<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 8-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1994 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1994 <CASH> 14,537 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 25,778 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 386,540 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 466,592 <PP&E> 23,291 <DEPRECIATION> 11,854 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 612,925 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 209,493 <BONDS> 241,302 <COMMON> 237 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 161,893 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 612,925 <SALES> 373,815 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 386,585 <CGS> 298,951 <TOTAL-COSTS> 380,420 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 6,357 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 15,313 <INCOME-PRETAX> (15,505) <INCOME-TAX> (5,075) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (10,430) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (10,430) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.46) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.46)