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The FTSE 100 sportswear retailer saw like-for-like sales slip by 2.8 per cent in the six months to August

JD Sports has reported a decline in both revenue and profit in the first half of this year, as subdued consumer confidence in its crucial US market creates a “tough trading environment”.

Régis Schultz, chief executive of the so-called ‘King of Trainers’, said on Wednesday that he is “encouraged” by the progress towards his growth plan, while acknowledging that cost-of-living pressures are “weighing” on its core consumer.

The FTSE 100 group recorded a 2.8 per cent fall in like-for-like sales during the six months to August, while pre-tax profit tumbled by a fifth to £282m.

The retailer’s overall sales were pulled down by a four per cent decline in North America. The region represents the group’s largest market, making up 38 per cent of its sales.

JD’s performance in the region had been supported by the US tax refund season and new product launches at the beginning of the year, but trading has “softened” in recent months, as reported by City AM.

The drop in North American sales was attributed to “weaker consumer sentiment amidst the broader cost-of-living backdrop and deferred ‘back-to-school’ demand into August,” the group said.

“Footwear performance remained challenged, reflecting softness in end-of-cycle product lines and a promotional market,” the firm told shareholders.

However, JD highlighted a recovery in sales of outdoor products. Revenue in this category rose by 4.2 per cent to £743m across the group, compared with a 3.1 per cent drop in sales of branded JD items.

The retailer’s UK sales declined by 1.4 per cent during the period, although the group noted that its momentum has picked up in recent months.

JD recorded a three per cent sales uplift in the Asia Pacific region, which represents five per cent of its overall market.

Schultz, who earlier this year weathered an attempted boardroom coup by JD’s then-chairman, has been under mounting pressure from investors to provide concrete evidence that his growth strategy is bearing fruit.

Speaking on Wednesday, he acknowledged that JD Sports continues to grapple with “cost-of-living pressures” and fierce discounting from competitors.

However, he reassured investors: “By staying close to both our customers and our brand partners, and leveraging our growing own brand capability, we continue to lead with the right products, in the right places and at the right prices.”

The group scaled back its full-year profit forecast by £50m earlier in the year, but confirmed on Wednesday that it remains on course to deliver between £700m and £800m.

Earlier this week, JD Sports revealed it would make its debut in Mexico, with plans to open more than 140 stores next year through a local franchise partner.

“Mexico is a market with a large, highly engaged consumer base and a demographic profile which aligns strongly with JD’s unique position as a curator of footwear and apparel trends across sport, music and fashion,” the group had said.

Richard Chamberlain, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, said JD’s earnings met analyst expectations, adding that it is delivering “strong” cash generation amid a “muted” market.

JD Sports shares dropped 3.5 per cent to 75p on Wednesday morning.

BOSTON — Social media influencer Braden Peters, known online as “Clavicular,” has been criminally charged in Massachusetts with raping a 17-year-old girl who told police she became heavily intoxicated after he gave her alcohol at his family’s Cape Cod home, according to court records reviewed by multiple news organizations.

Peters, 20, faces one count of rape, one count of administering a substance for sexual intercourse and one count of procuring alcohol for a person under 21, stemming from an alleged incident on May 23, 2025, in Chatham, Massachusetts. A clerk-magistrate found probable cause for the charges on September 4, and a criminal complaint was formally issued on September 8. The rape and drugging charges are felonies under Massachusetts law, while the alcohol-procurement charge is a misdemeanor.

According to the criminal complaint, the accuser told investigators she began communicating with Peters on Instagram, and that the two developed an online working relationship after he offered to help build her social media presence, later paying her to appear in “looksmaxxing” videos he streamed online. The complaint states that Peters arranged transportation for her to travel to his family’s residence in Chatham, a seaside town at the southeastern tip of Cape Cod, where she was greeted by his mother and grandmother upon arrival before going to his bedroom, where the two livestreamed together while drinking alcohol. According to a police report, the accuser said Peters knew she was 17 years old but instructed her to tell viewers of the livestream that she was 18 and that the vodka he had given her was actually water.

Peters, who lives in Florida and has not been taken into custody, is scheduled to be arraigned in Orleans District Court on October 14. His publicist did not immediately respond to requests for comment from multiple news outlets following the charges becoming public. A representative for Peters, in a statement obtained by NBC News, downplayed initial reporting on the charges and claimed Peters had not yet been formally served with an arrest warrant at the time.

Andrew Moss, an attorney representing the teenager, offered a brief statement when asked for comment. “We are not commenting at this time since the proper authorities are handling this,” Moss said.

The criminal charges follow a civil lawsuit filed against Peters in Florida earlier this year, which was later amended in June to include allegations of sexual battery tied to the same Cape Cod encounter described in the criminal complaint. That lawsuit separately alleges Peters later injected the accuser with a fat-dissolving substance during a subsequent livestream without her consent. The four-count civil complaint includes allegations of battery, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress and unauthorized use of the accuser’s name and likeness. It remains unclear from currently available court documents whether the woman named in the civil lawsuit is the same individual identified as the accuser in the criminal case, though a police report reviewed by The New York Times indicates the criminal charges stem from the same May 2025 incident described in the civil filing.

Peters’ attorneys have denied the allegations underlying the civil lawsuit, stating in a July court filing that the encounter was consensual and characterizing the lawsuit as an attempt to generate publicity. Peters has separately denied the criminal allegations, reposting images and videos on social platform X that he said documented his interactions with the accuser as part of his public response to the charges.

Peters built a substantial online following as the most prominent public face of “looksmaxxing,” an online trend focused on pursuing traditional physical attractiveness through often extreme methods. The practice traces its origins to the “involuntary celibate,” or “incel,” online subculture, a community made up primarily of men who believe society unfairly denies them romantic or sexual attention. Peters livestreams his daily activities on a near-continuous basis, frequently broadcasting from parties, clubs and social outings, drawing his largest followings on TikTok, Instagram and the streaming platform Kick, where he has amassed more than 400,000 followers.

This is not the only legal matter Peters has faced in recent months. He was arrested in Florida in March on a battery charge connected to a separate incident that occurred in February, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, which said it conducted its own investigation into that alleged battery.

If convicted on the rape charge in Massachusetts, Peters could face a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, according to reporting on the case. The charges against Peters were first publicly reported by The Bulwark on Monday, ahead of broader coverage by national outlets including The Associated Press, CBS News and NBC News.

With Peters’ arraignment scheduled for next month and the parallel civil lawsuit still pending in Florida, the case is likely to continue drawing scrutiny both for its legal proceedings and for its implications within the broader online “looksmaxxing” community that Peters helped popularize.

They are opening up learning possibilities that are beyond classrooms, printed manuals, and occasional workshops. These digital platforms that we are already using at work, now can help employees learn, communicate, collaborate, and access training resources.

Digital communication tools in a modern corporate environment are as important as the physical foundation of a traditional office.  For instance, a mid-sized corporate consulting firm with 250 employees spread across three regional offices and home locations needs to upskill 40 project managers for PMP certification. The traditional approach, flying everyone to headquarters for an intensive 4-day classroom workshop, is cost-prohibitive and causes major billable-hour disruptions.

As a result, deploying an integrated digital tech stack is a great, cost-effective way for Learning and Development teams to structure a great learning experience that reduces downtime and overhead expenses while significantly increasing knowledge retention.

Why Is Digital Communication Important in Corporate Training?

Quite often, Corporate training programs need employees to be present in the same location at the same time, and this can be a hassle. The use of digital communication in corporate training removes these limitations. Employees can join a virtual session, ask questions through chat, access recorded lessons, and continue discussions after the training session. This is particularly relevant as businesses manage hybrid and distributed teams.

Microsoft research also shows how central digital communication has become to modern work. Its Work Trend Index found employees spend a significant amount of their working time communicating via meetings, email and chat. For training teams, this creates an opportunity to integrate learning into existing workplace communication rather than treating training as a separate activity. Digital communication in corporate training bridges geographic division and speeds up skill development.

Key Digital Communication Tools for Corporate Training

Different tools serve different stages of the learning process. A strong corporate training program strategy usually combines several technologies instead of relying on one platform.

1. Learning Management Systems (LMS)

An LMS, also known as a Learning Management System, provides a central location for managing your employee training programs and their overall work. Today, businesses use an LMS to assign courses, store learning materials, track work, conduct assessments, monitor employee progress and manage certifications. An LMS can also give L&D teams useful data about participation and learning activity.
Example: Cornerstone, Docebo, Canvas

2. Virtual Classrooms and Video Conferencing

Platforms for video conferencing using tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Webex allow trainers to conduct virtual corporate training.  For example, if your managers are working in different branches of the same company, then they might need the same training. Asking them to come to the same location is possible but difficult. It might need a bigger plan and budget. However, opting for digital tools can make a training program much easier by providing virtual classrooms. They also feature screen sharing, breakout rooms, polls, chat, and recordings that can make online training sessions more interactive.

Microsoft report from 2025 indicates that 72% of respondents pointed out learner engagement as an issue in virtual instructor-led training (VILT). Therefore, this means forming a plan for virtual sessions with an emphasis on interaction and not lengthy presentations.

Example: Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex

3. Teamwork Tools

Teamwork tools can push the learning activities further than planned. Employees can create a shared workspace where they can communicate about tasks, Share tools, Work on projects together, ask questions, Exchange ideas, and continue discussing things after the lessons. This enables teamwork in the workplace.

Example: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Slack Huddles

4. Instant Communication Tools

Instant communication tools keep trainers and learners continuously connected. An L&D team can establish a dedicated training channel to share course notifications, study materials, assignment updates, daily tips, and quick motivation.

For example, during a company-wide Microsoft 365 rollout, the L&D team can set up an MS Office Training channel on Microsoft Teams or Slack to deliver bite-sized learning, answer real-time questions, and support employees throughout the transition.

5. Webinars and Recorded Sessions

Webinars can help businesses deliver training to larger groups without requiring everyone to be physically present. Recorded sessions also allow employees to revisit complex topics when needed. This is particularly useful for organisations with different schedules, locations, or time zones.

6. Microlearning & Mobile Platforms

The microlearning and mobile platforms help with daily refresher training, deskless/field worker onboarding, and safety quizzes. These digital communication and Mobile platform tools feature bite-sized lessons, gamified quizzes, push notifications, and offline access.

Example: Axonify, TalentCards and 7Taps.

7. Interactive Video & Authoring

Tools for creating engaging, interactive video-based learning experiences. Features may include in-video quizzes, interactive branching scenarios, screen recording, and simulation-based activities. These digital tools can be used for self-paced video tutorials, soft-skill simulations, software walkthroughs, product demonstrations, and scenario-based learning.

Examples: Loom, Articulate 360, Camtasia

8. Digital Whiteboards & Ideation

Collaborative visual workspaces that enable teams to brainstorm, organise ideas, create diagrams, and solve problems together in real time. The digital whiteboards are used in Design-thinking workshops, brainstorming sessions, mind mapping, collaborative problem-solving, project planning, and visual strategy sessions.

Examples: Miro, Mural, Lucidspark

How Do Digital Communication Tools Improve Corporate Training

The effectiveness of digital communication tools in corporate training lies not only in providing more opportunities but also in delivering a better-structured and more engaging experience and ensuring the sustainability of the learning process and its accessibility regardless of the employees’ locations.

• More Accessible Employee Training

Using digital communication tools ensures that the training materials are accessible to all participants regardless of their location or device. This is an advantage for remote employees and those working in the field, as well as for businesses with multiple locations.

• Faster Communication and Feedback

With instant chat tools available in most collaboration software, employees can learn more because they do not need to wait for the next stage of the training or classroom to ask a clarifying question. Moreover, the possibility to get immediate feedback from the trainer makes it easier to refocus on the topic if something was misunderstood.

• Greater Employee Engagement

Digital communication tools give more opportunities for involvement, such as voting, quizzes, assignments, peer reviews, and others. However, the quality of engagement depends on how the software is used. Thus, it is important to plan the software usage properly to get the most out of it.

• Sustainability of Learning

Digital communication tools contribute to learning continuity through the ability to continue discussing the topic after the scheduled training sessions. It also implies that employees will be provided with additional materials and that they can further engage in the learning process actively.

• Remote and Hybrid Learning Opportunities

The ability to conduct virtual classrooms enables conducting trainings for employees in various locations, which ultimately makes the learning process more accessible for remote and hybrid teams.

How Businesses Can Use Digital Tools for Employee Training

Technology should support a clear learning strategy. Businesses can use digital communication tools at different stages of a training program.

Before Training: To share information, such as the schedule, materials, and learning objectives, with emails, messaging platforms, or the LMS (learning management system)

During Training: To engage participants, boost productivity and interactivity, using virtual classrooms, video conferencing, polls, chats, and collaborative activities

After Training: To share additional resources, provide assessments, record the session, and offer feedback with LMS or collaboration tools

Between training: To keep the conversation going and encourage self-learning and peer-to-peer mentoring. The tools suggested include discussion boards and knowledge repositories.

The tools foster an ecosystem that supports an always-learning culture. By doing that, they help transform a discrete experience (training) into an extended process (development).

The Future of Digital Communication in Corporate Training

Workplace learning is moving towards a future where individuals will constantly acquire, develop, and update their skills with the help of technology. According to LinkedIn’s Workplace Learning Report 2025, 49% of L&D professionals polled said that their executives are concerned that their workforce lacks the skills needed to execute the company’s strategy. The report highlighted artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted learning, skills graph, and personalised development as three areas that represent the future of learning.

This means that the future of corporate learning is likely to be driven by LMS (learning management system), virtual classrooms, collaboration tools, and AI-powered platforms that leverage data analytics to recommend skills. But ultimately, the focus has to remain on the learning outcome and not the tool itself.

Conclusion

Digital communication tools have become an important part of modern corporate training. Learning management systems organise learning, virtual classrooms bring together scattered teams, collaboration tools enable knowledge sharing, and messaging tools keep employees in touch throughout the educational process.

For businesses, the opportunity is to create training that is more accessible, interactive, and continuous. The most effective approach is not to use every available technology. But selecting a digital communication tool stack for your corporate training needs should be based on employee needs, training objectives, and business requirements.

As workplace skills continue to evolve, organisations that combine effective training strategies with the right digital learning tools can create a more connected and adaptable learning environment and build a resilient workforce.

Author Profile

Neena Raj is an Expert Trainer at Edoxi with over 24 years of experience in employee development, organisational performance, and leadership training. She specialises in HR, soft skills, emotional intelligence, communication, and productivity, helping organisations build future-ready, high-performing teams. An MBA graduate, Certified NLP Trainer, CHRP & CHRM, she has trained professionals at leading organisations, including the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Emirates Airlines, DP World, and Dubai International Hotel.

As many as 3.86 crore Meesho shares changed hands in a block deal at Rs 233 apiece, taking the total value of the transaction to Rs 899.71 crore, ET Now reported.

Meesho shares dropped to an intraday low of Rs 230.94 apiece on the NSE in morning trade, a day after surging nearly 10% after brokerage firm UBS raised its target price on the stock by 24% to Rs 260.

Why UBS is bullish on Meesho share price

UBS maintained its ‘Buy’ rating on the shares of Meesho, and said its target price hike reflects higher medium-term growth estimates and a stronger margin trajectory. While the international brokerage’s FY27 estimates are largely unchanged, it raised its FY29-31 Net Merchandise Value (NMV) estimates by 7-18%, with a similar increase in contribution profit estimates and a 20-40% increase in EBITDA estimates.
Also read | Meesho shares rally after UBS hikes target price by 24%. What’s keeping analysts bullish?

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Higher NMV forecasts reflect the continued flywheel from sellers (+81% YoY to 1.04 million in Q1FY27), buyers (+29% YoY to 274 million), coupled with rapid expansion in SKUs and logistics partners, UBS said. It added that the larger increase in EBITDA reflects a stronger medium- term margin trajectory, driven by improving ads monetisation and logistics economics.
“Meesho’s focus on value commerce in a low income yet digitally savvy market like India opens a sizeable growth opportunity,” UBS concluded.

What other brokerage say about Meesho share price

Ventura Securities last month initiated coverage on Meesho with a ‘Buy’ call and a target price of Rs 278 apiece. For Meesho, Ventura said India’s e-commerce market is entering a structural growth phase, helped by internet penetration, digital payments and online retail adoption across Tier II, Tier III and rural India. The brokerage said Meesho has built itself as a leading value-commerce marketplace, serving over 274 million annual transacting users and more than 9.61 lakh sellers through a zero-commission, asset-light platform.

CLSA, however, maintained its ‘Underperform’ rating and target price of Rs 150 apiece earlier this month, saying that the stock already reflects overly optimistic expectations for advertising revenue, order growth and logistics savings.

Also read | Bajaj Finance shares jump 3% after UBS upgrades to Neutral, hikes target price while Jefferies screams Buy

Disclaimer: This article has been written by Debaroti Adhikary, who is not a SEBI-registered Research Analyst or an Investment Adviser. Debaroti Adhikary and his/her ‘relative(s)’ (as defined under Section 2(77) of the Companies Act, 2013) do not hold any financial interest in the companies mentioned in this article as of the date of publication. The views/recommendations mentioned in this article, wherever applicable, are those of the respective SEBI-registered Research Analyst/brokerage and have been reproduced/reported with due attribution. They should not be construed as the views or recommendations of The Economic Times Digital or the journalist. Readers are advised to consider the original research report and make their investment decisions based on their own assessment. Brokerage disclaimers here.