<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF HOLMES PRODUCTS CORP. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 SEP-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 1 <CASH> 4,462 8,149 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 32,708 38,160 <ALLOWANCES> 1,113 1,156 <INVENTORY> 61,252 56,212 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 105,631 113,584 <PP&E> 35,710 37,342 <DEPRECIATION> 14,627 17,364 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 128,286 135,310 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 108,514 112,734 <BONDS> 737 890 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 802 802 <OTHER-SE> 16,906 20,884 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 128,286 135,310 <SALES> 194,331 136,767 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 194,331 136,767 <CGS> 145,915 102,442 <TOTAL-COSTS> 145,915 102,442 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 5,520<F1> 3,637<F1> <LOSS-PROVISION> 505 211 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,570 4,850 <INCOME-PRETAX> 9,416<F2> 4,490<F2> <INCOME-TAX> 2,787 292 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,221 3,978 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,221 3,978 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0<F3> 0<F3> <EPS-DILUTED> 0<F3> 0<F3> <FN> <F1>Product development expenses. <F2>Income before income taxes and minority interest in net income of majority-owned subsidiaries. <F3>The Company's shares are not publicly traded. </FN>