We already brought you part one of our list of 15 things you probably did not know about CVS, and now we’re back with part two! Check out eight more fascinating facts about the convenience store and pharmacy company that you definitely (probably) did not know below. You might be surprised by what you find out!
Number Eight: CVS Is Convenience, Value, and Service
We mentioned in the first part of this list that CVS used to stand for “Consumer Value Store.” However, its current CEO has stated that instead of Consumer Value Store, it now stands for Convenience, Value, and Service.
Number Seven: It Didn’t Always Work With Pharmacies
Though CVS is now both a convenience store and a pharmacy, it wasn’t always that way. The company began as just a regular chain of convenience stores. Today, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one that doesn’t include a pharmacy.
Number Six: It Paid Connecticut $800,000 in 2013
It’s true! The company had to pay the state nearly one million dollars because it reportedly mismanaged hazardous waste there. Specifically, Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency discovered that the company had not only mismanaged the waste, but it also didn’t properly identify or dispose of it either.
Number Five: Only 15 Percent of People With a CVS Card Scan it at Checkout
We mentioned in part one that one in three Americans has a card with the company; however, only 15 percent of those people scan it at checkout! That’s 85 percent of the card-holding population not getting the rewards they deserve.
Number Four: It Doesn’t Sell Cigarettes
Though many convenience stores sell cigarettes behind the counter, CVS is definitely not one of them. It was the first of its kind to go completely tobacco-free. It did so on September 3, 2014.
Number Three: It Earned a Pigasus Award
In 2011, the company was criticized for putting herbal and homeopathic medicines and remedies next to more scientifically recognized medications. The James Randi Educational Foundation gave the company a Pigasus Award, which is a sort of joke award meant to acknowledge people and companies promoting fraudulent science and practices.
Number Two: It Has 27 Specialty Pharmacies
You’re undoubtedly familiar with the store’s pharmacies, but did you know that the company also has 27 specialty pharmacies? The specialty pharmacies exist as a way for patients with complex and complicated medical issues to seek treatment.
Number One: It’s Been the Theme of a Birthday Party
In late 2015, one mother threw her four-year-old daughter a birthday party that was CVS-themed. Her daughter loves the store so much that she was thrilled with the idea. We hope you enjoyed our list of 15 things you didn’t know about CVS!