<ARTICLE> 5
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1998
<CASH>                                         635,295
<SECURITIES>                                   115,690
<RECEIVABLES>                                5,595,210
<ALLOWANCES>                                 1,860,521
<INVENTORY>                                 32,818,073
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            40,203,266
<PP&E>                                      25,638,378
<DEPRECIATION>                              13,491,527
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              68,620,716
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       54,494,770
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       560,441
<OTHER-SE>                                 (1,892,397)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                68,620,716
<SALES>                                     81,929,457
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            81,929,457
<CGS>                                       62,982,095
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               62,982,095
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            19,953,305
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               595,770
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             916,493
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            (1,469,806)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                               (1,469,806)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.26)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.26)