Well, I think what this guy needs is a strategy. You need a battle plan. You don't just charge into battle without having good tactics. You'll get the crap blown out of you. But, if you have a solid plan of action you might just win this thing.
I don't believe this is a question of IF he should do it. It is a question of HOW he should do it. I have YET to see any good advice, besides "yay, go for it!" Okay, but how? Especially for a less-than-gorgeous guy, he's gonna need more than just "hi. what's your number?" Fvck, a retarded kid can do that. Now, he needs a good opening, a little C+F, maybe a neg hit or two, a couple default conversation topics, and a number close. OUR job is to give him some ideas for these things, and then, just maybe, she'll respond. Ya'll hear me on that?
Example opener:
You: So, judging by the looks of your office, I would guess you sell insurance?
Her: Haha, no, perfume.
You: Oh, not insurance, INCENSE.
Neg hits:
If she's blonde, any kind of blonde joke related to the situation will work here. Or, since she works in a perfume shop, you could just call her stinky.
Number Close:
Give her an UNDERSTATED compliment, and then say "lemme have your number." Don't say, "wow, you're amazingly gorgous." Instead, say, "you're cute." Yu get it?
You: Alright, stinky, I gotta get going before I suffocate *wink*. But, I think you're pretty cute. Give me your number and I'll call you sometime.
Of course, you should ask her about her job and stuff, too, in the middle of the conversation. You know, normal conversation stuff. Throw in some of these tools that I gave you. And, you never know. If you deliver it right, you might just come out a winner.
And, yes, it's possible that she'll completely shun you. But, if you did a good delivery and didn't sound like you just saw a ghost, and she still shuns you, then she's a superficial biatch and not worth your time, anyway.