IDA Member Spotlight: Erwan Gouriou, CD-SV

Each month we feature a Member Spotlight. This month we're talking with the President of the IDA France Chapter, Erwan Gouriou, CD-SV, CEO at Gtechniq France.

International Detailing Association (IDA): How did you get into the detailing industry?

Erwan Gouriou (EG): Cars always been a passion of mine and after a career in the cinema industry (movie theaters), I decided to live out my passion and get into PDR. From there I went into detailing because I had a lot of requests, as it was quite new in France.

IDA: Tell us a bit about your business.

EG: I started as a detailer and I quickly became interested in the Gtechniq coatings after I started working with it. One day, Rob Earle, Gtechniq managing director, called me, he was looking for a detailer team to work on RM Sotheby's car auction in Paris. It was the beginning of my collaboration with Gtechniq. Today I am a Gtechniq distributor for France and I run the accreditation program for several countries in Europe (doing audits, trainings, and accreditations). I have a network of 51 detailers in Europe and in the French territories, Caribbean, and South East of Africa. I also manage the RM Sotheby's car auction Gtechniq teams in Paris, Monaco, and Essen in Germany.

IDA: Are there any awards/certifications/accomplishments that you or your business has earned and would like to share with us?

EG: One of my prouder moments was the CD-SV event I organized in Paris with Alan Medcraf and Jonathan Munsell. I did training's and certifications with Colourlock, Swissvax, Gtechniq, Zvizzer Germany, Flex, Rupes, and of course with IDA.

It was an amazing event. All of the detailers were delighted. I'm extremely proud of this event. I would like to thank again, Jonathan and Alan for their help!

IDA: What is the best advice you ever received?

EG: Think globally and try to always be willing to learn, even from things that fail.

IDA: What tips do you have for the new detailer?

EG: Train as much as you can, create your network by making connections with other detailers to exchange experiences and make synergies, don’t go it alone, go to meetings and events!

IDA: What tips do you have for the experienced detailer?

EG: Keep learning, stay informed about new products and techniques, take time to step back and think about how to grow your business even more, do not hesitate to ask for help from people or companies who can help you.

IDA: In what products or services does your company specialize?

EG: I have two companies. The first is for services (detailing, coatings, orange peel removal, leather restoration). The second one is the distribution of Gtechniq products, Gtechniq accredited network management, training organizations. Working with Gtechniq is where the majority of my work day is devoted to.

IDA: What do you think is the most important factor to being successful in the detailing industry?

EG: You must set goals and build a plan. You then proceed step by step, take a step back, look at your business, and think globally. If you spend everyday, weeks, or months working continuously on cars, you will have trouble increasing your business. All of your time will be spent working instead of working on marketing and strategy which are essential to the growth of your business. You should be taking time to think, analyze, and building your decision making process.

Something that could help you is the Kaoru Ishikawa diagram (shows the causes of a specific event) to write down your goals, steps and actions to reach these goals, and resources to implement to achieve this.

IDA: Funniest business moment?

EG: When we worked on the Pope Francis Lamborghini in Monaco. A detailer didn’t listen to the instructions and almost erased the autograph of the Pope on the hood. Luckily we saw it in time! The autograph was safe! We are laughing now but we had cold sweats when it was happening.

IDA: Why did you decide to get involved with the IDA?

EG: The detailing market is still young in France. There are a lot of misunderstandings and confusions, both from consumers and from detailers. So when I discovered the IDA I realized that the solution was there, by bringing together the detailers to share their experiences. That's what I do every day with the Gtechniq accredited network, using all the feedbacks to give advice. This is the best way to grow and IDA is the ideal platform, totally neutral, it is also for me the best way to share my experiences.

IDA: How has your involvement affected your business/career?

EG: I now spend more time looking at what happens in other countries like The United States, Asia, and Eastern Europe to find solutions that could match with the Western European market.

I have to manage time and meetings with the other board members of the chapter, who are also very busy, it creates a dynamic in the end, a flow of new ideas that we are currently talking about to set a business model for the France market.