<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q
FOR THE  QUARTER  ENDING  MARCH 31,  1998 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY
REFRENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000935802
<NAME>                        ANICOM, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1.000
<CASH>                                         857
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  86,515
<ALLOWANCES>                                   2,785
<INVENTORY>                                    63,262
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               153,413
<PP&E>                                         7,882
<DEPRECIATION>                                 2,006
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 245,417
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          75,796
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       15
<OTHER-SE>                                     0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   245,417
<SALES>                                        102,099
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               102,099
<CGS>                                          79,419
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  79,419
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               18,028
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             230
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                4,445
<INCOME-TAX>                                   1,778
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            2,667
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   2,667
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.11