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Imitation may be the best form of flattery, but CVS' store brand equivalent to Boiron's Oscillo speaks volumes to something else: The gaining popularity of homeopathy.

And that's especially true this year, as concerns over the novel H1N1 flu pandemic have driven scores of consumers into their pharmacies in search of safe and effective symptomatic relief solutions.

A couple of issues back I wrote a column about a question a guy asked me at conference earlier this fall: “So, who’s bigger—CVS or Walgreens?” Ironically, it was the week each company opened its 7,000th store. The point: If you’re measuring these companies based solely on who operates the most stores, if that’s the way you’re keeping score, you’re watching the wrong game.

I still believe that.

NEW YORK Divesting itself of its West Coast store base certainly would place Rite Aid in a much more favorable position with regard to its debt load, merchandising and marketing synergies and supply chain efficiencies. So why not divest?

NEW YORK Uninsured Floridians may find a new kind of stocking stuffer in their Christmas stockings this year — one that will help them toward seeing the doctor they’ve been meaning to see, you know, just as soon as they could afford it. The cards are available beginning this month at Winn-Dixie and will be rolled out to CVS/pharmacy beginning in November.

It’s an idea that’s more akin to pre-paid phone cards than anything else, and accordingly will be merchandised alongside other gift card offerings.

NEW YORK The harsh, skin-drying winter weather is just around the corner here in New York City so it's the perfect time to let guys try out Unilever's Vaseline Men body & face lotion. Well, that's exactly what the brand is doing at one CVS store in the city.