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!
This month, First Thursday’s theme is Terrific Transportation. Perfect! We LOVE alternative modes of transportation, like skiing down the hill, riding across town, or hiking around the woods. We’re all about being active, not just to be active, but to enjoy it.
As usual, Shep’s is coming at you with some awesome deals for this event. We’ll offer 20% off your in-stock purchase of Clothing & Footwear AND give you $10 Shep’s Bucks for every $50 you spend! Win, win! Participate in the downtown-wide promotion shown below and use your “ticket” to get $5 off any bike service/repair at Shep’s.
Join us downtown for live music, one-night-only specials & sales, and more from 5pm-8pm this Thursday, July 2nd!
The 4th of July is almost upon us, and with that comes planning to make the most out of summer’s favorite holiday weekend. But if you’re like many struggling to make old traditions fun year after year, why not give some new activities a try? There’s tons to do outdoors in the summer in Wisconsin, and Shep’s has all the latest gear to get you on your way to a new favorite outdoor activity. Here’s a few suggestions:
1. Disc Golf: There are disc golf courses popping up all around Wisconsin, and with the start-up cost so low, people of all ages are heading out to throw some discs. Shep’s carries hundreds of discs from Discraft, Innova, and Disc Mania along with bags and other accessories to get new players started and seasoned players restocked.
Image: https://www.ebikeshed.com/ Click image to visit.
2. Biking: With hundreds of miles of city, country, or forest trails available for biking, Wisconsin is one of the best places to get out on two wheels. And with bikes for people of all ages and abilities, Shep’s is your biking headquarters. Comfort, fitness, or mountain bikes – we have it all, and we have all the accessories available too. Already have a bike? Our skilled mechanic is here to get your bike running smoothly and safely in time for the 4th of July weekend!
3. Water Sports: Living in Wisconsin and being on the water go hand in hand, and even if you’re a seasoned water goer, chances are there’s a new activity you’ve yet to try on our beautiful waterways. Love to kayak? Why not give stand up paddleboaring a try? Are you a local pro on a slalom ski? Wake boarding, wake surfing, and more will give you an awesome new skill to master. Or if you’re simply heading to the beach for a quick dip, Shep’s has a great line of men’s and women’s swimwear from Prana, Patagonia, Roxy, Quiksilver, United By Blue, Kavu, and more! Lastly, don’t forget your Sun Bum sunscreen before you hit the water!
Don’t forget to look and feel great this holiday weekend wearing great new apparel for men and women from Patagonia, North Face, United By Blue, Krimson Klover, Prana, Kavu, Toad & Co, and so many more!
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.
