<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1996 <CASH> 2,485,028 <SECURITIES> 215,570 <RECEIVABLES> 17,527,247 <ALLOWANCES> 806,000 <INVENTORY> 61,449,046 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 84,054,963 <PP&E> 37,143,490 <DEPRECIATION> 12,692,200 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 127,045,369 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 68,154,915 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 556,691 <OTHER-SE> 34,308,320 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 127,045,369 <SALES> 229,009,134 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 229,009,134 <CGS> 179,914,389 <TOTAL-COSTS> 179,914,389 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 48,242,169 <LOSS-PROVISION> 360,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,562,030 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1,069,454) <INCOME-TAX> (406,000) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (663,454) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.12) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.12)