<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE INTERIM
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS FOR ALL
PERIODS PRESENTED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                                                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                  9-MOS                   YEAR 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUL-31-1997             JUL-31-1996             OCT-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1996             JUL-31-1996             OCT-31-1995
<CASH>                                       1,105,692                 748,527                 688,885
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                               43,368,594              40,611,513              38,080,683
<ALLOWANCES>                                 1,673,938               1,539,506               1,750,885
<INVENTORY>                                 69,118,946              63,761,040              54,584,917
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           115,404,443             108,156,010              95,867,964
<PP&E>                                      50,465,004              49,044,555              40,122,356
<DEPRECIATION>                              16,840,716              15,826,699              12,175,350
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             160,035,094             152,290,482             134,451,071
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      101,020,325              94,335,099              84,615,132
<BONDS>                                     33,934,685              34,107,943              32,747,425
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                       136,914                 136,914                 136,914
<OTHER-SE>                                  24,568,775              23,303,180              16,589,462
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               160,035,094             152,290,482             134,451,071
<SALES>                                    146,302,981             439,034,800             458,849,435
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           146,302,981             439,034,800             458,849,435
<CGS>                                      116,656,617             348,922,954             363,757,549
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              116,656,617             348,922,954             363,757,549
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               541,610                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           2,110,905               5,886,714               5,345,548 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              2,343,129               8,325,074               5,769,357
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,053,905               2,883,511               2,953,856  
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          1,289,224               5,441,563               2,815,501
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,289,224               5,441,563               2,815,501
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.09                    0.33                    0.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.09                    0.33                    0.18