2015 Black Friday Deals at Shepherd & Schaller

We’re a little calm in the Black Friday storm.  Shop Shepherd & Schaller Sporting Goods from a civilized 8am-8pm on November 27th.  You’ll enjoy all that’s best about preparing for gift giving season.  Helpful expert customer service, a welcoming shopping environment and genuine value.  Our premium outdoor specialty equipment, outerwear, sportswear, footwear and accessories are discounted for savings you expect.  Ski and Snowboard equipment is all on sale, along with the accessories you need for a perfect day on the slopes.  Bikes, water sports and camping gear all have a gift-friendly low Shep’s price too.

Want a peak at the special deals you’ll get not only Black Friday, but while supplies last through December 6th?  Simply scroll!

Shepherd & Schaller Gift Cards are a welcome gift.  The skier or snowboarder on your list would love to treat their ski and snowboard gear to a day of TLC in our newly expanded Back Shop.  Four new Wintersteiger tuning machines in the hands of our artist, Pete Kohlmoos, tune your product to good-as-new condition, ready to set records on the race course and feel like butter under your feet.  Complete 10-step ski or snowboard tune and wax is $34.99 (Reg. $50).  We offer Hot Box wax, custom repairs and computer calibrated binding settings too.

And because we know you are wondering, Smartwool Socks will be Buy 3 Get 1 Free.  Santa’s favorite stocking!

Here are just a few of the deals in store:

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Bag it Up. All Packs, Bags & Luggage 20% Off at Shep’s.

Patagonia, The North Face, Dakine, United by Blue, Kavu, Burton and more of your favorites are included in our Bag it Up Sale.  October 1-16, 2015, You’ll save 20% on all in-stock Backpacks, Duffles, Totes, Handbags, Purses, Wallets and Luggage. Screen Shot 2015-09-30 at 10.47.20 AMWe have hundreds in stock to match your style, mood and needs.  No one has a larger selection of premium bags in all of Central Wisconsin.  Haul your goodies with confidence and in style, across town or around the world.

Waterproof?  Got it.  Rugged? Duh.  Canvas?  You bet. Patterns?  Yep.  Computer storage?  Of course.  Just plain cute?  Those too.  Styles for gals and guys, whether you want to stand out, blend in, or simply carry your stuff.

Sorry, ski and snowboard equipment bags are not included.  Sale price is not retroactive to previous purchases and does not apply to special orders.

 

Take A Closer Look

Take a closer look.

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Are you seeing what you thought you’d see?  Did we peak your interest?  Do you want to see more?

Merchandise.  Displays.  Promotions.  Events.  We continue to mix things up at Shepherd & Schaller, where today “Sports For All Seasons” means something different to you and to us, than it did in the 1950’s, 1980’s, 2000’s and even last season!  When things change it’s good to take a closer look.  GA7A0417-Edit

Right now we’re all about skiing and snow sports, biking, hiking, paddling, yoga, disc golf, footwear, outerwear and sportswear for the trendy, smart Athleisure lifestyle we all embrace.  But you’ll also find handbags, home decor, skincare and unique products that compliment your active outdoor lifestyle.  Surprised?  When was the last time you experienced honest expert customer service, fun decor and cool technical products – all in one place?

Wausau’s local sports store is more than it’s ever been.  It’s time to take a closer look.

 

School Backpacks: Why it’s time to purchase a quality pack for your children.

This past week, my niece and nephew excitedly showed me their backpacks full of school items in preparation for the upcoming school year.  Upon looking at their bags full of supplies, I was shocked: the fully loaded bags weighted a ton.  Even though both are still in grade school, the bags easily tipped the scale at over 15 pounds.  That’s a lot of weight to be put on the backs of our children.  According to a study conducted by Consumer Reports, the average American sixth grade student’s backpack weighs 18.4 pounds.  That’s a big factor to consider when purchasing a new backpack for this upcoming school year.

There are plenty of reasons to purchase high quality packs over cheap bags, but to save time, I’ll cover the top three reasons:

1.  Comfort.  By far, this is the number one reason to spend a few more dollars on a well designed, quality backpack.  As mentioned earlier, our children are carrying heavy loads, often for extended periods of time if they commute to school on foot.  With anatomically designed straps, high density foam padding, dedicated lumbar support zones, and moisture wicking fabrics, bags from brands such as The North Face and Patagonia do a much better job at carrying heavy loads.

A Patagonia pack versus a lesser quality bag.  Notice the lack of padding and anatomical straps.   Photo: Michael W
A Patagonia pack versus a lesser quality bag. Notice the lack of padding and anatomical straps.
Photo: Michael W

2. Quality.  The old adage of “you pay for what you get” is never truer than when buying a backpack.  High quality packs use nothing but the most robust materials: Cordura ripstop nylon, ballistic nylon, heavy duty zippers, etc.  In comparison, cheap bags are almost always constructed of polyester, a material that is both thin and prone to premature wear.  Seams that should be sewn with heavy duty threads are instead sewn with flimsy thread, and are often the first things to go with very little use.  Other features nice packs have that poor quality bags don’t?  A warranty!  Most of our backpacks from The North Face and Patagonia have lifetime warranties.  Further, most offer light rain protection, reflective safety features, and are produced by companies that promote fair labor with safe working conditions (for an example of this, click here –> http://www.patagonia.com/us/footprint)

3. Value.  Value you say?  How can a $80 backpack be a better value than one you can get from a big box store for $20.  Simple.  Spend $80 on that good quality bag and it’ll likely be the last bag you’ll need to buy for multiple school years.  I recently sold an old North Face bag to my wife’s brother I purchased in the 1990’s and it’s still going strong.  Alternatively, you can spend a minimum of $20 each school year, and hope you don’t have to buy a second midway though the year.  You’ll be money ahead by purchasing the nicer bag, and you won’t have to spend extra on Ibuprofen nursing sore backs either.

We currently have a great selection of back to school bags to prepare your child for a happy and comfortable return to school this fall.  Swing down and check them out today!

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Here’s to You, Dad.

Thanks dad, for everything you do for us. Thanks for the memories, for the adventures, for teaching us the little things like how to ride a bike and the big things like how to treat other people. We’re who we are today partially because of you and we want you to know we love you.

Our fathers and father figures deserve a little extra love this Father’s Day and we know just the spot to shop. You’ll find discounts on bikes, water sports, hiking essentials, clothes, shoes, winter toys, and cool accessories he’ll love.  Show him how much you appreciate him. (And treat yourself too, while you’re at it!)

 

If you need a little inspiration, check out the ideas for dad we posted last year. Or use visit us in downtown Wausau where we’re ready to help.

 

Happy Father’s Day!