Meet the Family: Prana is at Shepherd & Schaller

Meet the Family: Prana

No one does athleisure like @Prana, and we’re proud to be their home in Wausau. Visit their site to learn more about their commitment to Sustainability, Responsibility, Traceability, Fairness and Giving Back. We like the way they operate and you will to. Here’s what Prana says, it’s why we partner with them to support your active lifestyle:

“We go out of our way to ensure the impact we make on the world is mostly confined to our aesthetic. By using materials and partnering with companies and factories that adhere to strict guidelines for safety and efficacy, we’re able to make the beautiful and functional products we love, in a way that we can all feel good about.”

Visit Shep’s for Prana’s beloved sportswear, dresses, yoga fashions and accessories. You’ll be back for more.

Our Partners Lead with Integrity. Meet the Family: Toad & Co

We are so grateful to partner with the most inspiring people and companies. We’re going to highlight them each Wednesday this season so you can see why we chose them to compliment our mission to support you in your outdoor adventures while paying attention to the greater good. We think you’ll be inspired too, by their commitment to social and corporate responsibility, sustainability and so much more. We’re all in this together. Meet the Family:

@Toad&Co
Their Mission: To lead with integrity and weave optimism
into everything they do; To create meaningful change
through socially and environmentally smart business; To
inspire people to live their fullest lives.

Formerly known as “Horny Toad” brand, they are known for organic cotton styles, a cool travel collection and their new Trail to Tavern collection. You buy they give. Click to learn more then visit us in downtown Wausau to shop their awesome clothing for men and women.

Toad’s tagline is “Keep Good Company.”  It’s fitting on so many levels.  Visit their site to learn and be inspired.  Find out why they are Good Citizens, how they Design for Good, create Access for All, their commitment to Corporate Responsibility, Design Philosophy, eCo Fabrics and Fibers and much more.

How to Care for Performance Outerwear

If you bought your outerwear at Shep’s and you’ve worn it around making great memories and looking awesome along the way, chances are it will be time for a wash at some point.

First rule: follow manufacturer’s printed instructions, usually located on a tag inside the garment. Or, visit their website for fabric and care information.  Any manufacturer’s warranty may be nullified if their instructions are not followed.

Second rule of thumb: unless it’s faux fur, don’t take it to a dry cleaner!  Their process and chemicals will ruin your waterproof/breathable garment. Happily, you can wash and maintain your performance outerwear easily  at home whenever you feel it’s time to be refreshed.  If it’s looking dirty or water is soaking through the shell fabric, then it’s a good time to launder it again.

Your performance outerwear has two lines of defense between you and the elements: the DWR finish on the face (outer) side of the fabric, and waterproof/breathable coatings or laminates on the inside of the fabric.  Waterproof/breathable coatings and laminates will last for the lifetime of your garment with proper care.  All such coatings have microscopic pores that are too small to allow liquid water to pass through, but large enough to let water vapor escape.  Dirt and grime can disrupt the waterproofing and breathability by clogging the pores, which lets water soak through and also prevents water vapor from escaping. Careful cleaning and drying will reopen these pores and restore the effectiveness of the coatings.

image: offpistemag.com/nikwax-dwr-treatment/

The DWR (durable water-resistant) finish is applied to the face side of the outerwear fabric, enabling it to resist exposure to ultraviolet light.  If you splash some water on the outside of your garment, the water should bead up and roll right off.  If it doesn’t, then try careful washing and drying to restore the DWR finish.  If careful cleaning does not restore the effectiveness of the DWR finish, you can reapply a DWR finish yourself.  We recommend Nikwax TX Direct, which can be sprayed on or washed in.

 

 

Here’s how to properly wash your performance outerwear to restore it’s appearance and function:

  •  DO NOT DRY CLEAN.  Check the care tag that is attached.
  • Unzip all the zippers and turn your garment inside-out.
  • Wash in COLD water, separately.
  • DO NOT USE FABRIC SOFTENERS OR BLEACH.  Fabric softeners will clog the pores of the garment.  Bleach will ruin it.
  • Use a non-detergent cleanser or very mild powder detergent.  We recommend Nikwax products.
  • Minimize soap usage.  Better few bubbles than many.
  • If you’re using a wash-in DWR restorer, add it to the wash cycle.
  • Use your machine’s GENTLE cycle, or hand wash.
  • Rinse throughly.  Even better, rinse twice.
  • Gently squeeze out most of the water.  DO NOT WRING.  Wringing the water from your garment can cause the waterproof/breathable coating to separate from the inside of the shell fabric.
  • Use a powdered non-detergent cleanser.  Liquid detergent can clog the pores in the waterproof-breathable coating.  If one is not available, use a very mild powdered detergent, and use it sparingly. Powdered detergents rinse more throughly than liquid detergents.  Gently rinse your garment, preferably twice.  If you must use a grocery-store brand, we recommend Dreft detergent, used sparingly.
  • LINE-DRY your garment until it is completely dry.  Do not hang it over a heat source, which can damage the fabric and the coatings.
  • If you want to restore DWR and did not a wash-in type, you may apply a spray-pn DWR restorer after washing.

We Offer Nikwax products alongside our great selection of premium outerwear.

Nikwax Tech Wash, a non-detergent cleanser for most outerwear

Nikwax Down Wash, a non-detergent cleanser for outerwear and mid layers insulated with down.

Nikwax TX Direct, Wash-in or Spray-on.

 

Can’t Get Enough of Shep’s? Join Our Team!

Shepherd & Schaller is Wausau’s Outdoor Store. Serving central Wisconsin since 1949, we proudly offer the finest ski, bike, camping, water sports and paddling equipment, active apparel, and footwear in the region. We’re all about the experience, ours and yours. We’re tuned-in and turned-on by an active outdoor lifestyle, year-round.

Do you walk the talk? We’re always looking for the right people-person. Dependable, friendly, outgoing, detail oriented, energetic, supportive and a self-starter. You work as hard as you play. If you can see the big picture to provide support and solutions to our customers and teammates in a fast-paced, multi-faceted environment, we should talk.

Spend your free time on the trails or the water? Pour over ski equipment blogs? Love sharing your passion?  Our teammates are the face of our business, providing expert and enthusiastic advice to guide people to products that meet their goals. Are you willing to support back-shop functions and love learning?  That’s what it takes, because this is no big box shopping experience.

Work-life balance. The outdoor industry wrote the book.  Ski before work? Of course!  Commute by bike? We encourage it.  Coach the team? We love it!  We’re all this this together, so your new ideas are welcome. Suggest a new product, tell us about a favorite place to play or a club that you support, develop a better system, create and contribute.  We enjoy industry perks like product demos and pro pricing on the coolest gear for outdoor enthusiasts and we’re proud to offer brands that support Fair Trade, use recycled and organic materials and give back in exciting ways. The local events we host and support make a difference in our community and most importantly the customers we serve are our friends. To us, “It’s personal.”

We offer daytime, evening and weekend shifts, but not late nights.  You’ll have time to play, for classes and for family. Though we’re flexible about scheduling and will work around your other obligations, you can expect to work key time frames including the holiday shopping season and ski season event weekends. Lifting and carrying up to 30 lbs. is required. Couch potatoes need not apply.

Tell us about your passions.  Drop a note, send a video or stop by for a visit. There’s room to grow with us to create a satisfying career here in Downtown Wausau, WI.

www.shepssports.com

 

 

If we’re a good fit for each other, you’ll be responsible for the customer experience on the sales floor and will fully serve the customer base by connecting with them, assessing their needs, recommending products and encouraging the sale.

Essential functions and responsibilities:

*  Effectively communicate store promotions, events and policies
*  Accuately present product features and benefits
*  Recommend local outdoor lifestyle resources
*  Ensure merchandising standards are adherd to and executed accurately
*  Use product training and sales training to give outstanding customer service
*  Demonstrate safe practices and procedures in store by adhering to company standards
*  Assist in all aspects of product preparation including receiving, merchandising, stocking
*  Assist in all aspects of sales floor presentation including cleaning, organizing and display preparation
*  Accurately prepare customer sales and service documents
*  Accurately use Mac based POS system
*  Complete other duties as assigned

Other Qualifications:

*  Must have a passion for the outdoor lifestyle with proven experience in one or more of the following:  bike, ski, snowboard, camping, water sports, athleisure and technical clothing, footwear.
*  Proven ability to connect with and engage customers and deliver outstanding customer service every day, with a positive attitude.
*  Demonstrated selling skills with the ability to meet goals
*  Ability to communicate both verbally and written, clearly and concisely in English
*  Must be willing to work a flexible schedule based on business needs, including evenings, weekends and holidays
*  Able to freely access all areas of the store including sales floor, stock area, workshop and register area by standing, walking, stooping, crouching, kneeling and climbing a ladder, ability to lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
*  Strong computer skills with the ability to effectively use a Mac environment

Ability to earn advancement to a full-time position is up to you!

Treasure Hunter’s Sale is Nov 17-20, 2016 at Shepherd & Schaller

screen-shot-2016-10-31-at-11-45-15-am
It’s hunting season and Shepherd & Schaller is making it fun for everyone.  Shop during our Treasure Hunter’s Sale Nov 17-20 for discounts and prizes that will be easy to find.
Peruse our clothing and footwear departments for items tagged with a special Orange Deep Discount sticker! “Shoot” a photo in-store with your “trophy” and post it to get $5 in ShepsBucks to use during your next visit.
We’ve even hidden some exciting prizes in the ski department for you to stalk and savvy hunters will go home with great treasures from our downtown neighbors in Wausau’s River District too!