<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 7,785 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 100,176 <ALLOWANCES> 3,350 <INVENTORY> 113,653 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 222,192 <PP&E> 21,820 <DEPRECIATION> 9,591 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 241,297 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 79,490 <BONDS> 79,462 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 88 <OTHER-SE> 82,257 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 241,297 <SALES> 449,739 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 449,739 <CGS> 403,404 <TOTAL-COSTS> 403,404 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 32,900 <LOSS-PROVISION> 3,047 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,959 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,429 <INCOME-TAX> 2,741 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,688 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,688 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.42 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.42