Have you ever walked in to a shop, taken one look at the gorgeous assistant wearing the clothes you were about to try on and quickly decided to leave?

Apparently if you're a woman you're not alone. Research from the University of South Australia may give retailers cause to rethink their strategy of hiring good-looking young women as sales staff.

PhD researcher Bianca Price decided to investigate, after being intimidated while she was out shopping. Her findings were published in the Journal of International Business and Economics.

This interview was first broadcast on 13/8/2009.