<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1998 <CASH> 880,487 <SECURITIES> 117,130 <RECEIVABLES> 5,792,723 <ALLOWANCES> 1,730,570 <INVENTORY> 33,899,165 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 41,692,255 <PP&E> 22,250,160 <DEPRECIATION> 14,006,834 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 66,611,901 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 57,732,231 <BONDS> 0 <COMMON> 560,441 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> (5,579,116) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 66,611,901 <SALES> 114,452,040 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 114,452,040 <CGS> 88,774,582 <TOTAL-COSTS> 88,774,582 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 29,328,779 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,075,758 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,555,609 <INCOME-PRETAX> (5,156,525) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (5,156,525) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (5,156,525) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.91) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.91)