Eugene and Michelle Kizzier are the owners of Huge Improvements, a Maple Grove-based company that specializes in all types of interior remodels.
Natives of the Midwest, both Michelle and Eugene grew up in small towns.
“I’m from Fordyce, Nebraska, which has a population of 150 people,” says Michelle, a smile beaming across her face as the three of us convene in their office.
“Back in Fordyce, there is farming, it’s a little hilly, and there are a lot of Catholics. Actually, there are three bars and one church.”
Eugene’s upbringing was similar.
From Moville, Iowa, he was raised in a “bedroom town,” meaning people slept in Moville, but they didn’t necessarily work there.
“Everyone besides a couple farmers and the banker had to go to Sioux City to find work,” Eugene recalls, before pointing out a fact that few outside of Moville would ever know.
“The city is also on Highway 20, which is the only road that goes all the way through the United States.”
After high school, both Eugene and Michelle attended Briar Cliff University in Sioux City.
It was there that the couple met and fell in love, although Michelle later transferred to Mount Marty University in Yankton, South Dakota.
After getting married they decided to seek something new and different, and the two debated moving to Kansas City, Minneapolis, or Phoenix.
“But Phoenix was too hot,” Michelle says, “and it required an airplane in order for us to go visit family, so Minneapolis it was.”
At first, Huge Improvements was just a thought middling around the couple’s collective imagination, a line of thinking that got discarded, even though Eugene had always wanted to be a builder.
In fact, Eugene originally went to college to study architecture, but when he learned he would need to supplement that discipline with art classes, he balked, and later got a job in computer science.
“I hated that,” Eugene insists.
“I can’t be in a cubicle all day. I have to be outside.”
So he got a job in framing, and he also secured his real estate license.
“I didn’t know how things were going to unfold, but I had a dream and I just went for it,” Eugene says.
While meeting with prospective real estate clients, Eugene often found himself working with clients who were struggling to move, and in many ways, only needed to revamp their interior in order to reinvigorate their love for their home.
“In many cases, my clients didn’t necessarily want to move, but either they hated their kitchen or bathroom, and so then I would recommend that they remodel it,” says Eugene, who today is still listing properties throughout the Twin Cities.
“Because I had experience in construction, these same clients were telling me that I should do their remodels, because at the time we were already flipping houses.”
Sensing an opportunity, Eugene and Michelle decided to open Huge Improvements, an interior remodeling company that plays off Eugene’s nickname in college (Euge).
“His friends used to yell his name across campus, and when they did, it sounded like huge,” Michelle explains.
“He’s not a terribly tall guy, so it didn’t make sense for his nickname to be huge, but it certainly made for a cool name for our business,” she adds with a chuckle.
Twelve years later, the Midwestern battery have established themselves as top-notch interior renovators in Maple Grove, specializing in projects ranging from bathroom and kitchen remodels to creating mudrooms.
“We didn’t really know what Huge Improvements would become, but as soon as we started, several other people asked for help,” Eugene says.
“Ever since then, it’s been all word-of-mouth.”
Notes Michelle:
“We started small. Sometimes we would just replace someone’s front door, but over time it organically evolved, to the point where now we can do full-house remodels.”
For as design-savvy as Eugene and Michelle are, it should be noted that the rise of Huge Improvements doesn’t happen if not for the outstanding relationships they have built with professional and competent subcontractors.
“This business would not exist without the relationships we have formed with our subs,” Michelle emphasizes.
“And so while we have been able to help a lot of homeowners with various projects, that’s only because a lot of people were willing to help us along the way. In that sense, it’s been really cool to see all the friendships and partnerships we have established over the years.”
Of note:
Huge Improvements is unique in that they typically only work with clients in or very close to the city of Maple Grove.
“If it touches Maple Grove, then we will do the project, but we try not to go too far beyond that,” Eugene says.
As a business that relies so heavily on referrals, online “gurus” might wonder why the duo doesn’t expand their operations to service more clients, but the reality is that even with a condensed service area, Eugene and Michelle’s schedule is constantly full.
Moreover, the two are not trying to become the biggest interior remodeler in the Twin Cities, and it’s that same humility that makes their value proposition so unique.
“We take our business very seriously, but we are also very laid-back. Of course, we have agreements that all of our clients sign, but we’re very flexible,” Eugene says.
“As owners, we understand that things change, so we’re always willing to accommodate our clients to the best of our ability.”
Adds Michelle:
“We don’t use high-pressure sales tactics either. There probably are times where we could be more pushy and get prospective customers to sign with us faster, but most people don’t like being treated like that, and so that’s not how we do business.”
Fortunately, but not luckily, Eugene and Michelle’s approach has never forced them to compromise on their principles.
“Yes, we obviously would like to win every job, but we also understand that’s not realistic, so we have become very good at leading with authenticity and value, and just letting that relationship with the client naturally unfold,” Michelle says.
Looking ahead, Huge Improvements appears primed to continue assisting Maple Grove homeowners with the same level of passion and customer service that has endeared them to so many already, but like any business, the aim is also for their reach to expand.
“We want to grow more, mostly because we understand how that will obviously increase our revenue,” Eugene says.
“Plus, we both enjoy the design aspect of this business, which is why we would like to be able to refine our systems so that we can focus more on that in the future.”
Affirms Michelle:
“We love meeting with clients and helping solve their problems. We are good salespeople, even though we don’t push people into doing business with us.”
Says Eugene:
“Ultimately, it’s a relationship that our clients are signing up for when they work with us, and we take their trust and their business very seriously.”
A continuation of the status quo may be on the horizon for Huge Improvements, but don’t be surprised if this family business one day gets a little bit bigger.
“All three of our kids have an eye for design and style. In fact, our oldest son is going to college for architecture, and our daughter will be studying interior design,” Eugene says, and I can’t think of a more apropos education path for the next generation of Kizziers.
“Maybe one day our kids will come work for us, and maybe, if we do the right things, we will have a nice mini empire.” QS
**
Today’s post is sponsored by Tiffany Daly of WIIN Insurance Agency!
On the personal side, Tiffany writes policies for home, auto, and umbrella insurance.
For commercial insurance, WIIN writes policies for general liability, worker’s comp, commercial auto, umbrella, and cybersecurity.
Tiffany and WIIN are currently licensed in six states, including: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona, North Dakota, and Oklahoma.
To receive your free insurance estimate, call Tiffany today at (612)505-3329!
quentinsuper.com 
Leave a comment