GETTING lost is an everyday event for Bill Li. It happened recently when the general manager was hunting for samples of marzipan cake.
''They were right here, I thought,'' said Li, pointing to a vacant area between the cartons of shampoo and mouthwash. When his eagle eye finally spotted the table of imported sweets, he sprinted over for a quick bite.
''It happens every time a container load of merchandise arrives,'' apologised the general manager of Everything's $10. ''The floor plan changes.'' This mecca of bargains is located in Tuen Mun Town Plaza. Li's fiefdom sprawls over 18,000 sq ft and boasts an inventory of 20,000 different items, all priced identically.
''Everything's $10'' heralds a merchandising concept new to Hongkong of uniform pricing. This retail store, which opened in August, is a joint venture between Genuine Ocean (Holdings) Co Ltd, and Everything $1, the Milwaukee-based company with 400 storesacross the United States.
Though the merchandise comes from all over the world, Americans especially will feel at home with brand names such as Breck shampoo, Max Factor, Keebler crackers, Ralson's Chex Mix.
Target customers are housewives and children as evidenced by the array of children's toys, school supplies and party supplies, snack foods.
Stock rotates constantly. ''Shopping this way is quick, easy and fun,'' said Li. A second store is scheduled to open around July in Kowloon City Plaza. NOODLES, anyone? Bring your ear plugs as well as your appetite to the Noodle and Curry Bar in the Century Hotel, Wan Chai.