SIMA Image Awards Categories & Criteria
Overall Category
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. 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.
Breakthrough Retailer of the Year
Criteria: Recognizing the specialty retailer with 15 U.S. brick and mortar doors or less that experienced success in the award year. Consider the specialty retailer that had a breakthrough year in terms of sales and increased store recognition and appeal.
Men's Category
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. 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 on or before October 1 (approx. the October or November issues of endemic magazines.)
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.
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.
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.
Women's Category
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. 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 on or before October 1 (approx. the October or November issues of endemic magazines.)
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.
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.
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.
Product Category
Accessory Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the accessory product at retail between January 1 and December 31 that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation. Accessory products such as watches, eyewear, bags, fins, etc. can be considered.
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. 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.
Footwear Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the footwear product at retail between January 1 and December 31 that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Surfboard of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the surfboard model at retail between January 1 and December 31 that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Wetsuit of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the wetsuit at retail between January 1 and December 31 that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.