Hilco Merchant Resources to Manage All 78 Locations of B. C. Moore & Sons, Inc., Newly Acquired by Stage Stores; Strategic Partnership Forged to Facilitate Transition to Peebles Brand

Business Wire, March 7, 2006

NORTHBROOK, Ill. -- Hilco Merchant Resources, LLC ("Hilco") today announced that it has been selected by Stage Stores, Inc. ("Stage") to act as their management agent for B. C. Moore & Sons, Inc. ("B. C. Moore"). Stage recently completed the acquisition of the B. C. Moore chain, consisting of 78 small retail department stores throughout Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina. Stage plans to convert 69 of the acquired locations into Peebles stores and to close the remaining 9 locations.

Hilco will assume day to day responsibilities for all B. C. Moore stores, two merchandise distribution centers and corporate offices during a term of ordinary course business, as well as during the scheduled inventory sell-off that will precede the conversion of the B. C. Moore stores to the Peebles brand. In addition, Hilco will direct all B. C. Moore purchasing, personnel and marketing activities throughout the entire transition period, which is scheduled to conclude in October.

Jim Scarborough, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Stage, commented, "Our partnership with Hilco Merchant Resources allows us to remain focused on our core business and operations. We are confident that the expertise which Hilco will bring to bear during the transition phase will enhance our ability to successfully convert, integrate, and grow these additional stores."

Cory Lipoff, Executive Vice President and Principal of Hilco Merchant Resources, stated, "We are extremely pleased to collaborate with Stage on the very exciting transition from B. C. Moore to Peebles. Our efforts will be dedicated to creating and managing a process that exceeds the expectations of B. C. Moore's customers, employees and suppliers. In all aspects of retail operations, Hilco has the extensive experience and innovative techniques necessary to ensure the success of this important strategic initiative for Stage."

Hilco Merchant Resources (www.hilcomerchantresources.com) provides high-yield strategic retail inventory disposition, store closing and interim management services. Over the years, Hilco principals have disposed of assets valued in excess of $35 billion. Hilco Merchant Resources is part of the Hilco Organization, a provider of asset valuation, acquisition, disposition and financing services to an international marketplace through 10 specialized business units, 400 employees and nearly 200 qualified field consultants.

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. The Company currently operates 194 Bealls, 48 Palais Royal and 134 Stage stores throughout the South Central states, and operates 174 Peebles stores 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.

Editor: A complete list of B. C. Moore & Sons, Inc. locations follows.

B. C. MOORE LOCATIONS

           ADDRESS                    CITY          STATE      ZIP

      150 LINDBERG AVE.              ATMORE           AL      36502
      2131 DOUGLAS AVE.             BREWTON           AL      36426
     1035 S. EUFAULA AVE.           EUFAULA           AL      36027
       111 MCGEHEE ST.             EVERGREEN          AL      36401
      1402 W. MAPLE AVE.             GENEVA           AL      36340
      149 GATEWAY PLAZA            GREENVILLE         AL      36037
     2415 N. COLLEGE AVE.           JACKSON           AL      36545
     185 S. ALABAMA AVE.          MONROEVILLE         AL      36460
     507 E. CUMMINGS AVE.             OPP             AL      36467
     1548 SOUTH HWY. 231             OZARK            AL      36361
       104 W. FIRST ST.               ADEL            GA      31620
       414 W. 12TH ST.                ALMA            GA      31510
      106 E. PARKER ST.              BAXLEY           GA      31513
      12446 COLUMBIA ST.            BLAKELY           GA      39823
      1020 FIRST AVE. NE             CAIRO            GA      39828
       10 N. SCOTT ST.              CAMILLA           GA      31730
      1004 NE DYKES ST.             COCHRAN           GA      31014
     1101 16TH AVE. EAST            CORDELE           GA      31015
  246 HABERSHAM HILLS CIRCLE        CORNELIA          GA      30531
     1210 S. MADISON AVE.           DOUGLAS           GA      31533
       101 MAIN ST. SE              EASTMAN           GA      31023
       162 OCILLA HWY.             FITZGERALD         GA      31750
    112 S. TALLAHASSEE ST.         HAZLEHURST         GA      31539
      106 8TH ST. SOUTH              HELENA           GA      31037
      150 SOUTH 1ST ST.              JESUP            GA      31545
     813 PEACHTREE PLAZA           LOUISVILLE         GA      30434
       165 S. LEROY ST.              METTER           GA      30439
       141 TALMADGE DR.            MONULTRIE          GA      31768
  113-115 E. WASHINGTON ST.        NASHVILLE          GA      31639
     1361 SAM NUNN BLVD.             PERRY            GA      31069
      668 S. HARRIS ST.           SANDERSVILLE        GA      31082
       501 S. MAIN ST.             SWAINSBORO         GA      30401
     1129 W. OGEECHEE ST.           SYLVANIA          GA      30465
     623 E. FRANKLIN ST.           SYLVESTER          GA      31791
       312 W. HILL ST.              THOMSON           GA      30824
        617 E. 1ST ST.              VIDALIA           GA      30474
        310 S. POPLAR            ELIZABETHTOWN        NC      28337
       1690 S. MAIN ST.            LAURINBURG         NC      28352
     625 W. HENDERSON ST.            MARION           NC      28752
       108 E. MAIN ST.             MARSHVILLE         NC      28103
        234 COLE AVE.               RAEFORD           NC      28376
       200 S. MAIN ST.            RED SPRINGS         NC      28377
        2644 LEE AVE.               SANFORD           NC      27332
      201 CHATHAM SQUARE           SILER CITY         NC      27344
       101 W. BROAD ST.            ST. PAULS          NC      28384
       336 N. MAIN ST.                TROY            NC      27371
     1001 E. CASWELL ST.           WADESBORO          NC      28170
   318 COLUMBUS CORNERS DR.        WHITEVILLE         NC      28472
       9 S. MORGAN ST.              ANDREWS           SC      29510
        3577 MAIN HWY.              BAMBERG           SC      29003
       28 MCDONOUGH ST.             BARNWELL          SC      29812
     212 W. COLUMBIA AVE.          BATESBURG          SC      29006
        143 BROAD ST.            BENNETTSVILLE        SC      29512
        950 BROAD ST.                CAMDEN           SC      29020
        140 MARKET ST.               CHERAW           SC      29520
       511 BC MOORE DR.             CHESTER           SC      29706
      122 WEST MAIN ST.           CHESTERFIELD        SC      29709
        512 LAMAR HWY.             DARLINGTON         SC      29532
      214 RADFORD BLVD.              DILLON           SC      29536
       1609 S. IRBY ST.             FLORENCE          SC      29505
233 WEST CAROLINA AVE, HWY 278      HAMPTON           SC      29944
       827 S. FIFTH ST.            HARTSVILLE         SC      29550
      128 N. HAMPTON ST.            KERSHAW           SC      29067
 31 WILLIAMSBURG CO. HWY. N.       KINGSTREE          SC      29556
        254 KELLY ST.              LAKE CITY          SC      29560
       941 N. MAIN ST.             LANCASTER          SC      29720
       919 E. MAIN ST.              LAURENS           SC      29360
     22-24 N. BROOKS ST.            MANNING           SC      29102
       2539 E. HWY. 76               MARION           SC      29571
       134 N. MAIN ST.              MULLINS           SC      29574
        2821 MAIN ST.               NEWBERRY          SC      29108
     505B SOUTH PEARL ST.           PAGELAND          SC      29728
        502 F ANN ST.               PICKENS           SC      29671
       112 S. MAIN ST.               SALUDA           SC      29138
      114 N. PARLER AVE.           ST. GEORGE         SC      29477
     229 ROBERTSON BLVD.           WALTERBORO         SC      29488
        17 PELZER AVE.            WILLIAMSTON         SC      29697
   83 US HWY. 321 BYPASS S.        WINNSBORO          SC      29180