<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 568,396 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 21,552,093 <ALLOWANCES> 576,192 <INVENTORY> 24,768,058 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 47,712,921 <PP&E> 12,975,712 <DEPRECIATION> 6,193,445 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 76,525,407 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 42,007,983 <BONDS> 24,215,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 1,263 <COMMON> 143,762 <OTHER-SE> 8,360,378 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 76,525,407 <SALES> 37,392,317 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 37,392,317 <CGS> 30,425,160 <TOTAL-COSTS> 30,425,160 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 4,596,486 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,849,768 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,497,810 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,497,810 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (616,239) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 840,696 <EPS-PRIMARY> .06 <EPS-DILUTED> .05