Nominees named for SIMA Image Awards

Press Release:

 

SURF INDUSTRY MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR SIMA IMAGE AWARDS

 

– Winners to Be Announced February 9, 2012 at The Grove in Anaheim, Calif. –

 

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (November 15, 2011) -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 2011. In its ninth 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 of the SIMA Image Awards nominees for moving our industry forward over the past year,” said Doug Palladini, SIMA President and VP of Marketing for Vans. “The Image Awards is all about shining a bright light on surf industry progression and innovation, and it’s gratifying to see so many brands rise to the occasion. We look forward to seeing the entire industry gather to honor the winners in February.”

 

The winners will be announced at the SIMA Image Awards ceremony on February 9, 2012, at The Grove in Anaheim, Calif.

 

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. In an effort to continue to honor the most innovative products and advancements in the industry, a new category has been added to the SIMA Image Awards lineup: the Hardgoods Accessory Product of the Year award. Providing yet another opportunity for member recognition, the new award will highlight the more technical innovations coming out of the sport by featuring products such as fins, leashes, bags, wetsuit accessories (heat vests, boots, etc.) and other hardgood accessories. This year, companies will be recognized in the following 16 categories:

 

SIMA IMAGE AWARDS NOMINEES

 

OVERALL AWARDS

 

Breakthrough Brand of the Year

Criteria: Recognizing the small- to mid-size men’s or women’s brand that experienced breakthrough growth between January 1 and September 1, 2011. 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.)

Analog Clothing

Firewire

Futures

Quiksilver for Girls

Stance

 

Breakthrough 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.)

Bird Rock, La Jolla

Hanger 94, San Diego

Maui Nix, Ft. Lauderdale

Surf Diva Boutique, La Jolla

 

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, 2011.

Billabong

Hurley

Quiksilver

RVCA

Volcom

 

Men’s Boardshort of the Year

Criteria: Awarded to the boardshort product from Spring or Fall 2011 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2011) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.

Bruce Annihilator by Volcom

Cypher Alpha by Quiksilver

MIRAGE by Rip Curl

Phantom 4D by Hurley

Platinum X 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 2011. 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, 2011 (approx. the September or October issues of endemic magazines.)

“Collection Campaigns” by Nixon

“Destroys Boredom” by Volcom

“I Surf Because…” by Billabong

“Kelly Slater 10x World Title” by Quiksilver

“True Innovation” by Hurley

 

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.

Brave New World, New Jersey

Huntington Surf & Sport, Huntington Beach

Quiet Flight, Cocoa Beach/Orlando

Surfride, San Diego

Surfside Sports, Costa Mesa

 

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, 2011.

Billabong

Insight

O’Neill

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 2011. 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, 2011 (approx. the September and October issues of endemic magazines.)

“Beach You To It” by Roxy

“Create Your Mark” by Vans

“New Wave” by Billabong

“Untitled” by Insight

“Volcom Brand Jeans” 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, 2011.

Billabong

L*Space by Monica Wise

Roxy

TAVIK

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, 2011.

Hanger 94, San Diego

Huntington Surf & Sport, Huntington Beach

Jack’s Surfboards, Orange County

Surf Diva Boutique, La Jolla

Surfside Sports, Costa Mesa

 

PRODUCT AWARDS

Accessory Product of the Year

Criteria: Awarded to the accessory product from Spring or Fall 2011 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2011) that featured the most exciting innovation, design or appeal. Accessory products such as watches, eyewear, headphones, socks and other accessories can be considered.

The FIX by Skullcandy

Knoxville by Electric Visual

Sun Care by Sun Bum

The TPS by Nixon

Volcom X Krochet Kids Collab Beanie by Volcom

 

Environmental Product of the Year

Criteria: Awarded to the most exciting, appealing and/or innovative environmental surf product from Spring or Fall 2011 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2011). 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.

Green Flex by FCS

Recycled Boardshort Series by Billabong

RG8 (Re-Generate) Recycled Series by O’Neill Wetsuits

Shift Into Neutral Collection by VonZipper

V.Co-Logical Fall 2011 Dress by Volcom

 

Footwear Product of the Year

Criteria: Awarded to the footwear product from Spring or Fall 2011 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2011) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.

Cruisers by Roxy

Evolution Series by Kustom Footwear

Jimbo Phillips V.Co-Lab Vocation Creedlers by Volcom

Mea Ola by OluKai

Surfsider by Vans

 

Hardgoods Accessory Product of the Year (new category)

Criteria: Awarded to the surf hardgood accessory product from Spring or Fall 2011 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2011) that featured the most exciting innovation, design or appeal. Accessory products such as fins, leashes, bags, wetsuit accessories (heat vests, boots, etc.) and other hardgood accessories can be considered.

Cypher PS+ Heat Vest System by Quiksilver

DNA Flex Mold Leash by Creatures of Leisure

Drylock TS Boot by Xcel

H-Bomb Heated Vest by Rip Curl

Techflex by Futures

 

Surfboard of the Year

Criteria: Awarded to the surfboard model from Spring or Fall 2011 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2011) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.

Fred Rubble by Channel Islands Surfboards

Sub-Scorcher by …Lost Surboards

Sweet Potato by Firewire

Slayer by Rusty Surfboards

 

Wetsuit of the Year

Criteria: Awarded to the wetsuit from Spring or Fall 2011 product lines (at retail between January 1 and September 1, 2011) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.

Cypher Fuseflex by Quiksilver

Drylock by Xcel

FLASHBOMB by Rip Curl

Psycho by O’Neill Wetsuits

Solution Xero 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 this week.

 

More information about the ceremony and how to access tickets will be available in the coming months. SIMA member brands and industry retail partners are encouraged to save the date, rally their teams and bring their cheering sections to what will be an exciting evening honoring excellence and innovation in the surf industry.

 

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 22 years, SIMA’s Environmental Fund has raised more than $5.8 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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