<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <CASH> 723,328 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 26,877,595 <ALLOWANCES> 463,010 <INVENTORY> 29,370,713 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 58,155,727 <PP&E> 13,906,221 <DEPRECIATION> 3,993,659 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 97,555,445 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 37,783,797 <BONDS> 30,766,785 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 2,500 <COMMON> 131,470 <OTHER-SE> 26,464,244 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 97,555,445 <SALES> 111,725,023 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 111,725,023 <CGS> 88,310,964 <TOTAL-COSTS> 88,310,964 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 15,871,056 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,595,990 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,473,427 <INCOME-TAX> 1,652,979 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,376,782 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,376,782 <EPS-PRIMARY> .17 <EPS-DILUTED> .17