<ARTICLE>                                          5
                                                    
                                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                  6-MOS        
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                        JAN-31-1999        
<PERIOD-START>                                           MAY-01-1998        
<PERIOD-END>                                             JUL-31-1998        
<CASH>                                                    53,326,000        
<SECURITIES>                                                       0        
<RECEIVABLES>                                             79,675,000        
<ALLOWANCES>                                               7,622,000        
<INVENTORY>                                              430,886,000        
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                         610,579,000        
<PP&E>                                                   278,612,000        
<DEPRECIATION>                                           105,512,000        
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           829,894,000        
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                    239,337,000        
<BONDS>                                                            0        
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                              0        
<PREFERRED>                                                        0        
<COMMON>                                                     351,000        
<OTHER-SE>                                               458,487,000        
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                             829,894,000        
<SALES>                                                  247,722,000        
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                         247,722,000        
<CGS>                                                    112,036,000        
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                            222,325,000        
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                           1,458,000        
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                             417,000        
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                         2,093,000        
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                           23,522,000        
<INCOME-TAX>                                               9,997,000        
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                       13,525,000        
<DISCONTINUED>                                                     0        
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                    0        
<CHANGES>                                                          0        
<NET-INCOME>                                              13,525,000        
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    .38<F1>        
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    .37<F2>        
           
<FN>
NOTE: The amount reported for EPS primary and fully diluted is in compliance
      with with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings 
      Per Share" and represents the Basic and Diluted calculation as required 
      by this standard.
</FN>