Wausau | Outdoors Starts In Here

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.

Shep’s Chef is an Artist in the Kitchen: Here’e Our Bike Service Menu

Hungry for bike maintenance and repair that will leave you satisfied? Shepherd & Schaller has a dish for you! No reservations necessary.

Welcome all cyclists craving quality and experience well as a taste for commitment! Shepherd & Schaller is Wausau’s favorite Outdoor Store and home of Raleigh and Scott bicycles and experts who know how to help you choose the right bike for your goals and budget. When maintenance or repairs are called for, there is no one with more experience than Shep’s. With respect for the parts and ingredients he uses and finesse for getting the most flavor and performance from each of them, Pete Kohlmoos with the chef you’ll want on the job.

We’re no “fast food” bike shop. Come for the service and stay for the flavor. You’ll be back again and again.

2017

The Groundhog Saw His Shadow, But There’s Good News in Wausau: Winter Clearance On Now at Shep’s

Wisconsinites know winter lasts well into March most years. While box stores are busy putting out 4th of July goodies right after the Superbowl, Shepherd & Schaller is busy helping you live through and love the snow and cold any month of the year.

Winter Clearance begins February 18, 2017 with up to 50% off remaining ski and snowboard equipment and accessories, winter outerwear, sportswear and footwear. You know you’ll need it next season at least, so take advantage of low, low prices on the good stuff – brands you crave, fashions and tech you love. Diligent shoppers will even find markdowns of 60% in our Sale Room.

When kids are happy, everyone’s happy. Keep them warm, dry and having fun. Shepherd & Schaller is here to help.

Don’t forget the kids. They grow like weeds don’t they? Stock up on snow pants, mittens, hats, jackets, snow boots and of course ski and snowboard gear. Why pay more?

Should we drop of few names to convince you it’s worth a visit? Ok, here goes…

Head Ski, Rossignol, Nordica, Salomon, Armada, Line Ski, K2, Fisher, Swix, Giro, Oakley, Burton, Smith…

Patagonia, The North Face, Sorel, Arc’teryx, Spyder, Obermeyer, Roxy, Quiksilver, O’Neill, Toad & Co, Prana, Smartwool, Fits Socks, Swany, Gordini

and so very many more of your favorite outdoor brands.

Come see us when it isn’t snowy or cold too. Love the outdoors after shopping our Paddling, Water Sports, Camping, Clothing and Bike departments. Shepherd & Schaller’s been Wausau’s favorite Outdoor Store since 1949.

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!

Buck up and put on a Kromer

Cold weather is no excuse to stay inside. While folks here may be a little “cheesy,” as in Wisconsin’s famous export, we’re serious about spending time outdoors all twelve months. And for about nine of them you’ll find Stormy Kromer hats are a uniform in Wisconsin.

It’s the windproof boiled bool, magic pull-down earflap, awesome bow and handsome brim, though we don’t get much sun in these parts. But most of all is because we all look so great wearing them, and have since 1903 when the famous cap was born in Wisconsin.

Our friends at Northern Michigan’s Stormy Kromer factory put together a little history video. We like it and think you will too. Come see us in Downtown Wausau, WI when you’re ready to pick out your first Kromer, or your tenth. And if you didn’t catch on already, our favorite hat is Made in the USA. Another good thing.