LAS VEGAS (Nov. 7, 2013) — The winner of the "Lights, Camera, COATS" video contest sponsored by Hennessy Industries Inc. was named today at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
La Vergne, Tenn.-based Hennessy, manufacturer of COATS-brand tire service equipment, said Schlenker Automotive of Rockledge, Fla., is the grand-prize winner. The business will receive an "Extreme Shop Makeover" valued at more than $30,000. Lou Schlenker, owner of Schlenker Automotive, also was awarded a trip to this year's SEMA Show for his shop's winning entry.
"We've used COATS equipment for more than 10 years, so when we heard about the contest we started brainstorming ideas for a video that would go above and beyond a typical testimonial," Mr. Schlenker said. "We hoped that the judges would appreciate our attempt at humor, while also providing a sincere testimonial about the superior quality and durability that COATS provides."
The contest, which ran from Sept. 3 to Oct. 23, asked Hennessy customers to submit video testimonials about why they use and trust COATS for their tire service needs. The grand-prize package included a new COATS tire changer and wheel balancer, an Ammco brake lathe and a BaseLine by COATS auto lift, as well as a fully stocked floor rack of BADA wheel-balancing weights. The prize package was referred to as the COATS "Extreme Shop Makeover," and shops from more than 20 states entered the contest to vie for it, the company said.
"This may be the best customer outreach program we've conducted in my time at Hennessy because we were able to actually see and hear from our customers from all corners of the U.S.," said Kevin Keefe, Hennessy's vice president of marketing. "The entries we received were really impressive, in terms of both storytelling and production, and there were several entries that were worthy of consideration for the grand prize."
Hennessy said every shop that entered its contest was entered into a random drawing for a chance to win the runner-up prize, a new COATS 1250 3-DV wheel balancer. Midas Inc. franchisee Joe Townshend of East Longmeadow, Mass., was named the winner of the random drawing.
"Our goal with this endeavor was to have our customers tell us in their own words why COATS works for them on a daily basis," Mr. Keefe said. "The sincerity and creativity with which they told their stories was above and beyond our greatest expectations."
To view Schlenker Automotive's video, on Ammcoats' YouTube channel, along with a collection of the best videos entered into the contest, click here.