<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
THE COMPANY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENT INCLUDED IN THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON
FORM 10-Q, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

                                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                        6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               Oct-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                    Apr-30-2000
<CASH>                                            3,185,666
<SECURITIES>                                      7,013,750
<RECEIVABLES>                                    87,557,862
<ALLOWANCES>                                      4,929,269
<INVENTORY>                                      39,205,394
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                169,367,886
<PP&E>                                            9,765,273
<DEPRECIATION>                                    4,226,126
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  295,040,233
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           132,822,840
<BONDS>                                                   0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                               0
<COMMON>                                            288,791
<OTHER-SE>                                      159,985,341
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    295,040,233
<SALES>                                         192,925,799
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                192,925,799
<CGS>                                           128,054,812
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   128,054,812
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  6,565,762
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                2,881,090
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  12,854,138
<INCOME-TAX>                                      4,713,269
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                      8,140,869
<EPS-BASIC>                                            0.33
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          0.32