<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS INCLUDED IN THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER
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>                                              23,391
<SECURITIES>                                           247
<RECEIVABLES>                                       22,128
<ALLOWANCES>                                           554
<INVENTORY>                                        150,819
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   199,973
<PP&E>                                              19,796
<DEPRECIATION>                                           0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     306,492
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              151,073
<BONDS>                                             49,982
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                          3,366
<COMMON>                                               113
<OTHER-SE>                                          86,365
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       306,492
<SALES>                                            228,569
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   263,781
<CGS>                                              228,600
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      228,600
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    27,455
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   4,296
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      3,474
<INCOME-TAX>                                         1,338
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  2,136
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         2,136
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0.19
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.19