SURF INDUSTRY MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR
10th Annual SIMA IMAGE AWARDS
- Winners to Be Announced February 7, 2013 at The Grove in Anaheim, Calif. –
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (November 14, 2012) -The Surf Industry Manufacturers
Association (SIMA) is proud to announce the nominees for the SIMA Image Awards,
which will honor the best of the surf industry from 2012. In its tenth year, the SIMA
Image Awards is the only awards program that gives the surf industry the
opportunity to recognize fellow surf industry companies for their outstanding
contributions to the industry.
"On behalf of the SIMA Board of Directors, I would like to congratulate all the
nominees for their excellent work and contribution to the progression of our
industry," said Doug Palladini, SIMA President and VP of Marketing for Vans. "This
year will mark 10 years of the SIMA Image Awards and it's revolutionary to see how
the awards program has grown on an international scale of recognition for our
industry. We look forward to seeing who the winners will be as they are revealed at
the ceremony in February."
The winners will be announced at the SIMA Image Awards ceremony on February 7,
2013, at The Grove in Anaheim, Calif. The ceremony is open to the public and tickets
will go on sale in early January.
The goal of the SIMA Image Awards is to identify the surf industry's most influential
companies and recognize them for their efforts to advance and grow the industry
over the past year. This year, companies will be recognized in the following 16
categories:
SIMA IMAGE AWARDS NOMINEES
OVERALL AWARDS
Breakout Brand of the Year
Criteria: Recognizing the small- to mid-size men’s or women’s brand that experienced
break out growth between January 1 and September 1, 2012. Consider surfboard,
apparel, footwear, wetsuit and accessory brands that had a breakthrough year
through product development and/or increased brand recognition and appeal.
Nominated companies can be new or established brands, but must have annual U.S.
sales of at least $1 million and no more than $20 million. (Previous winners of this
category are no longer eligible for five years.)
Brixton
Lost
RAEN
Sun Bum
VSTR
Breaktout Retailer of the Year
Criteria: Recognizing the specialty retailer with 15 U.S. brick and mortar doors or less
that experienced success in 2011, between January 1 and September 1. Consider the
specialty retailer that had a breakthrough year in terms of sales and increased store
recognition and appeal. (Previous winners of this category are no longer eligible for
five years.)
Hanger 94, San Diego
Proof Lab, Mill Valley
The Room Surf Shop, Puerto Rico
Spyder, Hermosa Beach
Surfride, San Diego
MEN'S AWARDS
Men's Apparel Brand of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the men’s apparel brand that featured the most exciting designs,
increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1 and September 1,
2012.
Billabong
Hurley
Quiksilver Waterman Collection
RVCA
Volcom
Men's Boardshort of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the boardshort product from Spring or Fall 2012 product lines
(at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2012) that featured the most exciting
design, appeal or innovation.
John John Signature Hyperfreak by O'Neill
Nanolater V4S by Volcom
Original Scallop by Quiksilver
Phantom Fuse by Hurley
Recycler Series by Billabong
Men's Marketing Campaign of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the men’s apparel, footwear, wetsuit, hardgoods, accessory or
media brand that produced the most creative marketing campaign in 2012. Consider
men’s brands that displayed a creative, cohesive and consistent brand message in
print, digital and point-of-purchase materials. Campaign must have first appeared in
consumer print publications with an on-sale date between January 1 and September 1,
2012 (approx. the September or October issues of endemic magazines.)
"60 Years of Innovation" by O'Neill
"Archive Campaign" by Nixon
"Life's Better in Boardshorts" by Billabong
"Phantom Fuse" by Hurley
"Kills Boredom Dead" by Volcom
Men's Retailer of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the specialty retailer that featured the best selection, product mix
and merchandising in the men's category between January 1 and September 1, 2011.
Froghouse, Newport Beach
Hansen's, Encinitas
Huntington Surf & Sport, Huntington Beach
Jack's Surfboards, Huntington Beach
Surfride, San Diego
WOMEN'S AWARDS
Women's Apparel Brand of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the women’s apparel brand that featured the most exciting
designs, increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1 and
September 1, 2012.
Billabong
Insight
Quiksilver for girls
Roxy
Volcom
Women's Marketing Campaign of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the women’s apparel, swimwear, footwear, wetsuit, hardgoods,
accessory and media brand that produced the most creative marketing campaign in
2012. Consider women’s brands that displayed a creative, cohesive and consistent
brand message in print, digital and point-of-purchase materials. Campaign must have
first appeared in consumer print publications with an on-sale date between January 1
and September 1, 2012 (approx. the September and October issues of endemic
magazines.)
"#5STEPH" by Quiksilver for Girls
"I'll Go If You Go" by Billabong
"Let the Sea Set You Free" by Roxy
"My Bikini" by Rip Curl
"Volcom Brand Jeans Road-Tested" by Volcom
Women's Swim Brand of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the women’s swim brand that featured the most exciting designs,
increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1 and September 1,
2012.
Billabong
L*Space by Monica Wise
Rip Curl
Roxy
Volcom
Women's Retailer of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the specialty retailer that featured the best selection, product mix
and merchandising in the women’s category between January 1 and September 1,
2012.
17th Street, Virginia Beach
Hanger 94, San Diego
Jack's Surfboards, Huntington Beach
South Coast Wahine, San Diego
Surf Diva Boutique, La Jolla
PRODUCT AWARDS
Accessory Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the accessory product from Spring or Fall 2012 product lines (at
retail between January 1 and September 1, 2012) that featured the most exciting
innovation, design or appeal. Accessory products such as watches, eyewear,
headphones, socks and other accessories can be considered.
Captain Ahab by Electric Visual
Puppet Socks by Volcom
Pro by Sun Bum
Retina Revolutionaries! by Von Zipper
Supertide Watch by Nixon
Environmental Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the most exciting, appealing and/or innovative environmental
surf product from Spring or Fall 2012 product lines (at retail between January 1 and
September 1, 2012). Consider apparel, footwear, accessory, wetsuit, surfboard or any
other surf-related product that was created to lessen the impact on the environment,
whether through its manufacturing process, materials or usage of the product itself.
Bella Costas We Heart Collection by Reef
Recycler Boardshort Series by Billabong
H2O Tee by Hurley
Nexpa Pro by Vans
Reclaim V.Co-Logical Sandal by Volcom
Footwear Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the footwear product from Spring or Fall 2012 product lines (at
retail between January 1 and September 1, 2012) that featured the most exciting
design, appeal or innovation.
Drop-In Heel by Olukai
Recliner Sandal by Volcom
RESRV Collection by Reef
Sidewalk Surfers by Sanuk
Van Doren Series by Vans
Hardgoods Accessory Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the surf hardgood accessory product from Spring or Fall 2012
product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2012) that featured the
most exciting innovation, design or appeal. Accessory products such as fins, leashes,
boardbags, wetsuit accessories (heat vests, boots, etc.) and other hardgood accessories
can be considered.
DNA Flex Mold Leash by Creatures of Leisure
Drylock Boot by Xcel
ILT Box by Futures
Neo Geo Boot by Quiksilver
Psychofreak ST Boot by O'Neill Wetsuits
Surfboard of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the surfboard model from Spring or Fall 2012 product lines (at
retail between January 1 and September 1, 2012) that featured the most exciting
design, appeal or innovation.
Bali Single by Rusty Surfboards
Bottom Feeder by Lost
Bowl Series by Lib Tech
Neckbeard Squash by Channel Islands
Potatonator by Firewire
Wetsuit of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the wetsuit from Spring or Fall 2012 product lines (at retail
between January 1 and September 1, 2012) that featured the most exciting design,
appeal or innovation.
Cypher Fuseflex by Quiksilver
Drylock Power Seam by Xcel
FLASHBOMB by Rip Curl
PsychoSeries with TechnoButter by O'Neill Wetsuits
Surf Capsule by Billabong
All regular and board builder SIMA members were given the opportunity to enter
their own brands or products, and retailers, in any qualifying categories. These
entries were then reviewed and voted upon by an industry panel of experts
comprised of both manufacturers and retailers. The outcome of the panel vote
determined the five nominees in each category. Winners will be determined by a
final vote open to all SIMA member companies, as well as specialty retailers. The
main contact at each SIMA member company can expect information via email for
final voting today.
A complete description of awards criteria, as well as a detailed explanation of the
entry and voting processes can be found at www.simaimageawards.com.
The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is the official working trade
association of more than 300 surf industry suppliers. Founded in 1989, SIMA is a
non-profit organization that serves to promote awareness of the surf industry and
participation in the sport of surfing through public relations efforts and a variety of
services, educational programs and research. In addition, SIMA actively supports
oceanic environmental efforts through its 501(c)(3) charitable environmental
foundation, the SIMA Environmental Fund. In the past 23 years, SIMA's
Environmental Fund has raised more than $6.2 million for environmental groups
seeking to protect the world's oceans, beaches and waves. The SIMA Humanitarian
Fund, also a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, was established to award grants to
various surf or boardsport related social and humanitarian non-profit organizations
whose efforts are focused on improving the quality of life, health and/or welfare of
people. Liquid Nation Ball serves as the annual fundraising event for the SIMA
Humanitarian Fund, and since 2004 has raised and donated more than $1.58 million
to surf-related non-profit humanitarian organizations. For more information
regarding SIMA, please visit www.sima.com. Follow SIMA at
Twitter.com/SIMA_SURF.
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For press inquiries, contact:
Mandy Lausché, SIMA Communications Manager
949.366.1164 x7