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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) February 5, 2004

SHOE CARNIVAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Indiana	0-21360	35-1736614
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

8233 Baumgart Road, Evansville, IN	47725
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (812) 867-6471

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address if changed since last report)

Item 12.	Results of Operations and Financial Condition
	On February 5, 2004, Shoe Carnival, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing its January 2004 sales results and estimated earnings for its fourth fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2004. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

SIGNATURE

    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.

	SHOE CARNIVAL, INC.
	(Registrant)
Dated:  February 5, 2004	By:	/s/ W. Kerry Jackson
		W. Kerry Jackson
		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

SHOE CARNIVAL, INC.

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Sales Release - Month Ended January 31, 2004

EX-99

Exhibit 99.1

8233 Baumgart Road Evansville, IN 47725 www.shoecarnival.com (812) 867-4034	Contact Mark L. Lemond President and Chief Executive Officer or W. Kerry Jackson Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SHOE CARNIVAL REPORTS JANUARY SALES

Evansville, Indiana, February 5, 2004 - Shoe Carnival, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCVL), a leading retailer of value-priced footwear and accessories, today reported sales for the four-week period ended January 31, 2004 increased 6.4 percent to $30.2 million from sales of $28.4 million for the four-week period ended February 1, 2003. Comparable store sales decreased 3.3 percent in January 2004.

Sales for the 13-week fourth quarter increased 4.9 percent to $134.2 million from sales of $128.0 million for the 13-week quarter ended February 1, 2003. Comparable store sales decreased 4.9 percent for the thirteen-week period.

Sales for the 52-week 2003 fiscal year increased 7.4 percent to $557.9 million from sales of $519.7 million for the 2002 fiscal year ended February 1, 2003. Comparable store sales decreased 3.0 percent for the 52-week period.

Despite the sales results for January, management remains comfortable with the previously stated earnings guidance for the fourth quarter ranging from a loss of $0.01 to earnings of $0.02 per diluted share. Fourth quarter and full year results for 2003 are expected to be reported on March 11, 2004.

The Company also announced the closing of three stores during the month, one each in Athens, GA; Morrow, GA and Evansville, IN.

To hear the telephone replay of Shoe Carnival, Inc.'s pre-recorded January sales message, please dial 888-203-1112 followed by conference call I.D. number 611339 beginning February 5, 2004 at 7:30 a.m. Eastern time. The telephone replay will be available for one week.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in the areas of the United States in which our stores are located; changes in the overall retail environment and more specifically in the apparel and footwear retail sectors; the potential impact of national and international security concerns on the retail environment; changes in our relationships with key suppliers; the impact of competition and pricing; changes in weather patterns, consumer buying trends and our ability to identify and respond to emerging fashion trends; risks associated with the seasonality of the retail industry; the availability of desirable store locations a t acceptable lease terms and our ability to open new stores in a timely and profitable manner; higher than anticipated costs associated with the closing of underperforming stores; the inability of manufacturers to deliver products in a timely manner; changes in the political and economic environments in the People's Republic of China, a major manufacturer of footwear; and the continued favorable trade relations between the United States and China and countries which are the major manufacturers of footwear.

In addition, these forward-looking statements necessarily depend upon assumptions, estimates and dates that may be incorrect or imprecise and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Accordingly, any forward-looking statements included in this press release do not purport to be predictions of future events or circumstances and may not be realized. Forward-looking statements can be identified by, among other things, the use of forward-looking terms such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "pro forma," "anticipates," "intends" or the negative of any of these terms, or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy or intentions. Given these uncertainties, we caution investors not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We disclaim any obligation to update any of these factors or to publicly announce any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this press releas e to reflect future events or developments.

Shoe Carnival is a chain of 237 footwear stores located in the Midwest, South and Southeast. Combining value pricing with an entertaining store format, Shoe Carnival is a leading retailer of name brand and private label footwear for the entire family. Headquartered in Evansville, IN, Shoe Carnival trades on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol SCVL. Shoe Carnival's press releases and annual report are available on the Company's website at www.shoecarnival.com.

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