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Attractive Salesgirls Could Turn Off Shoppers

by Bee-Shyuan Chang (Subscribe to Bee-Shyuan Chang's posts)
Posted Aug 18th 2009 at 3:16PM  
32 Comments
Share
Shopgirl helps out a customer.

A new study out says it's better to hire a diverse workforce than only pretty salesgirls. Photo: Ray Moreton, Getty Images

A new study out of the University of South Australia shows that women between the ages of 18-26 are less likely to buy from a sales associate that is more attractive than them.

PhD researcher Bianca Price says, "Retailers often think that beautiful is better. In the same way they use a celebrity to endorse a product, they hire a beautiful girl thinking that it reflects the brand and that other women will want to be like her."

"It doesn't always work like that -- women may not consider celebrities a direct social threat, but they might consider the girl at their local shopping centre to be one."

Price chalks it up to biological competition, explaining that because young women feel tremendous pressure to be beautiful, the reaction to an attractive salesgirl is to avoid them and not buy the product.

The study's conclusion is limited to young women though. In these cases, Price recommends, "Retailers need to understand that beauty can affect their bottom line. The solution lies in hiring women of all shapes and sizes, someone for each of your potential customers to relate to."

For retailers like Abercrombie, whose "look policy" has caused legal troubles, the news came a little too late: The company recently reported a $26.7 million loss. What goes around comes around!

Still haven't had enough shopping? Check out these style tips here.
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Filed under: News
Tags: attractive, beauty, shopgirl, shopping
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READER COMMENTS

(32)Add A Comment

Citizen, 8-19-2009, 6:40AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Citizen

"What goes around comes around?" There's a professional comment.

Reply »

djconnect07, 8-20-2009, 7:11AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
djconnect07

----W e a l t h y L ov i n g . C 0 M____________________
Singles Only!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

»

rick, 8-20-2009, 9:10AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
rick

when it comes to food it makes a difference what someone looks like....we had a good pit beef place i used to go to alot.....then a new couple started managing the place...the lady had spider webs tattooed on her boobs and black hair with white streaks to look like spider webs in it and the guy making sandwiches must have had 50 ear rings on his face , ears, lips, brows, nose....it made me wanna puke and when they asked what i wanted to order i said nothing i lost my appetite and never went back lmao....they are so disgusting

Reply »

Sara, 8-20-2009, 8:42AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Sara

I totally agree. Those tattooes and the huge earrings are such turnoffs. First thing I think is "pig in a pen" and needs to be put back there.

»

babs, 8-20-2009, 8:49AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
babs

I believe this to be true. I work retail in a name department store and we have a manager that prances around and dresses like a hooker. It is a shame and everyone comments on her.Her hair is a frazzled mess and looks unkept. Guess this is the sexy??? look. Too bad upper management doesn't straighten her out but they seem to fall all over her.

Reply »

silentboom, 8-20-2009, 9:12AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
silentboom

What's beautiful is helping us take the Senate seat and try to take this country back. Even $5 will help. If you care about this country you will help us, it just takes a minute. RandPaul2010.com

Reply »

MrDoughnut, 8-20-2009, 9:21AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
MrDoughnut

I guess the lead story was incorrect. The poll results shows everything is the opposite of the columnist's claims!

Reply »

Sara, 8-20-2009, 9:40AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Sara

Research shows that what people say they would do and what they actually do is sometimes very different. I'd guess you've had situations in your own life where that has happened.

On surveys, we are more likely to say what we think we should do. Observational research, which was probably done in this study, often shows something different.

Studies into how we feel about beauty and attractiveness are fascinating and reveal that much of how we speak, act, and feel about a person's beauty is very biological and unconscious. I'd suggest finding this study and reading it if you're interested.

»

Greg, 8-20-2009, 9:31AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Greg

Young Rip Taylor sex tape is here: http://cli.gs/outdatedcelebs.
LOL!!!!!!!!!!

Reply »

Greg, 8-20-2009, 9:32AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Greg

Young Liberace sex tape is here: http://cli.gs/outdatedcelebs.
LOL!!!!!!!!!!

Reply »

Greg, 8-20-2009, 9:35AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Greg

Young Tiny Tim sex tape is here: http://cli.gs/outdatedcelebs.
LOL!!!!!!!!!!

Reply »

Greg, 8-20-2009, 9:36AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Greg

Young Don Rickles sex tape is here: http://cli.gs/outdatedcelebs.
LOL!!!!!!!!!!

Reply »

MrDoughnut, 8-20-2009, 9:41AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
MrDoughnut

babs:
Some male customers might be shopping there just to get some action! You sound jealous that "Her milkshake brings all the boys to the yard"

Obviously your not bringing any boys to the yard so might need some landscapers.

Reply »

MrDoughnut, 8-20-2009, 9:52AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
MrDoughnut

Saying some women shoppers feel intimitated by salesgirls that are beautiful smacks of pure jealousy. Why are the women affaid they can't pick up the salesmen an male shoppers?

Are you shopping or just going there to mate?

Reply »

John F.C. Taylor, 8-20-2009, 10:19AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
John F.C. Taylor

Sad world when ordinary people feel threatened by the looks of others. A size 2 mentality ruling in a size 12 world.

Reply »

mrsvonii, 8-20-2009, 11:11AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
mrsvonii

I'm totally turned off by facial piercings and tattoos. Even tho I try not to let it bother me I automatically consider the person unprofessional and ignorant. My children and grand children, some of whom are pierced and tattooed, try to convince me different. All I can see is the person's self hatred that they would do this to themselves. I even quit my doctor's office because he has an employee with various symbols tattooed on her face. It just creeps me out. When I see someone with those big holes in their ears I always wonder if they hear a whistling sound when the wind blows. Oh no, now that I'm started how about those fake fingernails so many women wear. I won't go to a doctor's office or a restaurant where I see them cause God only knows what is under them....

Reply »

Fred, 8-20-2009, 11:20AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Fred

Karen, all the good looking guys are gay, talk about a shame! Me, married, average looking, got a beautiful woman to marry me, I have no idea why she wanted me. I definately married up.

Reply »

Robert, 8-20-2009, 11:23AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Robert

I guarantee that most of the people who voted were lying. When I read the results, that was my first thought. If its within the same age group I believe females would be intimidated. If its a 40 year old, then she wont care what the sales girl looks like and will want to know whats on sale more than I want to look like you.

Reply »

shannon, 8-20-2009, 11:26AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
shannon

I don't care if the girl is prettier than me. I can admit when another female is beautiful, I have self esteem and don't feel the need to be the prettiest girl in the room. But you know what I do hate? I hate SOME (not all) teenage girls who work at places like forever 21 or wet seal who are lazy and don't want to help anyone and act like they are at school just gossiping and ignoring customers. Especially when they ignore adults. Some kids are so disrespectful to their elders, I am a busy woman with a full time job I don't have time to sit around and wait for Barbie to tell Malibu Stacey what she saw Ken doing. If a customer needs assistance go help them and tell Stacey later. I do have some (very rare) great experiences with teenage girls at these stores, I just wish they could be more personable all the time. I guess it boils down to who has work ethic and who doesn't. That's ok, the ones with it will go far in life and the ones who don't will end up flipping burgers the rest of their lives and having 10 kids anyways.

Reply »

shannon, 8-20-2009, 11:34AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
shannon

LOL Karen. I always say that is why men are visual creatures. I mean look at us women, we are very sexy and then look at, well men. That is why we are creatures of emotion. I'm 25 and my husband is 26 but he is bald and has a little bit of a belly and all his co-workers are like "never let her go, you lucked out man", but he is the best husband in the world. He is sweet and patient and just the most wonderful man all around. He is not a sexist jerky pig and he just makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. Men's bodies were made for hunting and hard labor lol, while ours are works of art. If we were visual creatures as well I think alot of men would be out of luck. j/k we still love you guys.

Reply »

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