<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                            8756                   46498                      78
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    35435                   40106                   54907
<ALLOWANCES>                                      2469                    1326                    1146
<INVENTORY>                                      43065                   60586                   76166
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 89086                  151053                  139200
<PP&E>                                           12410                   21056                   31244
<DEPRECIATION>                                    1626                    3574                    6830
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  247932                  320747                  368677
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            29074                   47682                   40677
<BONDS>                                         162246                  161981                  121288
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                      22946                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           120                     169                     195
<OTHER-SE>                                       30068                  105663                  175234
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    247932                  320747                  368677
<SALES>                                         190659                  272878                  346110
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                191759                  274059                  348022
<CGS>                                           115499                  166810                  212416
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   156539                  225390                  289764
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  1239                     668                     921
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               18015                   20287                   18822
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  15966                   27714                   38515
<INCOME-TAX>                                      6467                   11415                   15512
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               9499                   16299                   23003
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                    3749
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                      9499                   16299                   19254
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.69                    1.15                    1.10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.65                    1.02                    0.99
        

</TABLE>