Stairmaster and Pinckney Hugo Group Win Interactive Media Award

This press release was provided by StairMaster. The Club Industry editorial staff was not involved in the creation of this content.

Pinckney Hugo Group, a full-service marketing communications firm, and StairMaster, which markets and distributes Schwinn indoor group cycling bikes to commercial health clubs, were awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award by the Interactive Media Awards™ for the Schwinn Class Tamer™ App.

The Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes that the app surpassed the basic standards of excellence that comprise the web’s most professional work. The app was honored for excellence in the sports category.

“It was truly a collaborative effort that led to the Schwinn Class Tamer App,” said Merrill Richmond, vice president of sales and marketing, StairMaster. “Together, with Pinckney Hugo

Group, we were able to develop the premier music player for group exercise professionals. It is a tool organized intuitively with large, easy-to-read fonts and controls to help them stay organized while they energize their classes.”

Designed with input and insight from Schwinn’s global team of Master Instructors, Pinckney

Hugo Group created the app to serve as the premier music player for group exercise professionals. The app is a one-of-a-kind music player that enables instructors to create and save ride playlists by accessing songs, playlists, albums and artists directly from iTunes. After a playlist is created, the instructor can input a set of commands, cueing notes, music tags and beats per minute (BPM) for each song within the playlist. Playlists can then be saved for future use in class.

The judging consisted of various criteria, including design, usability, innovation in technical features, standards compliance and content. To win, the app had to meet strict guidelines in each area. Other entries in the sports category that received an Outstanding Achievement Award include the NCAA website and the World Anti-Doping Agency – Play True Quiz. Best In Class, the highest honor of the competition, went to ESPN World Cup Essentials, Everton Football Club and Warrior Dash websites.

The Interactive Media Awards is an international awards competition that was started in 2006.

Each year the awards honor the best website designs in a multitude of categories throughout the year and are designed to elevate the standards of excellence on the Internet.

About Core Fitness, LLC, dba StairMaster: Core Fitness LLC, dba StairMaster is a leader in developing and marketing advanced cardio and strength equipment for the fitness industry.

Headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, the company markets and distributes the legendary

StairMaster Gauntlet®, Nautilus® commercial strength equipment and Schwinn® indoor cycling bikes.

About Interactive Media Awards™: Interactive Media Awards™ recognize the highest standards of excellence in website design and development and honor individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievement. Created by the Interactive Media Council Inc.

(IMC), a nonprofit organization of leading web designers, developers, programmers, advertisers and other web-related professionals, the competition is designed to elevate the standards of excellence on the Internet and offer winners a boost in marketing and exposure. IMC serves as the primary sponsor and governing body of the Interactive Media Awards, establishes the judging system and provides the judges for the competition.

About Pinckney Hugo Group: Pinckney Hugo Group is a full-service integrated marketing communications firm providing strategic solutions for clients in a broad range of industries. The firm is a member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s) and is an official Google Partner. Pinckney Hugo Group was named one of the 2013 and 2014 Best Companies to Work For in New York State and has been included on Inc. magazine’s list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America seven times. The agency was one of 100 companies nationwide to be named a 2014 Dream Big Blue Ribbon Small Business of the Year Award winner by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call 315-478-6700 or visit www.pinckneyhugo.com.