8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

August 30, 2012

(Date of Report, Date of Earliest Event Reported)

Stage Stores, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

1-14035

(Commission File Number)

NEVADA (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	91-1826900 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
10201 Main Street, Houston, Texas (Address of Principal Executive Offices)	77025 (Zip Code)

(800) 579-2302

(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events

On August 30, 2012, Stage Stores, Inc. issued a News Release reporting its August 2012 sales results. A copy of the News Release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

           (d) Exhibits

99 News Release issued by Stage Stores, Inc. on August 30, 2012, reporting its August 2012 sales results.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

	STAGE STORES, INC.
August 31, 2012	/s/ Oded Shein
(Date)	Oded Shein
	Chief Financial Officer

EX-99

Exhibit 99

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT:

Bob Aronson

Vice President, Investor Relations

800-579-2302

(baronson@stagestores.com)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stage Stores Reports Comparable Store Sales Increase of 6.5% for August

HOUSTON, TX, August 30, 2012 - Stage Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SSI) today reported that total sales for the four week August period ended August 25, 2012 increased 9.6% to $124 million from $113 million in the prior year four week August period ended August 27, 2011.  Comparable store sales for the August period increased 6.5%.

The Company noted that the comparable store sales increase for August was broad based, with footwear, home & gifts, misses sportswear, petites and plus sizes leading the way with gains that exceeded the Company average.  Geographically, the South Central, Mid Atlantic, Southwest and Northeast regions all outperformed.

SALES SUMMARY

	Comparable Store Sales		Total Sales
	% Increase (Decrease)		($ in Millions)
Fiscal Period	2012	2011	2012	2011
1st Quarter	2.5	0.2	366	346
2nd Quarter	5.4	0.9	381	353
August	6.5	1.7	124	113
Year-To-Date (7 Mos)	4.3	0.5	871	812

Michael Glazer, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are very pleased with our August sales performance.  Healthy back-to-school selling, strength in our missy and other women’s categories and strong full price selling helped produce our highest comparable store sales increase for the month of August since 2004.  We feel good about our merchandise assortments, inventory levels and positive momentum heading into the important fall season.”

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Stage Stores Reports

August Sales

Page - 2

Store Activity

The Company also reported today that it opened a new Goody’s store in Elkin, NC, a new Peebles store in Ticonderoga, NY and new Steele’s stores in Corsicana, TX and Bogalusa, LA during August.  The Company also closed two stores during the month.

About Stage Stores

Stage Stores, Inc. operates primarily in small and mid-sized towns and communities.  Its stores, which operate under the Bealls, Goody’s, Palais Royal, Peebles, Stage and Steele’s names, offer moderately priced, nationally recognized brand name apparel, accessories, cosmetics and footwear for the entire family. The Company operates 836 stores in 40 states.  The Company also has an eCommerce website.  For more information about Stage Stores, visit the Company’s web site at www.stagestoresinc.com.

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