SINGER® SEWING MACHINE BRAND WINS MULITIPLE 2008 "POWER OF THE PEOPLE" AWARDS

SINGER® AGAIN SWEEPS PRESTIGIOUS BRAND OF THE YEAR, DURABLE BRAND OF THE YEAR AND YOUTH BRAND OF THE YEAR AWARDS.

Hamilton, Bermuda, November 17, 2008 – Today SVP Worldwide, owner of SINGER® brand sewing machines—the world leader in the sewing machine and accessories industry, announced that SINGER sewing machines and related sewing products have been recognized as the “Brand of the Year,”- for the third year in a row, the “Durable Brand of the Year,” - for the third year in a row, and “Youth Brand of the Year” - for the second year in a row, by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing, the national body of marketers of Sri Lanka, in association with The Nielsen Company, the largest marketing research company in the world.  Other leading companies considered for the awards included SONY, LG, Panasonic and Coca-Cola. 

“The SINGER team is greatly honored by the extraordinary achievement of receiving the most important recognitions given by our greatest supporters - consumers,” said Don Fletcher, CEO of SVP Worldwide. “With the global resurgence and popularity of sewing among the youth, the recognition of “Youth Brand of the Year” confirms SINGER’s position in the marketplace as the gateway to the world of sewing because SINGER makes sewing simple and easy.”

“The accolades given to SINGER are distinguished by the fact that they can only be conferred on the notable recipients who are nominated by the people themselves - they are a true reflection of the pulse of the people,” said Suranjith Swaris, Chairman People Awards, Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing. 

All international and local Brands and Companies operating in Sri Lanka are considered for the Peoples Awards. With more than 5,000 consumers between the ages of 16 and 65 years from all walks of life participating in the selection of these prestigious awards, The Nielsen Company used stringent quality control measures adhering to the WatchBuilder standards, a process globally unique to the Nielsen Company.
 
“Receiving the “Peoples Awards” is confirmation of SINGER’s commitment to continue its 157 year history of being the oldest, most familiar, and best loved sewing machine brand in the world,” said Brad Hunsaker, Global Vice President of Sales and Marketing for SVP Worldwide. “The trusting relationships developed over the years between SINGER and consumers are a result of the devoted efforts of the entire global SINGER team. For example, Hemaka Amarasuriya, Chairman of SINGER Sri Lanka Plc, and his talented team of management and staff diligently work to know what customers want and then provide the daily touchpoints required to maintain SINGER’s momentum and market leadership.”

SINGER sewing products can be viewed at http://www.singer.com/ or consumers can visit their local authorized SINGER retailer to experience the products.

About SVP Worldwide®
SVP Worldwide, a global company headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda and doing business through its affiliated companies in over 190 countries, specializes in the design, manufacture and sale of high quality household sewing machines and related products under the SINGER, HUSQVARNA VIKING, and PFAFF brand names.  For more information about the Company and the company’s brands view the following websites: http://www.svpworldwide.com/, http://www.singer.com/, http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/, http://www.pfaff.com/, http://www.sewingideas.com/, and http://www.myembroideries.com/.

About SINGER®
Founded in 1851, SINGER is one of the world’s leading sellers of consumer and artisan sewing machines.  To date, SINGER maintains a strong international presence, with manufacturing facilities in Brazil and China, 10 overseas marketing operations and a network of third-party distributors selling product in more than 190 countries.  The company has a long history of innovation in the sewing machine industry, having produced, among other breakthroughs, the world’s first portable machine in 1921 and its first computer-controlled machine in 1978.

For more information contact:

Stephen Whyte or George Bowie
Westmoor Consulting
Provo, Utah, USA
Telephone: 801-377-2354
E-mail: Stephen@westmoorconsulting.com or georgebowie@westmoorconsulting.com