This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of CVS. The opinions and text are all mine.
When you move from one country to another, you discover your nostalgia has less to do with your cafecitos con las amigas and more about missing some unexpected products.
It took me some time to learn this, but I have to confess my husband has caught me more than once trying to get a Vitacilina shipment from my mother. It seems he might have comment about this with some VIP (“Very Intelligent People”, definitely) from CVS Pharmacy, because they have launched CVS y más in Los Angeles, CA., after the opening of 12 locations in Miami in 2015.
¿Y luego?, you might ask. Well, these are some of the surprises this new format has for us, according to what Hank Casillas, Area Vice President of CVS Pharmacy told us at the launching event in Bell, California, on April 14th 2016:
- Bilingual Customer Service: Fully bilingual associates and signage throughout the store. ¡En las farmacias CVS y Más todos hablan español, pues! Y todos los letreros y señales de la tienda están en inglés y español.
New Products: More than 1,500 NEW products throughout the store, including many of the most popular Hispanic brands in categories like groceries, over-the-counter medications, household cleaners, snacks –dulces con chilito, Bubulubus, Takis…[me estoy secando las lágrimas de emoción]-, appliances, cookware, cosmetics, baby, and hair care. Desde Nescafé soluble hasta mi amada Vitacilina.
- Latino products made in the USA: More than 300 of the new products introduced will be manufactured in California including El Alteño, Betel, Eternalux Candles, De La Cruz, Don Francisco coffee, La Llave, Bactimicina, Cabellina Shampoo, Doña Remedios teas and Tadin.
- New Fragrance Counter: A new fragrance department, staffed with trained beauty associates, featuring a large assortment of designer fragrances at everyday low prices. Entre mis hallazgos favoritos está una línea de esmaltes de uñas llamada Eternal con tonos fantásticos y los mejores nombres de la comarca, como Bésame y Bailamos Salsa.
- Enhanced Value: New Lower Prices on hundreds of products throughout the store and more value-sized products.
- Expanded Services: A staffed service counter featuring convenient services like bill payments, domestic and international wireless recharge, money transfers, and lottery.Over the past five years, CVS Health and its Foundation have invested more than $2 million to non-profits in the Los Angeles area, including healthcare non-profits that serve the Hispanic community.
In 2016, the CVS Health Foundation provided a $50,000 grant to St. John’s Well Child and Family Center to support underserved pediatric asthma patients in South Los Angeles, a majority of whom are Hispanic. CVS pharmacies y CVS y más no venden tabaco en sus tiendas, así que esta maravillosa donación es coherente con su filosofía de negocio. It was very touching being able to witness the official presentation of the check during the grand opening event.
The goal of the program is to help families manage the child’s asthma to ensure optimal health and reduce emergency room visits. This grant was part of the “Innovations in Community Health” grant program, a three-year, $3 million partnership between the CVS Health Foundation and the National Association of Community Health Centers.
The 9 locations that you will be able to find in Los Angeles area are planned to open at South El Monte, Bell, Walnut Park, Santa Ana, Los Angeles, South Gate, Pico Rivera, Lynwood and Norwalk. For store address and other information about CVS Pharmacy y Más, visit www.cvs.com/ymas .
Now you know: The Ungüento del Coyote con aceite de víbora -one of Mini’s favorite balms- along with more than a thousand more hispanic products are available at this new personalized shopping experience for the hispanic community in Los Angeles. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit one of the locations soon.
What is some of your most missed things from your Latino heritage?
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of CVS. The opinions and text are all mine.
When I lived in Massachusetts, I used to crave *real* Mexican food like no other. My mom would have to mail Mexican candy to me!
It happened to me when I was living in Boston too! I felt really guilty for that chamoy and pulparindo “black market” I made my family to bring every time they visited.
When I moved to California, I knew there where places to look for some of those goods, but having them now at a CVS makes them much more available and easy to get! My friend in NJ are texting me how jealous she is…