Good stuff happening above the Dungeon at Shepherd & Schaller Oct. 22-26

You’ve just found the perfect ski boots for the little one, new skis and poles for dad, and mom is excited about her new ski package at Shepherd & Schaller’s famous Dungeon Sale, October 22-26, 2014.  You know the one – it’s the sale where you’ll find scary-good prices on new and used ski and snowboard equipment for the whole family!

It’s time to head upstairs for great deals on Outerwear, Sportswear, Footwear and Accessories for ski season!  We can’t name our famous names, because the deals are too good to advertise.  But, here’s what you’ll find for five amazing ski-sale days:

  • Buy 3 Get 1 Free: Smartwool Socks  (20% off a single pair if you prefer)
  • 20% off all in-stock Outerwear for adults and kids.  (Kids from size 2T through 16/XL).  Includes Jackets, Pants, Fleece, Mittens & Gloves, Hats and Balaclavas.  Base Layers too.
  • 20% off all in-stock Sportswear.  Sweaters, Pants, Leggings, Tops, Shirts, Skirts, Dresses, Hoodies, T-Shirts.  All of it.
  • 20% off all in-stock Footwear.  Running Shoes, Winter Boots and outdoor Fashion Footwear.
  • 20% off in-stock necessities including: Handbags, Backpacks, Water Bottles and Home Decor
  • 20% off in-stock Helmets and Goggles
  • 20% off in-stock tuning tools and wax
  • Ski Binding Adjustments and Remounts for ski equipment purchased in the Dungeon Sale = $10
  • Complete 10-step Ski Tune, including hot wax $34.99 (Reg. $55)
  • 50% off select in-season shoes and boots
  • Sale prices on all of our new 2014/15 Ski and Snowboard Equipment.  Save even more when you bundle your purchase to include skis, boots, bindings, poles or board, boot and binding.
  • 50% off remaining 2013/14 outerwear for adults and kids
  • Demon Phantom Audio Helmet $49.99 (Reg. $69)
  • Giro Bevel Helmet $39.99 (Reg $65)
  • Scott Little People Goggle $11.99 (Reg $19)
  • Scott Classic Goggle $19.99 (Reg $42)
  • Scott Strike Goggle $29.99 (Reg $75)
  • Scott Heli OTG Goggle $29.99 (Reg $65)

What’s not included you ask?  Only a few items we are restricted from discounting like Yakima, and some year-round things like kayaks, camping accessories and bike accessories.  (We do have sale “Shep’s” prices on remaining water sports, bicycles and some camping gear.)

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Shep’s Annual Dungeon Sale 2014

You are expected in the Dungeon, October 22-26, 2014.  We’ll be waiting to help you find new or used ski and snowboard gear for your entire family, at prices so low it’s frightening!

Shep’s accepts used gear late summer through October 10th (leaving a little time before the sale so we can inspect, clean, tag and inventory all the gear — no small task) for consignment sale.  We help price it unless you know exactly what you want out of it, and keep only 10% consignment fee (when swaps keep 20%).  After your used items sell, you’ve got ‘Shep’s Bucks’ store credit to use toward the purchase of any of our products or services.

We set the used gear up alongside our own inventory of new gear (left over from last season) and make it easy by installing ski and snowboard bindings so you only have one price to consider.

Kids gear goes fast, so most years there is a line at the door before our Wednesday morning opening at 9:00am.  Have no fear, there is usually enough selection to satisfy shoppers all through the five-day event.  The basement is stocked with Alpine Ski, X-C Ski and Snowboard equipment.

You’ll want to shop upstairs too, where the latest 2014-15 gear is also on sale along with the season’s greatest fashions and accessories like helmets, goggles, wax, tuning supplies and more.  You can even combine the great used gear you find in the Dungeon with new equipment from upstairs at Shep’s low “package price.”  All clothing and accessories are at least 20% off during Dungeon Sale and we’ve got lots of other great specials going on.

To top it off we have crazy deals on shop work, like binding adjustments or re-mounts on dungeon gear for only $10, a full ski tune-up for only $34.99, and great prizes including a Free Granite Peak season pass which you can register for while you shop.

Once the Dungeon Sale is officially over, you are still free to shop the basement. (There’s just less to choose from!) Still not sure you want to own equipment and can’t find just want you want from our used inventory?  Talk to an associate about Leasing.

Oh yeah… don’t be alarmed when you leave the shop after the sale and run into a crowd on the sidewalk.  Shep’s is on the Paranormal Society’s Ghost Tour each year during Halloween Weekend.  Our spirits rarely makes an appearance during the event though, so you’re safe in the Dungeon.  Mwaa ha ha ha ha…

Dungeon Sale 2014 is October 22-26.  The sale is 9am-8pm Wed-Fri, 9am-5pm Saturday and 11am-5pm Sunday. Suck up your courage, dig up the family and check our our frighteningly fun sale.

Shepherd & Schaller Sporting Goods Discount Disclaimer & Refund Policies

We work hard to bring you premium sporting goods equipment, clothing, footwear and accessories and we regularly offer special sales events and coupons to help you stretch your budget.

When we do offer discounts, our policies must be followed.  They include:

  • Discount may not be combined with other discounts or sale offers.
  • Discount may not be extended to Special Orders of items not currently in stock, or never in stock.
  • Discounts are not retroactive to prior purchases.
  • Discounts may not be used toward gift card purchases.
  • We may require a specific coupon or coupon code to earn the discount.
  • Discount may have a specific start date and end date.
  • Manufacturer may limit the discount we can offer.
  • We reserve the right to alter or end a discount at our sole discretion.

Returning goods that you decide won’t work for you for a full refund of your purchase is acceptable within 30 days when the item you are returning is unused and has the original sales tags in place.  Clearance items, special orders and ski  equipment, swim suits are exceptions.  See below:

  • Clearance items will be accepted for return for store credit (Gift Card) when the item is unused and still has the original sales tags in place.
  • Special orders may only be returned when the item is stocked in our store. We reserve the right to impose a 20% restocking fee at our discretion. Items we find for you at your special request that we do not stock in our merchandise mix may not be returned for refund.
  • Ski equipment that has been purchased but not yet been processed in our Ski Shop (bindings installed) may be returned for refund.  (Items purchased in our annual Dungeon Sale are an exception – they may not be returned for refund.)
  • Swim suits may not be returned because of hygienic reasons.
  • Determination of whether an item has been used is at our sole discretion.
  • We reserve the right to change our policies at any time.

Price Adjustments will be made for purchases made within 5 days of an advertised sales event when an original receipt is presented to a Manager in store.  Advertised sales events are supported by traditional media ads in local newspapers, and on radio and television.                          We reserve the right to adjust our policies at any time.

 

Shepherd & Schaller’s Anniversary Event: Sept 18-21, 2014

It’s our party and you’re invited!  Shepherd & Schaller is 65 years old and we’re not getting tired yet.  In fact, we’re feeling more energetic than ever here at historic 324 Scott Street in downtown Wausau. Shop during our Anniversary Celebration September 18-21 and enjoy special opportunities and huge discounts in every department.Unknown-1

Our Anniversary falls during our month-long Preseason Snow Sports Sale, so you know the savings and excitement are outrageous.  Here’s what you’ll get when you shop:

  • Lowest prices of the season on all new Ski and Snowboard Equipment
  • Up to 20% off all new fall and winter Outerwear, Clothing, Footwear and Accessories (Spin the Wheel for great discounts!)
  • Smartwool Socks – Buy 3, Get 1 Free
  • Shoes – Buy 1 Pair, Get the 2nd Half Off
  • Shop our 65% off Rack featuring winter outerwear, sportswear, swimwear and yoga clothes.
  • Enter to Win!  We’re giving away great prizes including a Stormy Kromer Hats, a Free Season Pass to Granite Peak Ski Area, Free lift passes for Granite Peak Fall Color Chairlift Rides, and Free Tickets to Warren Miller’s “No Turning Back” and our Apres’ Ski Party at the Grand Theater on Nov. 15th.

OWC_smallPartner with us as we work to keep our entire community warm this winter.  Drop off a clean, reusable coat and we will deliver it to the Wausau Women’s Community, who will make sure every donation get in the hands of someone who needs it.  You’ll get a coupon for *25% off your purchase of a new coat or jacket during our Anniversary Event for each jacket you drop off.  Thank you for helping.

Thank you Wausau and Central Wisconsin for 65 wonderful years!

*Discount may not be combined with other discounts or sale offers.  Discounts are not retroactive to prior purchases.

 

Happy Anniversary! Shepherd and Schaller is Celebrating 65 Years

Shepherd & Schaller Sporting Goods first store, in 1949, was only a few hundred square feet. You could call it a “tiny box store.” But it was big enough for Allen Shepherd & Stan Schaller to stock what folks in the area wanted for hunting, fishing, camping, skiing, diving, bowling and athletics.  A new location up the block a few years later let them expand their offering as customer expectations grew. They had grown to become a “small box” store at 324 Scott Street in Downtown Wausau.

Shepherd & Schaller Sporting Goods, 212 Scott Street, Wausau, WI.  1949. Founded by Allen Shepherd and Stan Schaller.
Shepherd & Schaller Sporting Goods, 212 Scott Street, Wausau, WI. 1949.
Founded by Allen Shepherd and Stan Schaller.
Wausau Herald ad. 1961
Wausau Herald ad. 1961
A big crowd!  1961
A big crowd! 1961

Shep’s (as the locals know us) has always been about relationships. Al and Stan knew their customers by name and their suppliers too. They rolled up their sleeves and served the community and the industry. In no time at all, the they were making their mark on the local, regional and national landscape, leading the local Rotary Club, chairing the Wisconsin Merchants Federation, and directing the National Sporting Goods Association, to name a few.

Jump ahead more than 60 years and only a few things have changed. Shep’s has refined our product mix to specialize in Outdoor products for skiers and snowboarders, paddlers and cyclists, water sports lovers, disc golfers, footwear fanatics and trend setters who follow fashion hand-in-hand with function. Repairs and rentals get a lot of attention, as well as custom orders. We’re still family owned and operated and as always our team is staffed by enthusiastic experts who play as hard as they work. We still support local teams and organizations with funds, time and talent, and partner with people who get things done for the communities they serve, like Nations Best Sports, so we can bring you big-box prices with mom-and-pop service.

A big crowd!  1961
A big crowd! 1961

With the Ski Department occupying 90% of the sales floor September through March; Shepherd & Schaller is integral to the local ski community. We host annual used equipment swaps, fundraisers for local ski and snowboard teams, race league nights.  We sponsor an annual New Gear Demo each March at Wisconsin’s premier ski destination – Granite Peak Ski Area.  We develop contests and organize community events including the Warren Miller film premier and Après Ski Party.  The entire staff is involved at Granite Peak Ski Area as ski and snowboard instructors, ski patrols, racers, gatekeepers, etc.  Our own Brian Trybula is the Salomon Pro in the Midwest, and Josh Haight is the K2 Snowboard Pro for the area.  Seth Alwin is an Iron Man and telemark expert.  When he’s not body kiting or grass skiing, Tony Selenske is setting new boundaries for skiing far outside the lines.  Like the rest of our team, all are known far outside of Wausau for their talent on-snow and expert guidance in the store.Staff Photo 3

What makes us unique?  Shepherd and Schaller is a one-of-a-kind place to shop and a cornerstone of the Downtown Wausau community.  Customers shop three floors, including our famous basement “Dungeon.”  Our building is 115-years-old and was once the home to the first JC Penney store east of the Mississippi.  Some say it’s haunted (you can Google it).   IMG_1270Our sales floor is merchandised like a mountain ski shopIMG_1395 and features artifacts and furnishings from our long history – everything gets re-used.  We rent skis, boards, snowshoes and ice skates in winter, at prices much lower than local ski areas, and we offer long-term leases as well.  We modify our merchandise mix very season as customers demand and our community evolves.  But what makes us truly unique is our 65-year history, which provides unparalleled insight into how we run our business and serve our customers.  Our owner Robb Shepherd has been at the helm since 1986.  He is known and respected by ski and snowboard suppliers industry-wide and often serves as a consultant to Nations Best Sports in behalf of other small shops trying to complete with big box stores.  Our 10 full-time employees collectively have 118 years experience in our store alone to help customers have the best time possible on snow, trails, or wherever the outdoors takes them.  We respect our suppliers and the challenges they face and we consider our sales representatives friends, understanding that they can help us make great decisions, satisfy our customers and grow our business.

Some ask us “Why would anyone want to be an independent retailer?” Our answer is, with competition at every turn, an economy we all struggle in, and only 24 hours in a day, is it worth it?  We can’t answer for anyone else, but because ours is a toy store for grown-ups in a community that values integrity, family and the environment, the answer is Yes! We wouldn’t have it any other way.  Who wouldn’t love our job?  We offer the coolest gear for outdoor enthusiasts, the manufacturers we work with believe in the things that matter, the events we host and support make a difference, the community we work in appreciates the effort and most importantly the customers we serve are our friends.  As Tom Hanks says in the film You’ve Got Mail, to us “It’s personal.”

The presidents and CEOs of the most respected manufacturers in sport are our friends, not just names on a database. These relationships help us to know the ins and outs of the industry like no one else you might shop with.We don’t just sell. We shop. We personally select the products we offer, compare them, test them, inspect them and help customers choose them. It’s a difference we enjoy when we ourselves shop locally and we’re told it’s meaningful here at Shep’s. Even if it is old fashioned, it’s been personal to us since 1949.

The best part of what we do is watch excited customers head out with new gear that is just what they wanted, knowing we took care of all the steps necessary to bring those products to town and position them to make someone’s day.  We love hearing stories of adventure and family when folks come back to share.  (Join us during Christmas break – Shep’s is a gathering place for friends who can’t wait to reconnect!)

When dad, Allen Shepherd, coined the original shop tag line “It pays to play” he didn’t mean we’d get rich working this hard. He meant it is critical for personal and family health and happiness to include exercise and relaxation in your life. He was right, and we feel fortunate to have 65 years of experience to guide us. So while there are moments of craziness in every day, we’re not crazy. We honestly enjoy being an independent retailer.

A few last words as we prepare our Anniversary Celebration:  We pack 15,000+ square feet of retail space full with the best performing brand name apparel, equipment, and accessories for any outdoor adventure. We scour trade shows for the latest must-have item and work to keep our store full of the most sought after gear.  For those who can’t travel to exotic downtown Wausau, Wisconsin, shopping http://www.shepssports.com is an easy way to take advantage of our selection and service.  Our web store was launched in 2011 and demonstrates our commitment to providing service and resources our customers demand.   We write our own Blog and support our community by sharing news of the great stuff that happens around own too.

Our sales events are advertised regionally on television, radio and local newspapers and our message and invitation to join the fun is shared via social media daily.  We’re on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Foursquare.  Please look for us there!

Our fabulous store and staff are available to customers seven days a week.  We trim hours a little during the summer, but during the height of ski season you can visit us as follows:

Information on store ours and events is updated regularly at www.shepssports.com.  Come see us at one of our 2014 Fall/Winter events:

  • September – Shep’s Month-long Preseason Snow Sports Sale
  • Sept 6-7 – Shep’s Tent Sale during Wausau’s Artrageous Weekend
  • Sept 18-21 – Shep’s Anniversary Event
  • Oct 4 – Granite Peak Ski Team Ski Swap (at Granite Peak/Fundraiser)
  • Oct 22-26 – Shep’s Annual Dungeon Sale
  • Nov 1 – Rib Mountain Ski Club Ski Swap (Marathon Park)
  • Nov 6 – Team Night @ Shep’s
  • Nov 15 – Warren Miller Premier (at the Grand Theater) & Shep’s 65th Anniversary Après Ski Party!
  • Nov 28 – Black Friday Sale
  • Dec 1 – Cyber Monday Sale

Check our some of our Milestones

  •  September 1949 – Shepherd & Schaller Sporting Goods opens at 212 Scott Street, downtown Wausau, WI (current location of BMO Bank Plaza Patio)
  •  September 1961 – Store moves to current location at 324 Scott Street.  Building is purchased.
  • 1988 – Robb Shepherd assumes day-to-day operations and ownership.
  •  1988 – Second store location at Shopko Plaza in Wisconsin Rapids opens.  (store closed 1992)
  •  Spring 1994 – Parking lot at Scott Street and 4th Street purchased for customer convenience.
  • Spring 1999 – Adjacent building at 320 Scott Street is purchased; store expanded creating over 10,000 sq. ft. of retail space, adding warehouse space.  Two 1300 sq. ft. studio apartments created and retail space at 318 Scott Street remodeled.  Historic renovation of both storefronts completed.
  • Spring 2012 web store – ShepsSports.com launched.