<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997             JUN-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                           9,607                   7,580                   6,259
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  127,036                 134,434                 135,023
<ALLOWANCES>                                     4,000                   2,132                   2,292
<INVENTORY>                                    154,777                 161,213                 168,942
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               299,236                 313,747                 319,557
<PP&E>                                          61,366                  62,232                  66,358
<DEPRECIATION>                                  28,739                  27,248                  26,134
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 411,859                 427,260                 437,300
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          115,508                 121,454                 117,024
<BONDS>                                        156,930                 162,440                 171,945
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                        76,473                  98,216                  99,372
<OTHER-SE>                                      62,948                  45,150                  48,959
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   411,859                 427,260                 437,300
<SALES>                                        218,503                 452,282                 677,730
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               218,503                 452,282                 677,730
<CGS>                                          170,820                 355,607                 533,841
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  170,820                 355,607                 533,841
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                43,474                  83,007                 119,881
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   579                   1,137                   1,541
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,681                   5,589                   8,810
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,528                   8,079                  15,198
<INCOME-TAX>                                       699                   3,781                   7,092
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                829                   4,298                   8,106
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    675                     675                     675
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                       154                   3,623                   7,431
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .02                     .40                     .82
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .02                     .39                     .79