Mark Tosh, Senior Editor
Mark covers news and feature coverage of national and regional optical retailers, managed vision care organizations, software systems and technology. He works closely with other members of the VM editorial staff to monitor developments in online optical retailing and other industry issues. Mark is a contributor to
dba, a twice monthly e-newsletter profiling successful local and regional retail/optometric businesses while addressing their decision-making needs. Contact Mark at
mtosh@jobson.com.
By Mark Tosh
Monday, February 8, 2021 12:00 AM
There are times in life when we get caught up in places where we can’t see the forest for the trees. Chalk it up to outside distractions, a fixation on a single issue or, perhaps more likely in the current climate, a preoccupation with a global pandemic.
By Mark Tosh
Monday, September 21, 2020 12:00 AM
A few weeks ago, I sent an email to people across the optical community asking if they could share a “good news” story. The idea was to collect these positive narratives and put them into a VMAIL Weekend feature.
By Mark Tosh
Monday, June 22, 2020 1:00 AM
The genie, as they say, is out of the bottle. This is the genie known as telehealth, telemedicine or even tele-optometry. Whatever one calls it, there certainly has been a rush of activity in which individual doctors provide remote diagnosis and treatment services to an individual patient.
By Mark Tosh
Monday, November 11, 2019 12:00 AM
From a media perspective, staying on top of internet advertising trends is a “must-do” today. But marketers, too, have more reason than ever to be aware of the developments taking place in digital advertising.
By Mark Tosh
Monday, July 15, 2019 12:00 AM
Bouncing around the trade show/conference circuit, we’ve found it’s hard to avoid running into a discussion or two about the imminent “changes” on the horizon that will shake up the entire industry, whether it’s the retail sector, health care or even the media business. There probably isn’t an industry segment out there that doesn’t have its share of advisers and consultants who address the topic of change on a regular basis at industry get-togethers. In the past, we’ve tended to take these talks with a grain of salt (and sometimes a shot of tequila).
By Mark Tosh
Monday, March 11, 2019 12:30 AM
Suffice it to say I am not a real marketer. I read a lot about marketing theories and can debate either side of the art-or-science question, but I skipped the classical training part and didn’t become familiar with the 4Ps (product, price, place and promotion) until midway in my professional life. As old-school marketers know, the marketing-mix framework and most marketing management decisions were shaped by the 4Ps for decades.
By Mark Tosh
Monday, November 12, 2018 12:30 AM
This is the time of year when we like to take a moment and identify the many things that we appreciate for making the daily journey more interesting and pleasurable. While there are certainly some omissions from this list, here are just a few things that we’d like to acknowledge as our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and all that this annual holiday represents.
By Mark Tosh
Monday, June 11, 2018 12:00 AM
Baseball has been one of my favorite things for a long time. There’s something about the way it combines athletic skills, a degree of strategic thinking and even a bit of risk taking.
By Mark Tosh
Monday, December 18, 2017 12:10 AM
As the final days of 2017 approach, we’re intrigued by the year-end lists that the media rolls out. While we can’t weigh in on best movies, songs or TV shows, we do have an opinion about the biggest events in optical.
By Mark Tosh
Friday, November 17, 2017 12:42 PM
NEW YORK—It’s the most wonderful time of the year (to borrow a lyric from the late Andy Williams), especially if you’re in the retail business. Black Friday, Sofa Sunday (a research day for online shoppers) and Cyber Monday are all record-setting holiday shopping events and red-letter days on the retail calendar. But don’t overlook Small Business Saturday, which is becoming a consumer force in its own right.
Read the full Weekend edition.
By Mark Tosh
Friday, October 13, 2017 11:24 AM
NEW YORK—Perhaps in no sports competition is great eyesight more important than it is in baseball. Indeed, superior vision is generally acknowledged to be a prerequisite for attaining the highest levels of competition in the sport. Click here to read this week's VMail Weekend.
By Mark Tosh
Friday, August 25, 2017 1:01 PM
Well, you’re not alone, since so many in the optical business are loyal and proud fans of their college alma maters. Yes, for many of us, the most lasting connection to our college days are those ties to Saturday afternoons at the stadium, and the memorable tailgating before the game, cheering and celebrating every touchdown or big defensive play, and then rehashing it all over again into the wee hours of the morning. Click
here to read this week's
VMail Weekend.
By Mark Tosh
Monday, August 14, 2017 12:00 AM
In the good old days, or at least when I was younger, the dog days of summer were a welcome respite in August for winding down, sneaking in a last-minute summer vacation or just listening to a baseball game on the radio. Wouldn’t it be nice to have those dog days back?
By Mark Tosh
Sunday, August 13, 2017 12:00 AM
“Retailers should be measuring and managing customer feedback with the same care and rigor they use with other key performance indicators.”—Eric Feinberg, ForeSee. mtosh@jobson.com
By Mark Tosh
Monday, July 17, 2017 12:00 AM
“Marketing tech can help solve problems facing health care. The industry needs to solve the disconnect between what consumers want and what providers can deliver.” – Kyra Hagan mtosh@jobson.com