<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                           DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                   1,345,595               7,422,067                       0
<SECURITIES>                                     0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                           16,257,501              24,205,077                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                            (1,353,000)             (1,185,000)                      0
<INVENTORY>                             23,121,971              23,936,226                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                        42,053,872              55,450,806                       0
<PP&E>                                  16,608,462              16,177,954                       0
<DEPRECIATION>                         (13,360,816)             13,499,266                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          59,046,143              73,442,721                       0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                   10,476,813               9,510,676                       0
<BONDS>                                          0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                      0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                       834                     782                       0
<OTHER-SE>                              37,312,238              52,495,141                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>            59,046,143              73,442,721                       0
<SALES>                                113,720,799             161,445,362             118,655,253
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                       113,720,799             161,445,362             118,655,253
<CGS>                                   90,660,582             109,693,828              84,421,651
<TOTAL-COSTS>                          128,088,318             145,242,520             109,330,384
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                         1,594,925               1,739,865               1,193,693
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       1,454,748               2,372,132               1,365,163
<INCOME-PRETAX>                        (15,441,549)             13,698,984               7,962,659
<INCOME-TAX>                             1,351,000              (1,349,000)                      0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                    (16,792,549)             15,047,984               7,962,659
<DISCONTINUED>                                   0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                        0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                           (16,792,549)             15,047,984               7,962,659
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                (2.15)                   3.68                    1.99
<EPS-DILUTED>                                (2.15)                   3.68                    1.99
        

</TABLE>