Not all that long ago, we would get in our car and drive to the store if we needed to buy something. That changed in recent years, partly due to new technology and partly due to the pandemic.
More than likely, you have gotten caught up in the convenience of buying things online as well. Even if we don’t have them delivered, curbside pickup is a beautiful thing that saves us time over and over again.
We rarely find a time when we actually need to run inside the store to pick up groceries, household items, or even medicine. Quite simply, there are better ways to do it.
It’s not only people who realize this is happening but CVS realizes it as well. As a result, they are going to close some 900 stores before the 2024 year is over. In fact, it is already underway and some 300 stores are being closed every year for three years.
Unfortunately, there are people who are also impacted by the closure of stores. CVS said that they will help those employees find a job at nearby CVS locations. That should not be overly difficult, considering there are some 10,000 retail locations in the United States.
According to CNBC, the CEO of CVS, Karen Lynch, said:
“Our retail stores are fundamental to our strategy and who we are as a company. We remain focused on the competitive advantage provided by our presence in thousands of communities across the country, which complements our rapidly expanding digital presence.”
They are also changing the way that some of the remaining stores will operate. Over 1000 of those stores will be turned into a HealthHub. At one of those locations, you will find a wider array of medical items as well as health and wellness services, that include everything from health screenings to yoga classes.
As per CNBC, another group of stores is also going to focus on primary care as part of their Minute Clinic service. This will be of special benefit to anyone who has the CVS-owned Aetna insurance.
The thousands of other CVS stores that remain open will continue to function in a similar way to how they function now. You can buy your medication and essential items at the store, but they do hope to get an upgrade with a new design at some point in the future.