Press Release:
CALL FOR ENTRIES HAS BEGUN FOR THE 10TH ANNUAL SIMA IMAGE AWARDS:
HONORING THE BEST OF THE SURF INDUSTRY FROM 2012
– Entry Deadline is October 12, 2012 –
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (September 19, 2012) – The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is now accepting entries for the 10th annual SIMA Image Awards, recognizing the best of the surf industry from 2012. All Regular and Board Builder category SIMA members that are current on their membership dues will be invited to enter their brands and/or products at www.simaimageawards.com.
“The SIMA Image Awards have become a staple bragging right in the surf industry and rightfully so,” said Doug Palladini, President of SIMA and Vice President of Marketing for Vans.
“Past winners air their award dominance through ad campaigns, media coverage, company reports and marketing collateral. The only way a brand or product can be entered into the SIMA Image Awards process is by a brand submitting an entry for their own products, campaigns or brands. This beginning step of the entry process is crucial and you will not want to miss out on guaranteeing your brands’ potential in the spotlight.”
The main SIMA contact at each paid Regular and Board Builder category SIMA member company will receive a username and password to access the secured online entry form page where members can then easily submit entry materials for the SIMA Image Awards. The strict deadline for entries is October 12, 2012.
Paid Regular and Board Builder SIMA members are also asked enter retailers in the three retail categories of Men’s, Women’s and Breakout Retailer of the Year. Companies that enter a retailer in all three categories will be entered into a drawing to win five free tickets to the SIMA Image Awards ceremony.
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. The SIMA Image Awards is the only awards program that gives SIMA members and surf specialty retailers the opportunity to recognize fellow surf industry companies for their outstanding contributions to the surf industry.
The SIMA Image Awards features 16 award categories honoring the achievements of products, brands and retailers in 2012:
Product Awards
Accessory Product of the Year
Environmental Product of the Year
Footwear Product of the Year
Hardgoods Accessory Product of the Year
Surfboard of the Year
Wetsuit of the Year
Men’s Awards
Men’s Marketing Campaign of the Year
Men’s Apparel Brand of the Year
Men’s Boardshort of the Year
Men’s Retailer of the Year
Women’s Awards
Women’s Marketing Campaign of the Year
Women’s Apparel Brand of the Year
Women’s Swim Brand of the Year
Women’s Retailer of the Year
Overall Awards
Breakout Brand of the Year
Breakout Retailer of the Year
“One change this year is the renaming of Breakthrough Brand and Retailer of the Year to Breakout Brand and Retailer of the Year,” continued Palladini.
“The change aims to better reflect the original intention of the categories – to recognize the retailer or small to mid-size brand that just had an all-around breakout year whether they be new to the market and really made a name for themselves in 2012, or an established brand or store that killed it this year and captured the industry’s attention.”
Once entries close, a Nominating Panel comprised of manufacturers and retailers will review all entries. Votes from the Nominating Panel will determine the five nominees in each category. Official nominees will be announced in mid-November, followed by final voting by all SIMA member companies and 200 specialty retailers.
The SIMA Image Award winners will be announced at a live ceremony in February 2013 in Orange County, Calif. More information about the ceremony date and location, as well as how to access tickets, will be available in the coming months.
A complete description of awards criteria, as well as a detailed explanation of the entry and voting processes and materials required can be found at www.simaimageawards.com.
About SIMA
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 in 2006 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.
