<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL 
INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE DECEMBER
30, 1995 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF 
VISTA 2000, INC., AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS IN FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                                            <C>           <C>          <C>           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                         YEAR        3-MOS          YEAR   
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-30-1995   DEC-31-1994  SEP-30-1994   
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1995   OCT-01-1994  OCT-01-1993   
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-30-1995   DEC-31-1994  SEP-30-1994   
<CASH>                                             871,000       449,000        4,000   
<SECURITIES>                                             0             0            0   
<RECEIVABLES>                                   18,140,000       103,000       47,000   
<ALLOWANCES>                                     2,230,000        40,000        5,000   
<INVENTORY>                                     33,378,000       688,000      624,000   
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                51,550,000     1,242,000      683,000   
<PP&E>                                          13,041,000       185,000      141,000   
<DEPRECIATION>                                           0             0            0   
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  65,311,000     1,597,000    1,430,000   
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           21,157,000     1,454,000    3,918,000   
<BONDS>                                                  0             0            0   
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0             0            0   
<PREFERRED>                                      5,981,000             0            0   
<COMMON>                                           116,000        33,000       21,000   
<OTHER-SE>                                      15,028,000       (42,000)  (3,199,000)  
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    65,311,000     1,597,000    1,430,000   
<SALES>                                         32,422,000         1,000      137,000   
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                32,422,000         1,000      137,000   
<CGS>                                           28,244,000        26,000      314,000   
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   17,318,000       858,000    1,721,000   
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 1,147,000             0            0   
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0             0            0   
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 649,000       143,000      266,000   
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (14,663,000)   (1,022,000)  (2,119,000)  
<INCOME-TAX>                                             0             0            0   
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (14,287,000)     (883,000)  (1,898,000)  
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0             0            0   
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0             0            0   
<CHANGES>                                                0             0            0   
<NET-INCOME>                                   (14,663,000)   (1,022,000)  (2,119,000)  
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        (2.33)        (0.36)       (0.99)  
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0             0            0   <F1>
<FN>                                                                      
<F1>   Not displayed since calculation would be anti-dilutive.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>