The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) revealed its list of nominees for the seventh annual SIMA Image Awards, which recognizes those making outstanding contributions to the surf industry. Nominees for breakthrough brand of the year include: Atwater, Firewire Surfboards, Sanuk Footwear, Skullcandy and Von Zipper.
In a statement, SIMA said the goal of the SIMA Image Awards is “to identify the surf industrys 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, Mens Marketing Campaign of the Year, Mens Apparel Brand of the Year, Mens Boardshort of the Year, Mens Retailer of the Year, Womens Marketing Campaign of the Year, Womens Apparel Brand of the Year, Womens Swim Brand of the Year, Womens Retailer of the Year, Breakthrough Retailer of the Year and Breakthrough Brand of the Year.
“SIMA is excited to announce a very deserving line-up of 2009 Image Award nominees,” said Dick Baker, SIMA chairman emeritus. “To be a final nominee is an honor as each category received more entries than ever this year. We hope all nominees are stoked, as they were selected by their peers from a very competitive group of entries. This speaks to the growing reputation and influence of the SIMA Image Awards, and we look forward to honoring this years nominees at Surf Summit.”
2009 SIMA IMAGE AWARDS NOMINEES
OVERALL AWARDS
Breakthrough Brand of the Year
Criteria: Recognizing the small- to mid-size mens or womens brand that experienced breakthrough growth between January 1 and December 31, 2008. 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.
Atwater
Firewire Surfboards
Sanuk Footwear
Skullcandy
Von Zipper
Breakthrough Retailer of the Year
Criteria: Recognizing the specialty retailer with 15 U.S. brick and mortar doors or less that experienced success in 2008. Consider the specialty retailer that had a breakthrough year in terms of sales and increased store recognition and appeal.
Coastal Edge, Virginia/NC
Hanger 94, San Diego
Heritage, New Jersey
K-5, Oceanside
Quiet Flight, Florida
MENS AWARDS
Mens Marketing Campaign of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the mens apparel, footwear, wetsuit, hardgoods, accessory or media brand that produced the most creative marketing campaign in 2008. Consider mens 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 on or before October 1, 2008 (approx. the October or November issues of endemic magazines.)
lost's “The 'Old'
lost” Campaign
Billabong's “Evolution of an Icon” Campaign
Hurleys “Phantom True Performance” Campaign
Nixon's “Motion” Campaign
Sanuks “This Is Not a Shoe” Campaign
Mens Apparel Brand of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the mens apparel brand that featured the most exciting designs, increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1 and December 31, 2008.
Billabong
Hurley
O'Neill
RVCA
Volcom
Mens 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, 2008.
Angulator Mod by Volcom
Metallica Limited Edition by Billabong
My Dog Spot by Quiksilver
Phantom® 120 by Hurley
TIA by ONeill
Mens Retailer of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the specialty retailer that featured the best selection, product mix and merchandising in the mens category between January 1 and December 31, 2008.
Hansens Boardroom, Encinitas
Huntington Surf & Sport, Huntington Beach
Surfside Sports, Costa Mesa
The Beach House, Santa Barbara
Whalebone, Virginia/NC
WOMENS AWARDS
Womens Marketing Campaign of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the womens apparel, swimwear, footwear, wetsuit, hardgoods, accessory and media brand that produced the most creative marketing campaign in 2008. Consider womens 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 on or before October 1, 2008 (approx. the October or November issues of endemic magazines.)
Billabong's “Fever” Campaign
Hurleys “Young Contemporary” Campaign
L*Spaces “Whats Your L?” Campaign
Roxys “Ia Orana (Hello Tahiti)” Campaign
Volcoms “Easy on the Eyes” Campaign
Womens Apparel Brand of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the womens apparel brand that featured the most exciting designs, increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1 and December 31, 2008.
Billabong Girls
Hurley
Roxy
RVCA
Volcom Girls
Womens Swim Brand of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the womens swim brand that featured the most exciting designs, increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1 and December 31, 2008.
Billabong Girls
Hurley
L*Space
Roxy
Volcom
Womens Retailer of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the specialty retailer that featured the best selection, product mix and merchandising in the womens category between January 1 and December 31, 2008.
Becker, Corona Del Mar
Hansens Boardroom, Encinitas
HSS Girls, Huntington Beach
Jacks, Irvine
Spyder, Hermosa Beach
PRODUCT AWARDS
Accessory Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the accessory product at retail between January 1 and December 31, 2008 that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation. Accessory products such as watches, eyewear, bags, fins, etc. can be considered.
Double Agent Headphones by Skullcandy
Infiniti Drylock Boot by Xcel
iPhone Application by Electric Visual
Master Blaster Headphones by Nixon
Ultimate Tide Watch by Rip Curl
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, 2008. 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.
Recycled Boardshort Series by Billabong
Slightly Choppy Eco-Friendly Boardshort by Quiksilver
Soleo Organics Sunscreen by Soleo
Stash Sandal by Reef
V.Co-Logical Creedlers Sandal by Volcom
Footwear Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the footwear product at retail between January 1 and December 31, 2008 that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Authentic by Vans
Dr. Simmons by Reef
Kiai by Olukai
Sidewalk Surfers by Sanuk Footwear
Surf Turkey by ONeill
Surfboard Model of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the surfboard model at retail between January 1 and December 31, 2008 that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
C4 Waterman Subvector 9-3 Stand Up Board by C4 Waterman/Boardworks
GTR by Rusty Surfboards
Proton by Channel Islands
Shane Beschen Rocket by
lost
Taj Pro Model by Firewire Surfboards
Wetsuit of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the wetsuit at retail between January 1 and December 31, 2008 that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Cypher by Quiksilver
H-Bomb by Rip Curl
Infiniti Drylock Fullsuit by Xcel
Psychofreak by ONeill Wetsuits
Solution Gold Back Zip Fullsuit by Billabong
All regular and board builder SIMA members were given the opportunity to enter their own companies or brands, and retailers, 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, as well as specialty retailers. The main contact at each SIMA member company can expect information for final voting this week. For more details on the entry and voting process visit simaimageawards.com
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony during SIMA Surf Summit 12 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, May 6-9, 2009. The awards ceremony will again feature a video component highlighting and introducing each nominee and winner.
