
<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>       
     This schedule  contains  summary  financial  information from the Company's
Consolidated  Financial  Statements  filed on Form  10-K for the  periods  ended
December 31, 1996,  December 31, 1997 and December 31, 1998, and is qualified in
its entirety by reference  to such  financial  statements.  The  Financial  Data
Schedules   for  1996  and  1997  are   restated   to  give  effect  to  the
pooling-of-interests merger with Step Ahead Investments, Inc.
</LEGEND>                       
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000

       
<S>                               <C>             <C>               <C>        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     12-MOS          12-MOS            12-MOS     
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                 Dec-31-1996     Dec-31-1997       Dec-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                      Dec-31-1996     Dec-31-1997       Dec-31-1998
<CASH>                                  6,167          45,018            71,119
<SECURITIES>                                0               0                 0
<RECEIVABLES>                           3,490           2,351             1,811
<ALLOWANCES>                                0               0                 0
<INVENTORY>                            89,184         109,483           140,949
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                      105,704         166,849           226,064
<PP&E>                                 66,364         125,367           178,374
<DEPRECIATION>                         26,505          38,365            55,989
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                        195,636         302,588           399,621
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                  80,893         104,700           116,354
<BONDS>                                     0               0                 0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       0               0                 0
<PREFERRED>                                 0               0                 0
<COMMON>                                  266             402               609
<OTHER-SE>                            105,582         160,651           243,615
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>          195,636         302,588           399,621
<SALES>                               558,841         723,202           918,807
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                      558,841         723,202           918,807
<CGS>                                 356,179         458,601           572,313
<TOTAL-COSTS>                         356,179         458,601           572,313
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                      139,422         179,901           228,636
<LOSS-PROVISION>                            0               0                 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                      5,643           3,477             4,435
<INCOME-PRETAX>                        57,597          81,223           113,423
<INCOME-TAX>                           22,249          31,295            44,533
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                    35,348          49,928            68,890
<DISCONTINUED>                              0               0                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                             0               0                 0
<CHANGES>                                   0               0                 0
<NET-INCOME>                           35,348          49,928            68,890
<EPS-PRIMARY>                            0.60           0.83               1.14
<EPS-DILUTED>                            0.54           0.75               1.03
                                                                          


</TABLE>
