8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC  20549

________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

March 1, 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-12(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 March 1, 2012, Stage Stores, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a News Release reporting its February 2012 sales results.  The Company also announced that it will make a presentation at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2012 Consumer & Retail Conference on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, at 3:10 p.m. Eastern Time.  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 March 1, 2012, reporting its February 2012 sales results and announcing that it will make a presentation at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2012 Consumer & Retail Conference on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, at 3:10 p.m. Eastern Time.

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.
March 2, 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 Increases of 7.1% in Total Sales and 3.7% in Comparable Store Sales for February

 Announces Participation at Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2012 Consumer & Retail Conference

HOUSTON, TX, March 1, 2012 - Stage Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SSI) today reported that its total sales for the four week February period ended February 25, 2012 increased 7.1% to $101 million from $94 million in the prior year four week period ended February 26, 2011.  Comparable store sales increased 3.7%.

The Company achieved comparable store sales increases in its children’s, cosmetics, footwear, home & gifts, junior’s, men’s, outerwear, petites and young men’s categories during February.  Geographically, all of the Company’s major regions had comparable store sales gains during the month.

Store Activity

The Company opened three new Steele's stores on February 1st in Taylor, TX, Opelousas, LA and Selma, AL. An additional three new Steele's stores were opened on March 1st in Mexia, TX, Hidalgo, TX and Donaldsonville, LA.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2012 Consumer & Retail Conference

The Company also announced today that Andy Hall, President and CEO, and Oded Shein, CFO, will make a presentation at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2012 Consumer & Retail Conference on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, at 3:10 p.m. Eastern Time.  The conference is being held at The New York Palace Hotel in New York City.  A live webcast of the presentation will be available.  To access the webcast, log on to the Company's web site at www.stagestoresinc.com and then click on Investor Relations, then Webcasts, and then the webcast link.  A replay of the presentation will be available online for approximately 30 days.  The PowerPoint presentation that management will be using at the conference will be available for viewing on the Company’s web site.

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Stage Stores Reports

February Sales

Page – 2

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 819 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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