<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE COMPANY'S THIRD QUARTER FISCAL 1997 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-01-1997 <PERIOD-START> FEB-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1996 <CASH> 3,644 <SECURITIES> 21,538 <RECEIVABLES> 40,896 <ALLOWANCES> 3,983 <INVENTORY> 103,620 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 173,567 <PP&E> 91,805 <DEPRECIATION> 59,896 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 217,464 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 61,539 <BONDS> 75,899 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 7,963 <COMMON> 25,167 <OTHER-SE> 10,881 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 217,464 <SALES> 327,283 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 327,283 <CGS> 194,694 <TOTAL-COSTS> 194,694 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,470 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,729 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,595 <INCOME-TAX> (347) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 8,942 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,942 <EPS-PRIMARY> .34 <EPS-DILUTED> .34