Create an Ad: Coggins Auto Group

BENNINGTON, Vt. — Fourth-grade students at Bennington Elementary School illustrated the exciting experience of purchasing a Toyota or Honda at Coggins Auto Group as part of our Junior Marketers Create an Ad series.

 

The dealership group has two locations, the Toyota/Honda dealership in Bennington and an independent store, Coggins of the Berkshires, located on East Street in Pittsfield, Mass. 

 

In this episode, students in Sara Plante's art class depicted the fun and stress free experience of purchasing a car at the Vermont location, at 751 North Bennington Road. View all their advertisements here.

 

"Our main mission is to sell and service cars the right way, help people when they need it, and support the communities that we operate in," said Valerie Harrington, Coggins marketing director. 

 

"The students really captured the excitement of buying a new vehicle and the family friendly atmosphere that we try to create here at Coggins, while helping people find exactly what they want." 

 

Coggins Auto Group offers a full spectrum of automotive services, including new and used vehicle sales, maintenance and repairs, parts, and collision repair.

 

"They did a great job showing the welcoming environment and teamwork that we call the Coggins way," Harrington said. 

 

Through color, catchy phrases, and story-telling, the students illustrated how Coggins has "great people," "great service," "good prices"  and "cars you can count on." 

 

Selecting a winner was challenging, but ultimately, Emika Bermudez Crowl took first place, Xander Thomas earned second, and Faolan Wilkinson received third.

 

Crowl's drawing showcased the friendly employees that make up Coggins by illustrating a woman being sold a red Honda with the phrases "Friendly people, great cars, good deals" prominently displayed at the top. 

 

Thomas showcased the diverse range of vehicles available at Coggins by illustrating the Toyota dealership. He included several cars in front of the building and featured the phrase, "Great service. Get your car here, you can trust them," prominently at the top.

 

This experience helped him discover his talent for drawing, he said. 

 

Drawing cars can be challenging, Plante said. And Wilkinson was thrilled with his ability to make his car look realistic, highlighting the visible front windshield and noting how one of the wheels appeared further away, giving some depth perception.

 

Wilkinson also included in his drawing people, the Toyota logo, and the phrasing "Great service you can trust, friendly people, great cars."

 

The winners really stood out based on their creativity, detail, and ability to capture Coggins in their artwork," Harrington said.

 

The activity gave students a creative outlet and introduced them to multiple dealership career opportunities, including sales, servicing, repairs, accounting, and marketing, she said. 

 

Plante presented the project as a way to introduce them to potential careers in art by focusing on how art can convey messages, specifically in advertising.

 

"The class discussed how to use images, words, logos, and colors effectively to create clear, persuasive artwork. They examined real-world examples, like car dealership logos, and learned the importance of editing their work to avoid overcrowding ideas," Plante said. 

 

During the school visit, the students enthusiastically highlighted the different techniques they used in their ads and noticed similarities with examples they had seen. One student also helped film this month's episode. 

 

The activity also gave their art a purpose, allowing it to be seen and appreciated by others rather than being displayed at home, Plante said.