SIMA Image award nominees named

Sorry this is a little late. My computer was in the Apple store most of the day yesterday for repair.

SURF INDUSTRY MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR 2008 SIMA IMAGE AWARDS

– Surf Industry Recognizes Its Most Influential Companies

With 6th Annual Awards Program –

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (March 24, 2008) -The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is proud to announce the list of nominees for the sixth annual SIMA Image Awards, the only awards program that gives the surf industry the opportunity to recognize fellow surf industry companies for their outstanding contributions to the industry.

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 15 categories: Accessory Product of the Year, Environmental Product of the Year, Footwear Product of the Year, Surfboard Model of the Year, Wetsuit of the Year, 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 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, Breakthrough Retailer of the Year and Breakthrough Brand of the Year.

“We’ve had the highest participation yet in the Image Awards this year,” said Dick Baker, president of SIMA. “We’re stoked as this speaks to the growing reputation and influence of the awards. This also means that competitiveness was at an all-time high as each category received more entries than ever. As cliché as it sounds, we hope all nominees are stoked as they were selected by their peers from a very competitive group of entries.”

 

 

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 December 31, 2007. 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 $25 million.

Firewire Surfboards

Insight

MADA

Matix

Sanuk

Breakthrough Retailer of the Year

Criteria: Recognizing the specialty retailer with 15 U.S. brick and mortar doors or less that experienced growth in 2007. Consider the specialty retailer that had a breakthrough year in terms of sales and increased store recognition and appeal.

BC Surf & Sport, Ft. Lauderdale

K-5, Oceanside

Quiet Flight, Universal City Walk Orlando

Revolution, Camarillo

Surfside Sports, Costa Mesa

 

MEN’S AWARDS

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 between January 1 and December 31, 2007. Consider men’s brands that displayed a creative, cohesive and consistent brand message in print, digital and point-of-purchase materials throughout January 1 and December 31, 2007.

Hurley’s “Essence of Surf” Campaign

Insight’s “ZOUP” Campaign

O’Neill’s “In It For Life” Campaign

Sanuk’s “This Is Not a Shoe” Campaign

Vestal’s “Time is What You Make of It” Campaign

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 December 31, 2007.

Billabong

O’Neill

Quiksilver

RVCA

Volcom

Men’s Boardshort of the Year

Criteria: Awarded to the boardshort product that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation between January 1 and December 31, 2007.

Advantage by Hurley

Andy Irons Samuri Signature Series by Billabong

Foster Mod by Volcom

Hokus Pokus by Quiksilver

Lopez Freak by O’Neill

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 December 31, 2007.

Active Ride Shop, Southern California

Hansen’s Boardroom, Encinitas

Quiet Flight, Universal City Walk Orlando

Surf Ride, Solana Beach

Surfside Sports, Costa Mesa

WOMEN’S AWARDS

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 between January 1 and December 31, 2007. Consider women’s brands that displayed a creative, cohesive and consistent brand message in print, digital and point-of-purchase materials throughout January 1 and December 31, 2007.

Billabong Juniors “Overload” Campaign

Hurley Girls “Young Contemporary” Campaign

Insight Girls “ZOUP” Campaign

Roxy “The Get Outside Tour”

Volcom Girls “The Only Constant is Change” Campaign

 

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 December 31, 2007.

Billabong Girls

Lucy Love

Matix

Roxy

Volcom Girls

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 December 31, 2007.

Billabong Girls

Hurley

L-Space

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 December 31, 2007.

Hansen’s Boardroom, Encinitas

Hotline, Virginia Beach

Huntington Surf & Sport, Bella Terra Center

Revolution, Camarillo/Newbury Park

Sun Diego, San Diego County

 

PRODUCT AWARDS

Accessory Product of the Year

Criteria: Awarded to the accessory product at retail between January 1 and December 31, 2007 that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation. Accessory products such as watches, eyewear, bags, fins, etc. can be considered.

51-30 Watch by Nixon

7’6″ Triple Wheelie Board Bag by FCS

Dave Rastavich/Sea Shepherd Vector Keel Fin by Future Fins

Mutant Boot Series by O’Neill

Shane Dorian Kona Gold Signature Face Stick by Vertra

Environmental Product of the Year

Criteria: Awarded to the most exciting, appealing and/or innovative environmental surf product at retail between January 1 and December 31, 2007. 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 Your Beach Tees by Roxy

ECO Fullsuit by Body Glove

Machado Classic Sandal by Reef

Sonic Recycler Boardshort by Billabong

Waterscript Creedlers Sandals by Volcom

Footwear Product of the Year

Criteria: Awarded to the footwear product at retail between January 1 and December 31, 2007 that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.

B4BC Stash Sandal by Reef

Duke Aloha Shoe by Vans

Hiapo Sandal by OluKai

Landmark Series by DVS

Sidewalk Surfers by Sanuk

Surfboard Model of the Year

Criteria: Awarded to the surfboard model at retail between January 1 and December 31, 2007 that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.

Channel Islands Biscuit

Firewire Direct Drive

…lost Speed Demon Series

Rusty EPS Range

Surftech Tuflite Laird 12’1″

Wetsuit of the Year

Criteria: Awarded to the wetsuit at retail between January 1 and December 31, 2007 that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.

3/2 Vapor Fullsuit by Body Glove

E-Bomb Pro w/E3 by Rip Curl

Infiniti Drylock by Xcel

Psycho II by O’Neill

Revolution Hybrid Fullsuit by Billabong

All regular SIMA members were given the opportunity to enter their own companies or brands in any qualifying categories. These entries were then reviewed and voted upon by an industry panel of experts from both the manufacturing and retailing sides. 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 and specialty retailers. The main contact at each SIMA member company can expect information on the final voting procedure and timeframe shortly. For more details on the entry and voting process visit www.simaimageawards.com

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony during SIMA Surf Summit 11 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, May 14-17, 2008. The awards ceremony will again feature a video component highlighting and introducing each nominee and winner.

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 17 years, SIMA’s Environmental Fund has raised more than $3.5 million for environmental groups seeking to protect the world’s oceans, beaches and waves.