SIMA Image Award nominees announced

Press Release:

 

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

 

Breakout Retailer of the Year

Criteria: Recognizing the specialty retailer with 15 U.S. brick and mortar doors or less that experienced success in 2012, between January 1 and September 1. Consider the specialty retailer that had a break out 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, MillValley

The Room Surf Shop, Puerto Rico

Spyder, Hermosa Beach

Surf Ride, San Diego

 

See Page 2 for the Men’s Awards nominees

 

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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 Collection 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

“Pure FUNction – 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, 2012.

 

Froghouse, Newport Beach

Hansen’s, Encinitas

Huntington Surf & Sport, Huntington Beach

Jack’s Surfboards, Huntington Beach

Surf Ride, San Diego

 

See Page 3 for the Women’s Awards nominees

 

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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

 

See Page 4 for the Product Awards nominees

 

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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 beconsidered.

 

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

Psycho Series 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 this week.

 

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. Since 2004 the SIMA Humanitarian Fund 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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