Industry News

SIMA Image Award winners announced at Surf Summit

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 19 May, 2008 : - - Aliso Viejo – The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is proud to announce the winners of 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. Winners were honored in 15 categories in a ceremony on May 16 at SIMA Surf Summit 11 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
 
OVERALL AWARDS

Breakthrough Brand of the Year: * winner - Insight
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: * winner – Surfside Sports, Costa Mesa
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 Apparel Brand of the Year: * winner - RVCA
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 Marketing Campaign of the Year: winner - Insight’s “ZOUP” Campaign
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 Boardshort of the Year: * winner - Advantage by Hurley
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: * winner – Active Ride Shop
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 Apparel Brand of the Year: * winner – Billabong Girls
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 Marketing Campaign of the Year: * winner - Billabong Girls “Overload”
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 Girls “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 Swim Brand of the Year: * winner – L*Space
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: * winner – Sun Diego
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: * winner - 51-30 Watch by Nixon
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: * winner - Sonic Recycler Boardshort by Billabong
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: * winner - Sidewalk Surfers by Sanuk
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: * winner - Channel Islands Biscuit
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: * winner - Infiniti Drylock by Xcel
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, as well as enter retailers in the retail 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 were determined by a final vote open to all SIMA member companies through the main SIMA contact at each company and specialty retailers.

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 18 years, SIMA's Environmental Fund has raised more than $4 million for environmental groups seeking to protect the world's oceans, beaches and waves.

www.sima.com

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