<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
December 28, 1996 audited financial statemetns 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 28, 1996.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                   3-MOS                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-28-1996             DEC-30-1995             DEC-31-1994             SEP-30-1994
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-31-1995             JAN-01-1995             OCT-01-1994             OCT-01-1993
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-28-1996             DEC-30-1995             DEC-31-1994             SEP-30-1994
<CASH>                                       1,165,000                 871,000                 449,000                   4,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                               17,592,000              18,140,000                 103,000                  47,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                 1,405,000               2,230,000                  40,000                   5,000
<INVENTORY>                                 25,157,000              33,378,000                 688,000                 624,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            44,258,000              51,550,000               1,242,000                 683,000
<PP&E>                                      15,927,000              13,041,000                 185,000                 141,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              61,771,000              65,311,000               1,597,000               1,430,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       13,691,000              21,157,000               1,454,000               3,916,000
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                  3,985,000               5,981,000                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                       181,000                 116,000                  33,000                  21,000
<OTHER-SE>                                  19,995,000              15,028,000                (42,000)             (3,199,000)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                61,771,000              65,311,000               1,597,000               1,430,000
<SALES>                                    110,955,000              32,422,000                   1,000                 137,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           110,955,000              32,422,000                   1,000                 137,000
<CGS>                                       82,563,000              28,244,000                  26,000                 314,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               34,235,000              17,318,000                 858,000               1,721,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            10,787,000               1,147,000                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           2,174,000                 649,000                 143,000                 266,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                           (19,155,000)            (14,663,000)             (1,022,000)             (2,119,000)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   246,000                       0                       0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       (16,630,000)            (14,287,000)               (883,000)             (1,898,000)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                              (19,401,000)            (14,663,000)             (1,022,000)             (2,119,000)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (1.20)                  (2.33)                  (0.36)                  (0.99)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>                       0<F1>                       0<F1>
                       0<F1>
<FN>
<F1>Not displayed since calculation would be anti-dilutive.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>