<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MARK VII, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 4, 1998 AND CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF APRIL 4, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-02-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-04-1998 <PERIOD-END> APR-04-1998 <CASH> 1,835 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 80,353 <ALLOWANCES> 3,192 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 82,666 <PP&E> 12,188 <DEPRECIATION> 4,850 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 98,840 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 64,186 <BONDS> 876 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 501 <OTHER-SE> 33,277 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 98,840 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 171,800 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 151,242 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 17,746 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,805 <INCOME-TAX> 1,178 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,627 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,627 <EPS-PRIMARY> .18 <EPS-DILUTED> .17