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 7, 2008

(Date of Report, date of earliest event reported)

Stage Stores, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its 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-12 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 7, 2008, Stage Stores, Inc. issued a News Release reporting its July 2008 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 7, 2008 reporting its July 2008 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 11, 2008	/s/ Edward J. Record
(Date)	Edward J. Record
	Executive Vice President and
	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 JULY SALES

--Reaffirms Expectation to Meet or Exceed High End of Q2 EPS Guidance Range--  

HOUSTON, TX, August 7, 2008 - Stage Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SSI) today reported that its total sales for the four week July period ended August 2, 2008 decreased 1.0% to $108.1 million from $109.2 million in the prior year four week period ended August 4, 2007.  Comparable store sales decreased 6.2% versus a decrease of 1.7% last year.

Major categories of business which achieved comparable store sales increases during July included cosmetics at +11.9% and dresses at +2.0%.

For the second quarter ended August 2, 2008, the Company reported that its total sales increased 3.8% to $372.7 million from $359.2 million for the second quarter last year.  Comparable store sales for the quarter decreased 1.4% versus an increase of 0.5% in the prior year period.

Jim Scarborough, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Our July comparable store sales results reflect the continuing challenging economic environment, as well as a slow start to the back-to-school selling period, despite tax free sales events in a number of states.  While we are disappointed with our July sales results, we did exceed our total and comparable store sales guidance ranges for the second quarter, and therefore, we continue to believe that we will meet or exceed the high end of our earnings guidance range for the quarter of $0.17 to $0.23 per diluted share.”

The Company plans to report its second quarter results before the market opens on Thursday, August 21, 2008, and will hold a conference call and webcast the same day beginning at 8:30 am Eastern Time.

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Stage Stores Reports

July Sales

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SALES SUMMARY

	Comparable Store Sales Trend		Total Sales
	% Increase (Decrease)		($ in Millions)
Fiscal Period	2008	2007	2008	2007
1st Quarter	(5.4)%	0.1%	$353.5	$358.2
May	0.1	1.7	122.6	116.6
June	1.2	1.4	142.0	133.4
July	(6.2)	(1.7)	108.1	109.2
2nd Quarter	(1.4)	0.5	372.7	359.2
Year-To-Date (6 Mos)	(3.4)	0.3	726.2	717.4

Store Activity

During July, the Company opened new Palais Royal stores in Rosenberg and Livingston, TX, a new Stage store in Chalmette, LA, and new Bealls stores in Burley and Blackfoot, ID.  The two new Idaho stores represent the Company’s first stores in that state, and increased its state count to 36.  The 5 July new store openings brought the total number of stores opened during the first half of the fiscal year to 28.  During the month, the Company also closed 2 stores.

About Stage Stores

Stage Stores, Inc. brings nationally recognized brand name apparel, accessories, cosmetics and footwear for the entire family to small and mid-size towns and communities through 719 stores located in 36 states.  The Company operates under the Bealls, Palais Royal and Stage names throughout the South Central, Southwestern and Northwestern states, and under the Peebles name throughout the Midwestern, Southeastern, Mid-Atlantic and New England states.  For more information about Stage Stores, visit the Company’s web site at www.stagestores.com.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains “forward-looking statements”. Forward-looking statements reflect our expectations regarding future events and operating performance and often contain words such as "believe", "expect", "may", "will", "should", "could", "anticipate", "plan" or similar words.  In this document, forward-looking statements include comments regarding the Company’s second quarter diluted earnings per share outlook.  Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause

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Stage Stores Reports

July Sales

Page - - 3

actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements.  These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 1, 2008 and other factors as may periodically be described in our other filings with the SEC.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document.  We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.

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