<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 2,924 668 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 20,102 9,046 <ALLOWANCES> (320) (183) <INVENTORY> 77,594 38,732 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 104,545 50,681 <PP&E> 9,214 4,794 <DEPRECIATION> (2,133) (1,804) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 124,002 56,127 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 88,732 47,441 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 3,439 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 0 0 <OTHER-SE> 6,563 4,880 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 124,002 56,127 <SALES> 474,048 332,552 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 474,048 332,522 <CGS> 407,074 289,662 <TOTAL-COSTS> 407,074 289,662 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,340 2,922 <INCOME-PRETAX> 510 1,741 <INCOME-TAX> (446) (48) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 64 1,693 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 64 1,693 <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.01) 0.19 <EPS-DILUTED> (0.01) 0.19