For August, First Thursdays is celebrating that the “Dog Days of Summer” are upon us, and we couldn’t agree more! We’re thrilled to be spending time on our kayaks, waterskis & bikes because it’s hot and we’re happy! How have you been enjoying the heat?
This Thursday, Shep’s is once again giving you $10 Shep’s Bucks for every $50 you spend, PLUS offering 25% off all spring & summer apparel, shoes, and accessories! With that duo, you really can’t go wrong. Our friends and neighbors throughout downtown are offering their own great specials, and we’re all working with the Humane Society of Marathon County to raise awareness of their pups & hopefully connect some with new homes!
Join us downtown for live music, one-night-only specials & sales, and more from 5pm-8pm this Thursday, August 6th!
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
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!
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.
1. Oakley Sunglasses – Oakley has always been one of the most innovative companies when it comes to eye wear. I’ve been wearing Oakleys for years and still own my very first pair I bought for baseball. They offer awesome, comfortable lifestyle sunglasses as well as amazing, unique sport sunglasses. Oakley’s new technology, their Prizm Lenses, enhance colors and better your vision, boosting performance for specific sports. I have a pair for mountain biking that I wear for fun rides as well as races, and I’m telling you: they work. I see everything on the trail faster and more clear than I could with the naked eye. For road biking, I have a pair of the new Jawbreaker frames and they are the most comfortable sunglasses I have ever worn, plus they breathe extremely well and vent amazingly. Way to go, Oakley. I love you.
2. HO TX Slalom Skis – HO’s slalom skis are better than ever. They’re everything you would want for a fun day on the water… and more. They’re super stable and easy to ski, making waterskiing more inviting to people who may have been turned away form the sport before, and even more fun for the experts. HO has done their part and made a ski for everyone. They are awesome.
3. Mypakage Weekday Boxer Briefs – What is there to say…. they are the most comfortable underwear on the planet “for men”. They help me feel protected and safe all day long when I have them on. They make the worst days the best days. I feel like I’m on cloud nine when I am wearing them. They helped me find my dog when it was lost. They always keep me snug and happy. Mypakage is the best out there. You should try some for yourself.
All of this and MORE can be found at Shep’s. Don’t forget Father’s Day is coming up… we just gave you three super good ideas for dad.
As you can tell from this post, I’m in it for the fashion. While I love, use, and appreciate the top-of-the-line techie gear we have at Shep’s, if I’m honest, the expanding departments of everyday apparel is more my thing. Here are a few of my favorite items this summer.
1. Ahnu Saratoga Sandal – They’re casual, simple, and comfortable right out of the box. Made from soft, genuine leather and nubuck, their footbed and generous cushion & support make these so much more than a flat, basic sandal. With jeans or shorts or skirts and dresses – they’re always the perfect option! (And yes, both colors are great!)
2. United By Blue Fairmount Crossbody Bag – United By Blue quickly became a staff favorite. Their super-soft organic cotton apparel is cute enough & comfortable enough to live in every single day of the week. Their bags are just plain amazing and come in tons of shapes and sizes to meet your preference. All made with genuine leather and organic canvas, they have purses, totes, backpacks, travel cases, pouches and lunch boxes. UBB’s good deed? They’re committed to removing 1 pound of trash from oceans and waterways around the world for every bag they sell. Win, win.
3. Toad and Co. Linette Skirt – Toad and Co. (formerly Horny Toad) is impossible not to love. Their collection so perfectly balances on the line of performance and casual, everyday apparel. While this washable linen chambray skirt I happen to love is tailored to their “lifestyle” category, many of their pieces are from wicking fabric, wrinkle free, and always perfect for active lifestyles as well as travel. This skirt is adorable for work, picnics, concerts, or summer parties. It’s a summer staple.
You might be surprised to learn that we have a store full of apparel like the pieces you see above. And through June, you can save 20% on apparel, accessories, footwear, and more. You’ll love what you find.
