Evolve Construction and Restoration is expanding its footprint beyond disaster recovery with the launch of a dedicated retail home improvement division, marking a notable shift in how restoration companies approach long-term growth.
Announced by Evolve Holdings, the new Evolve Retail Platform will offer full-service remodeling and exterior upgrades across more than 35 markets in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. The move reflects a broader industry trend toward diversification as companies seek to balance insurance-driven restoration work with direct-to-consumer services.
The new division will be led by CEO Jacob Deems and CMO Savanna Forster, both of whom previously built and scaled the Minnesota-based home improvement brand MN Rusco.
The launch stands out because it intentionally separates retail and restoration operations while keeping them under one corporate umbrella — a structure rarely seen in the construction and restoration sector.
“What makes this work is that the retail and restoration sides of the business each have their own leadership, their own operational teams and their own expertise. Jacob and Savanna built something real with MN Rusco. We did not absorb them — we gave them a bigger platform to run. That is the difference between a machine and a department.”
— Jay Zaabri, founder and chairman, Evolve Holdings
Historically, restoration companies have struggled to integrate retail remodeling due to differences in workflows, customer expectations, and revenue models. Insurance-based projects tend to be reactive and process-driven, while retail remodeling relies heavily on customer experience, branding, and design.
Evolve’s approach aims to overcome that divide by creating a standalone division that still benefits from shared infrastructure, certifications, and workforce networks.
Evolve Retail Platform will provide homeowners with a wide range of services, including:
Each service line will be supported by specialized crews trained to meet the same certification standards used in Evolve’s restoration operations. The company is also emphasizing quality assurance through guarantees and accelerated timelines.
“Homeowners have always had to choose between a specialist who does one thing well and a general contractor who does everything adequately. Evolve Retail Platform changes that. We bring specialist-level expertise to every category under one roof — backed by Evolve’s guarantee on every single project.”
— Savanna Forster, CMO, Evolve Retail Platform
The division also introduces a 60-day completion pledge, positioning itself as a faster alternative to traditional remodeling timelines, which have been extended in recent years due to labor shortages and supply chain disruptions.
The retail expansion builds on Evolve’s existing foundation in disaster recovery, where the company has completed more than 7,500 projects and generated over $200 million in revenue.
“MN Rusco gave us the proof of concept. Evolve gives us the infrastructure to scale it nationally. The opportunity to bring a premium retail remodeling experience to homeowners across 35 markets — backed by the operational depth Evolve has built — is something that simply did not exist before this partnership.”
— Jacob Deems, CEO, Evolve Retail Platform
By leveraging its established infrastructure — including certifications such as IICRC and HAAG and a nationwide crew network — Evolve aims to accelerate growth in the retail segment without compromising service quality.
Evolve’s move comes at a time when the construction and home improvement sectors are evolving rapidly. Rising home equity levels, aging housing stock, and increased demand for renovations are driving growth in the remodeling market, even as new construction faces headwinds.
At the same time, disaster recovery firms are under pressure to diversify revenue streams due to fluctuations in insurance claims and climate-related events.
By combining AI-driven operations, centralized data systems, and a dual-division structure, Evolve is positioning itself to capture opportunities across both reactive and proactive construction markets.
“Together we are building a better tomorrow.”
— Jay Zaabri, founder and chairman, Evolve Holdings
Originally reported by EIN Presswire in Detroit Free Press.
