All paid regular and board builder SIMA members are eligible to submit entries. The main contact at each paid regular and board builder SIMA member company will be emailed unique login information for the entry site.
Paid regular and board builder SIMA member companies may only enter their own brands or products in any and all of the award categories for which they feel their brands or products are appropriate.
You may not enter any other company, brand or product even if your own brand or product is not eligible in a particular category.
You may only enter one brand or product per award category.
Paid regular and board builder SIMA member companies will also enter retailers in the three retail categories of Men’s, Women’s and Breakthrough Retailer of the Year. These entries are free of charge, and you will not be asked to submit any materials - just simply the retailer’s name and location and a brief reason why you think they should be nominated. Enter a retailer in all three categories and be entered in a drawing to win your company 5 free tickets to the Image Awards ceremony!
Each entry (except for retail categories) must be accompanied by a short written statement (400 words), up to four (4) images, company/brand logo, and the proper verification information. Please click on the Entry Form, Rules and Material Specifications page for details. These materials will be published and viewed by voters to help educate voters on your product or brand. SIMA cannot and will not take responsibility for editing statements or photos; materials that do not meet the specifications will not be used. Please note that no changes can be made to your entries once the entry deadline has passed and voting is in process.
A $50 administrative fee will be charged for each product and brand entry. (However, your entry of retailers in the retail categories are free of charge so please remember to submit retailer names in these categories.) This fee helps cover web site maintenance and production costs for the Image Awards ceremony. The main SIMA contact at each participating company will receive an invoice for all of their entries after their entries have been submitted, and by September 30th at the latest. Final entry fee payment deadline is October 14th.Entry fees not paid by this time will result in the entry being removed from the ballot.
Nomination Process: Step 2 – Nominating Panel Review of Entries
A Nominating Panel will be approved by the Board of Directors, consisting of 50% individuals from paid SIMA member companies and 50% surf specialty retailers. Panelists are selected based on their area of expertise (i.e., panel is made up of representatives from the endemic media, men’s, women’s, footwear, accessory and hardgood/wetsuit segments of the industry.) Although representing different segments of the industry, all panel members will vote on all award categories. A list of the Nominating Panel representatives can be found here.
The Nominating Panel will be directed to a Web site containing information on all entries received in all categories.
The Panel will review the statements and images entered by SIMA members to help in determining their vote.
The Panel will then cast their votes for the top five entries in each category, via an online voting site.
To vote, they will be asked to rank their top five in each category from 1 to 5, with 1 being highest. Corresponding points will be given to each ranking: 1st = 10 points; 2nd = 8 points; 3rd = 6 points; 4th = 4 points; 5th = 2 points
Nomination Process: Step 3 – Nominees Determined
Via the online voting site, all points received from the Nominating Panel will be tallied.
The five nominees in each category with the highest number of points from the Nominating Panel automatically become the five nominees for each award.
Voting Process: Step 1
All paid SIMA member companies are eligible to vote, as well as a list of the top 300 retailers.
The main contact at each paid SIMA member company will be emailed a unique username and password valid for five votes online. It is the responsibility of the main SIMA contact to distribute the information to other employees in their company to fulfill their five allotted votes. (You will not be able to send your voting link to suppliers, retailers, etc.)
The list of the top 300 retailers will also receive a unique username and password valid for five votes.
The previously mentioned statements and product images from the nominees will be included on the Web site to aid SIMA member companies and retailers with their voting.
Voting Process: Step 2
The brand/product receiving the highest number of votes in each category automatically becomes the winner.
No panel is involved in determining winners; winners are simply the highest vote-getters based on SIMA member and retailer voting. Winners will be announced in January 2012 in Southern California. Details to be announced soon.
