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EP 81: YVAN LACROIX IS BACK… AND HE’S GOT A LOT TO SAY! 🔥

Yvan Lacroix is BACK for Episode 81 of the Suds to Success Podcast, and this conversation is packed with valuable insights! Hosted by Andrew St-Pierre and Ercan Hurmuzlu, this episode dives into detailing efficiency, employee training, SOPs, shop organization, time management, and the journey from detailer to entrepreneur. Yvan shares practical lessons from decades of experience, including how to eliminate wasted movement, train employees effectively, create consistent processes, and build a workspace designed for productivity. From detailing techniques to business growth and customer service, this episode delivers plenty of knowledge every detailer can apply.

Andrew St-Pierre

8/14/20265 min read

EP 81: YVAN LACROIX IS BACK… AND HE’S GOT A LOT TO SAY! 🔥

🎙️ HOSTED BY

ANDREW ST-PIERRE & ERCAN HURMUZLU

⭐ FEATURING SPECIAL GUEST — YVAN LACROIX

🔥 YVAN LACROIX IS BACK — AND THIS ONE GETS REAL!

He's back. And this time, Yvan Lacroix has A LOT to say.

In Episode 81 of the Suds to Success Podcast, Andrew St-Pierre and Ercan Hurmuzlu sit down with Yvan Lacroix for another conversation packed with experience, opinions, business lessons, detailing techniques, training strategies, and plenty of moments you won't want to miss.

From building his new detailing studio to breaking down how detailers can work faster, smarter, and more efficiently, Yvan gives an inside look at what decades of experience have taught him. And yes… Andrew and Ercan came prepared with the random questions. 😂

🏗️ BUILDING THE ULTIMATE DETAILING STUDIO

Yvan opens up about his new 30 × 30 detailing studio, including a completely rebuilt concrete floor, in-floor heating, a flush-mounted six-foot scissor lift, extensive LED lighting, and a polished concrete floor.

But this isn't just about making the studio look good. It's about functionality.

From lighting to workflow, Yvan explains why the environment you work in can have a massive impact on how efficiently you detail. His goal?

Build a space that works for detailing, mechanical work, filming, and training.

📋 SOPs: THE SECRET TO CONSISTENCY

If there's one topic Yvan keeps coming back to, it's SOPs — Standard Operating Procedures. And for good reason.

Yvan explains how SOPs helped standardize the way employees were trained and allowed the same processes to be followed throughout the business. Instead of teaching everything at once, employees could master one process at a time.

Learn it.

Practice it.

Meet the required quality and timing.

Then move on. That approach creates consistency and prevents employees from simply passing along the mistakes they learned from someone else.

🧠 DON'T JUST TEACH WHAT — TEACH WHY

One of the most powerful training lessons from Yvan:

Don't just tell employees WHAT to do. Explain WHY they're doing it.

When someone understands the reason behind a process, they become more engaged and more capable of making good decisions.

They're no longer simply following instructions. They're understanding the system, and that difference can completely change how an employee develops.

⏱️ THE BIGGEST PROBLEM DETAILERS ARE FACING

What's the biggest struggle Yvan sees when training detailers?

TIME MANAGEMENT.

Not necessarily their detailing ability.
Not their willingness to work.
Not even their technical knowledge.
It's the lack of being methodical.
Walking back and forth.
Looking for products.
Moving equipment unnecessarily.
Repeating steps.
Overthinking simple processes.

These little inefficiencies add up quickly.

🚗 HOW TO GET FASTER AT DETAILING

Yvan has a simple recommendation for anyone who wants to improve their speed:

RECORD YOURSELF DETAILING.

Put your phone on a tripod and record yourself working. Then actually watch the footage. You may discover that you're spending a surprising amount of time doing things that aren't actually detailing.

Walking.
Searching.
Waiting.
Repositioning.
Repeating.

Once you see those wasted movements, you can start eliminating them.

Work smarter. Move with purpose. Become methodical.

🪣 TRAIN YOUR EQUIPMENT TO FOLLOW YOU

Yvan even breaks down something as simple as keeping your equipment within reach.

Your cart should move with you.
Your bucket should follow you.
Your tools should be positioned where you need them.
The goal is to eliminate unnecessary movement.

Because the fastest detailer isn't necessarily the person moving the fastest. Sometimes it's the person who doesn't have to move at all.

🧴 DON'T OVERTHINK THE DETAILING PROCESS

Another major lesson?

STOP OVERTHINKING EVERYTHING.

Detailers can get caught up wondering whether they should use one product instead of another, change a process, add another step, or reinvent the entire procedure.

Yvan's approach is much simpler:

Follow the recipe.

When you have a proven process that produces consistent results, stick with it.

Your life becomes easier.
Your results become more consistent.
And your team becomes easier to train.

🧑‍🏫 TRAINING EMPLOYEES THE RIGHT WAY

Yvan explains why businesses shouldn't try to teach a new employee everything on their first day. Instead, employees should gradually learn each process and demonstrate that they understand it before moving forward.

This creates a progression:

LEARN → PRACTICE → MASTER → MOVE FORWARD

It also gives business owners a much clearer understanding of where an employee is succeeding — and where they need additional help.

🧹 ORGANIZATION IS A BUSINESS SYSTEM

One of the biggest takeaways from the episode is that organization isn't simply about having a clean shop. It's about creating an environment where your employees can perform their jobs efficiently.

Yvan explains how even the physical layout of a shop can influence productivity. And sometimes the best organizational improvement is surprisingly simple:

GET RID OF THE FLAT SURFACES.

If there's a table, cart, shelf, or counter available, someone will eventually put something on it. Then one item becomes five. Five becomes twenty. And suddenly your organized shop isn't so organized anymore. 😂

💭 FROM DETAILER TO ENTREPRENEUR

Perhaps one of Yvan's most meaningful answers comes when Andrew asks what accomplishment makes him most proud.

His answer isn't simply teaching someone how to polish, Or wash, Or coat.

It's watching a detailer stop being just a detailer and become an entrepreneur.

That's the bigger picture,

Building something.
Creating systems.
Growing a team.
Understanding the business side.

And eventually becoming the person running the business instead of being trapped working inside it every day.

❤️ BRINGING PRIDE BACK TO CAR CARE

Yvan also talks about something bigger than business:

The enjoyment of taking care of your vehicle.

Detailing doesn't always have to feel like surgery. It can be fun. It can be satisfying. And it can create a sense of pride.

Whether you're a professional detailer or someone washing your own car at home, there's something powerful about looking at a vehicle you've taken care of and thinking:

"Damn… that looks good."

🤝 RESPECT EVERY CUSTOMER

One final lesson that every business owner should remember:

Never underestimate your customer.

Customers may know more about their vehicle than you think. They may have years of experience. They may understand detailing. They may notice things you don't. And regardless of who walks through your door, they're still your customer.

Treat them with respect.

Because great customer service isn't just about doing great work. It's about making people feel valued while they're doing business with you.

🔥 THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY?

STOP MAKING YOUR BUSINESS HARDER THAN IT NEEDS TO BE.

Create systems.
Organize your environment.
Train your employees properly.
Explain the WHY.
Eliminate wasted movement.
Stop overthinking.
And build a business

That can operate with consistency. Because the goal isn't simply to become a better detailer.

THE GOAL IS TO BUILD A BETTER BUSINESS. 🚀

🎙️ YVAN LACROIX IS BACK… AND HE DID NOT HOLD BACK!

From detailing techniques to business systems, employee training, SOPs, shop organization, time management, product development, customer service, and everything in between…

Episode 81 is packed

If you're a detailer trying to become faster, more organized, more profitable, or simply better at running your business, this is an episode you don't want to miss.