🚗 EP 68: THE NEXT IDA PRESIDENT RUNS AN 80 + CAR/WEEK SHOP?! | FT. JOSH PIERCE

🎙️ HOSTED BY ANDREW ST-PIERRE & ERCAN HURMUZLU

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to run a high-volume detailing operation while also helping lead the future of the industry… this episode is for you. 💼

In Episode 68 of the Suds to Success Podcast, hosts Andrew St-Pierre and Ercan Hurmuzlu sit down with Josh Pierce, the President-Elect of the IDA (International Detailing Association) and a man who runs a detailing empire that processes 25–30 dealership cars per day , Josh isn’t just talking theory , he’s living it daily with a shop that employs 22 people, handles dealer reconditioning, and operates like a well-oiled machine.

👤 WHO IS JOSH PIERCE?

Josh Pierce is a major name in the detailing world and wears several hats:

✅ President-Elect of the IDA

✅ Brand Development Director for Car Candy

✅ Owner of Carousel Auto Appearance in Iowa

✅ Leader of a team of 22 employees

And to top it off… Josh casually calls himself “one of the old dudes in the industry.” But after hearing what he’s built, it’s clear he’s one of the most experienced minds in detailing today.

⚙️ A 22-PERSON SHOP BUILT FOR DEALERSHIP DOMINATION

Josh’s business, Carousel Auto Appearance, isn’t a small detail shop. It’s a full-scale reconditioning powerhouse. They provide:

🚘 dealership detailing

🛡️ PPF installation

🎨 body shop services

🪟 tint

✨ ceramic coatings

🔧 windshield replacements

🛞 wheel reconditioning (with a specialist on-site)

Josh explains that his shop works as the main reconditioning center for around 10 different brands. Instead of dealerships dealing with multiple vendors, Josh’s business becomes the one-stop solution.

➡️ FROM LEATHER REPAIR TO DETAILING EMPIRE

Believe it or not, Josh didn’t start as a detailer.He and his wife started 20+ years ago doing:

• Repair

• Vinyl repair

• Mobile dealership work

But Josh admitted something hilarious and honest:

😅 He hated it.

Over time, he transitioned into detailing—and the rest is history.

💡THE SECRET TO GETTING (AND KEEPING) DEALERSHIPS

Josh drops one of the biggest dealer-work gems of the episode:

BE A PROBLEM SOLVER.

Dealerships don’t want:

❌ headaches

❌ staffing problems

❌ multiple vendors

❌ unreliable detail departments

They want one person to handle everything. Josh explains that dealerships love his business model because:

• They avoid payroll taxes

• They avoid managing employees

• Cars get processed faster

• Photos + merchandising get handled

• Reconditioning gets done professionally

The dealership simply hands the keys over… and Josh’s team handles the rest.

📍 LOCATION = UNFAIR ADVANTAGE

Josh’s shop is located in a dream spot:

Right behind a highway called “Dealership Road”

He can literally walk to most of his dealership accounts. So his daily workflow looks like:

🔑 pick up 80 keys

🚗 bring cars to the shop

🧽 detail + recon

📸 take photos + upload to dealer websites

🚘 return cars to dealership lots

🔄 repeat all day

That’s efficiency on another level.

📈 HOW MANY CARS DO THEY REALLY DO?

This part of the episode shocked everyone. Josh says:

25–30 dealership cars PER DAY

And by Monday mornings?

They can have 80–100 cars waiting.

His goal is to cycle everything through within:

📅 4–5 days

That is insane volume.

🛠️ THE “ASSEMBLY LINE” DETAILING SYSTEM

Josh explains how his shop stays productive:

• Interior-only team

• Exterior-only team

• Photo & merchandising specialist

• Transport team moving vehicles constantly

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦HOW JOSH KEEPS EMPLOYEES LONG-TERM

A 22-person shop is nothing without retention. Josh’s leadership philosophy?

TREAT THEM LIKE FAMILY.

He explains that money matters , but culture matters more. They do:

• Christmas events

• lunches

• game nights / parties

• real family-style support

And that kind of loyalty builds long-term teams.

🚨 WHEN DO YOU KNOW IT’S TIME TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE?

Josh gave one of the most useful hiring rules ever:

IF CARS SIT DOUBLE THE TIME THEY SHOULD… HIRE.

If the shop is behind for 2 weeks, it’s manageable. But if the backlog stays for 30 days consistently? It’s time to add staff. Simple. Practical. Real-world advice.

🌾 HIS BEST HIRING TIP: FARM KIDS

This was one of the most unexpected gems of the episode. Josh said his best hires often come from: 🚜 farm communities

Because farm kids grow up with:

✅ work ethic

✅ discipline

✅ responsibility

✅ physical stamina

✅ no excuses mindset

That tip alone can change someone’s hiring process completely.

🚫 FIRING EMPLOYEES: THE MOST COMMON REASON

Josh openly shares that he has fired people before—and it’s never easy.

But the biggest reason?

ATTENDANCE ISSUES.

If someone misses 3–5 days a month consistently, it becomes a business problem.

Josh believes in loyalty and second chances—but he also believes the business must run.

🌍THE IDA: WHY IT MATTERS (EVEN IF CUSTOMERS DON’T CARE)

Josh’s IDA perspective is powerful. He says something many detailers need to hear:

THE IDA IS NOT FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS. IT’S FOR YOU.

Customers may not understand the IDA badge, but Josh uses it for:

• Professional development

• Networking

• Support and industry connections

• Opportunities and doors opening

Josh also revealed exciting IDA future plans, including:

• Potential IDA trade show

• Midwest location

• Possibly August

• MTE-style event (2–3 days)

That could be huge for the detailing world.

🧴 JOSH & CAR CANDY: FAMILY CULTURE + QUALITY PRODUCTS

Josh works with Car Candy Detail Products, and his reason was clear:

THE FAMILY ATMOSPHERE. ❤️

He says the products are great, but the people matter just as much. His favorite Car Candy product?

✨ Hydro X (ceramic-infused waterless wash)

He also mentioned how impressive Car Candy’s production facility is:

🏭 Multiple mixing tanks

🧪 Multiple fill lines

🏗️ Expanding into a building twice the size

Big operation… but still family-run.

🏁 FINAL THOUGHTS : THIS EPISODE IS A MASTERCLASS

Episode 68 isn’t just a podcast, it’s a blueprint. If you want to learn about:

• Dealership reconditioning

• Hiring & building a team

• Scaling operations

• IDA networking

• Product development

• Running a real high-volume shop

Josh Pierce delivered straight value the entire time. This episode is a must-listen for any detailer trying to grow past “solo operator mode.”

🔗 CHECK OUT JOSH PIERCE / CAR CANDY

🌐 Website: https://carcandy.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carcandydetailproducts/

📱 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carcandydetailproducts

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