<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>