May 2010
May 1, 2010, by admin
Wine Kitz Goes Wine-Op
On previous occasions I have used this space to offer commentary on the ongoing challenges of convincing our provincial government to green light in-store winery services in Nova Scotia.
After many months of soul searching and a bit of due diligence we have decided to no longer wait for government approval. We have now joined our fellow industry partners in PEI, New Brunswick and numerous other forward-thinking provinces.
Despite the fact that we are not the only retail store in NS offering in-store winery services, we anticipate that due to being part of a national franchise chain, we will be a target on the government radar screen. Let the chips fall where they may!!
Our decision was partly inspired by last year’s introduction of in-store winery services on Prince Edward Island. In early March 2010 we opened our first island location in Charlottetown. Consumer acceptance has far surpassed our projections and expectations. In two months of being open we are nearing winery space capacity. More staff has been hired and more space may need to be rented in the near future!
The driving force behind the introduction of in-store winery service on PEI was Innovation and Advanced Learning Minister Allan Campbell. Innovation and Advanced Learning Minister? What a novel portfolio for a province wanting to keep up with changing times and attracting new enterprise and industry. In a detailed search of Nova Scotia Ministers listings, we were unable to find anything which resembled such a portfolio. We need not look much further to recognize why Nova Scotians are often last in receiving services granted to other Canadians.
Photos of Charlottetown’s ribbon cutting ceremonies with Minister Allan Campbell can be viewed by visiting: http://winekitzcharlottetown.ca/
We are not attempting to re-invent the wheel. We will abide by the U-Vint regulations set out by the Federal Excise Act and we will collect applicable taxes. Our objective is to offer Nova Scotians the same services extended to other Maritimers.
For detailed information on the in-store winery concept, see our In-Store Winery page.
If you wish to support our efforts, we ask you to visit www.UVintNS.ca and send a letter to Premier Darrell Dexter.
Blair Sampson
Wine Kitz New Minas
If you have a comment, question, or suggestion, please submit it here. Thanks very much!
~ Blair Sampson