RD Background
Meet Blair Sampson, Regional Director for the Atlantic division of Wine Kitz Canada. Blair is responsible for the support and growth of the Atlantic division of Wine Kitz.
Regional Director’s Background
I was born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in 1956. After finishing high school I moved to Ontario where I spent 18 years working in various capacities for a national retailer. Wanting to work for myself, I drew on the knowledge I gained about running a successful business, and turned my efforts to owning and operating a rural pub for several years.
In 1991, I spent 6 months travelling throughout Australia, where I developed an interest in wine and winemaking. Upon returning to Canada in 1992, I settled down in the Halifax area and decided to combine my retail and pub experience by opening my first of two winemaking stores.
After 8 years as a successfully independent owner of two winemaking stores, I decided it was time to take my business to the next level, and in 2000 I joined the Wine Kitz Franchise network as Regional Director/ Master Franchiser for the Atlantic region. Since joining Wine Kitz, I have grown the Atlantic region from one inherited store to the current ten Wine Kitz locations.
To ensure I keep in touch with the grass roots and the ever-changing industry issues, I continue to own and operate the Wine Kitz New Minas location.
Over the last two decades, I have seen many positive changes in the winemaking industry, and I have played an integral part in bringing and implementing these changes to the Atlantic region. As an innovator in the industry, I helped spearhead the introduction and legislation of in-store winery services in New Brunswick and I’m currently working towards the introduction of these same services for Nova Scotia retail stakeholders & winemakers.
I’m an active member of the industry’s first regional association, and also a founding and active member of the newly formed Atlantic Fermenter’s Association. I foresee many more positive changes over the next few years as product quality, consumer wine knowledge and expanded services continue to drive and grow the consumer-made wine industry.
CONTACT
For information on becoming a successful Wine Kitz owner, contact me at (902) 462-7884, or send me an email: blairsampson@accesswave.ca
Please see our Available Locations page to choose a location which may present the best business opportunity for you.
See our ‘Testimonials’ section for information about people just like you who own and operate successful Wine Kitz franchises!
