<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from 
the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, Condensed Consolidated Statement of
Income and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow included in the
company's Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 1998, and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                            JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                              MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                         15,686
<SECURITIES>                                        0         
<RECEIVABLES>                                 166,588
<ALLOWANCES>                                   13,824
<INVENTORY>                                    57,392
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    0 
<PP&E>                                         20,488
<DEPRECIATION>                                  8,029
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                330,441
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               0
<BONDS>                                       137,827
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                          211
<OTHER-SE>                                    124,142
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  330,411
<SALES>                                        33,535 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               47,186
<CGS>                                           7,048         
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  41,899 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                1,684
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                2,482
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              2,561
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 5,611
<INCOME-TAX>                                    2,132
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             3,479
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0 
<NET-INCOME>                                    3,479
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.17
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.16