Pretty Doesn't Always Work, For Stores

The world is going crazy. Some time and tested practices no longer work. There's good and bad about it.

Remember how good looks were put to damn good use? You'd put pretty people in advertisements, on can covers, on front pages, on magazine covers and on all sorts of products.

You'd put pretty receptionists on your front desk, pretty waitresses in your restaurants and bars and, of course, pretty people to show off your clothes.

Man, if you had looks, you'd have won 80 per cent of your battle.

These days, though, pretty may not be so good. According to a survey in Australia, pretty store assistants are putting off customers and are causing sales to dwindle.

Here's why:

Research from the University of South Australia has found that regardless of the product, women are less likely to buy it if they think the saleswoman is more attractive than them.

After being intimidated while shopping, PhD researcher Bianca Price decided to investigate and her findings were recently published in the Journal of International Business and Economics.

"Attractiveness does have its benefits, hence stores hire these girls, but the problems lie with the fact that we aren't all stunners," she told ABC News Online.

You may read the rest of the article HERE.