st world, that mostly responsible for polution of environment and aftermaths. What you presume are “things that people don’t need” surrounds you from the very birth day. Accessories, toys, decorative elements, variety of personal wardrobe… A lot of people in the hundreds of countries started to enjoy this a few time ago. India is one of those counties. A lot of people still doesn’t know this. What you consider as “unneeded” is attributes of comfort and safety for millions of people that only recently discover this. That comfort and safety surrounds you every day and you have plenty of resources to overcome any inconvenience. Those people don’t. The global market isn’t just about USA and EU.

  50. Amanda Taylor

    February 16, 2021 at 5:55 am

    Ted talk cartoons # TedKids

  51. David Green

    February 17, 2021 at 7:15 pm

    I like the human element in shopping . A website cant give you a courteous smile , or indulge you in polite conversation if you are a regular , the way a human cashier does .
    Online shopping is a bit like a taxi – a necessary evil that I only use when circumstances dictate there is no other choice

  52. MM G

    February 18, 2021 at 3:20 pm

    What on earth!!???

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