Press Release:
SURF INDUSTRY MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR SIMA IMAGE AWARDS
¬Winners to be Announced February 13, 2014 at The Grove in Anaheim, Calif.
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (November 14, 2013) – 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 2013. In its eleventh year, the SIMA Image Awards is the only awards program that gives the surf industry the opportunity to recognize fellow companies for their outstanding contributions to the industry.
“On behalf on the SIMA Board of Directors, I would like to congratulate all of the nominees on their hard work this year and thank them for their contribution to the progression of the surf industry,” said SIMA President Doug Palladini. “We look forward to revealing the winners at the SIMA Image Awards ceremony in February.”
All regular and board builder SIMA members were given the opportunity to enter their own brands or products in any qualifying categories, as well as nominate retailers for retail 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 of these categories 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.
The SIMA Image Awards strives 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, these outstanding companies will be recognized in the following 16 categories (listed in alphabetical order):
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, 2013 and September 1, 2013. 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.
Captain Fin
Futures
Matix
RAEN
Roark Revival
See Page 2 for more nominees
Breakout Retailer of the Year
Criteria: Recognizing the specialty retailer with 15 U.S. brick and mortar doors or less that experienced success in 2013, 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’s Surf Shed
Cinnamon Rainbows
Cleanline Surfshop
South Coast Surf Shops
The Curl
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, 2013 and September 1, 2013.
Billabong
Hurley
RVCA
Vans Apparel
Volcom
Men’s Boardshort of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the boardshort product from Spring or Fall 2013 product lines (at retail between January 1, 2013 and September 1, 2013) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Annihilator Nano by Volcom
Jordy Freak by O’Neill
Mirage Aggrolite Series by Rip Curl
Phantom Fuse 2 by Hurley
Recycler Series Boardshorts 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 2013. 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, 2013 and September 1, 2013 (approx. the September or October issues of endemic magazines).
“Brand Emerged 2013” by Vans
“Camp Tokyo” by Roark Revival
“Life’s Better in Boardshorts” by Billabong
“Phantom Fuse 2” by Hurley
“RVCA” by RVCA
See Page 3 for more categories
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, 2013 and September 1, 2013.
Cleanline Surfshop
Hansen Surfboards
Huntington Surf & Sport
Ocean Hut
The Curl
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, 2013 and September 1, 2013.
Billabong
Insight
Roxy
RVCA
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 2013. 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, 2013 and September 1, 2013 (approx. the September and October issues of endemic magazines).
“Colorlove” by Billabong
“DVF loves ROXY” by Roxy
“My Bikini” by Rip Curl
“Sandals Are For Fun $#!+” by Sanuk
“Wish You Were Here” by L*Space
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, 2013 and September 1, 2013.
Beach Riot
Billabong
L*Space by Monica Wise
Rip Curl
Roxy
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, 2013 and September 1, 2013.
Cleanline Surfshop
Hansen Surfboards
Huntington Surf & Sport Women’s
Sunrise Surf Shop
Surf Diva Boutique
See Page 4 for product award nominees
PRODUCT AWARDS
Accessory Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the accessory product from Spring or Fall 2013 product lines (at retail between January 1, 2013 and September 1, 2013) that featured the most exciting innovation, design or appeal. Accessory products such as watches, eyewear, headphones, socks and other accessories can be considered.
H2O Floatable Sunglasses by Dragon
Socks by Stance
The Blaster by Nixon
Trestles Pro World Time and Tide Watch by Rip Curl
Vestal Guide: Altimeter | Barometer | Compass Watch by Vestal
Environmental Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the most exciting, appealing and/or innovative environmental surf product from Spring or Fall 2013 product lines (at retail between January 1, 2013 and September 1, 2013). 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.
Clean Act Products by The People’s Movement
R2 Yulex Wetsuit by Patagonia
Phantom Boardshorts by Hurley
Recycler Series Boardshorts by Billabong
TimberTEK by Firewire
Footwear Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the footwear product from Spring or Fall 2013 product lines (at retail between January 1, 2013 and September 1, 2013) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
MARCOS Hi by MOVMT
Nohea Mesh by OluKai
Phantom Sandal by Hurley
Surf Siders by Vans
The Yoga Sling Sandal by Sanuk
Hardgoods Accessory Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the surf hardgood accessory product from Spring or Fall 2013 product lines (at retail between January 1, 2013 and September 1, 2013) 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.
Dane Reynolds Recycled Traction Pad by Channel Islands Surfboards
Drylock Boot by Xcel
FCSll Fin System by FCS
John John Signature Techflex Fin by Futures
Portable Self Inflation Vest by Patagonia
Surfboard of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the surfboard model from Spring or Fall 2013 product lines (at retail between January 1, 2013 and September 1, 2013) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Happy Shovel by Rusty Surfboards
New Flyer by Channel Islands Surfboards
SUPERfling by SUPERbrand
Taj Beach Buggy by Lost Surfboards
Vanguard by Firewire
Wetsuit of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the wetsuit from Spring or Fall 2013 product lines (at retail between January 1, 2013 and September 1, 2013) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Drylock by Xcel
Flash Bomb Plus by Rip Curl
O’Neill Psycho Series with TechnoButter by O’Neill Wetsuits
R2 Yulex Wetsuit by Patagonia
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 winners will be announced at the SIMA Image Awards ceremony on February 13, 2014, at The Grove in Anaheim, Calif. The ceremony is open to the public and tickets will go on sale in January.
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.
