Labor & Employment

New York -- Footwear maker Crocs Inc., best known for its colorful plastic clogs, announced a major restructuring that includes closing stores and job cutbacks.

The plan comes on the heels of the company's disappointing second-quarter earnings results. Earlier this month, Crocs reported that second-quarter profit fell 44% to $19.7 million.

Clothing company Kellwood has named Marc Babins the president of its western region. Babins — who has been in the apparel industry for most of his career — will head up Kellwood’s largest operations unit in City in Industry, California.

Washington, D.C. -- The NRF says the members of the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety have made tremendous progress in the past year, demonstrating their true commitment to safer working conditions in the Bangladesh ready-made garment industry. In an official statement, NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay said the group has made many achievements to improve the safety of Bangladeshi factory workers.

Dollar Tree said it would acquire Family Dollar in a transformational cash and stock deal valued at $8.5 billion to create a company with more than 13,000 stores and annual sales of $18 billion.

The deal was unanimously approved by the boards of both companies and involves Dollar Tree paying Family Dollar shareholders $59.60 in cash and $14.90 in equivalent Dollar Tree shares.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Lowe's announced plans to locate a customer support center in Indianapolis, creating up to 1,000 new jobs by 2016.

The retailer plans to invest $20.5 million to purchase, renovate and equip a 140,000-sq.-ft. office facility at Intech Park 12, 6620 Network Way, on the northwest side of Indianapolis. The new center will support stores and internet sales, delivery services and repair services for Lowe's customers across the United States.

Lowe's plans to build a customer support center in Indianapolis, a move that will create up to 1,000 new jobs by 2016.

Tewksbury, Mass. – The saga over the dismissal of former Demoulas Super Markets Inc. CEO Arthur T. Demoulas continues, with Demoulas making public commentary for the first time.

The Home Depot elevated 14-year veteran Ted Decker to the role of EVP of merchandising to oversee all aspects of merchandising strategy and operations.

Decker had previously served as SVP of retail finance, pricing analytics and assortment planning. He assumes his new role August 4 and will report to Craig Menear, Home Depot’s president of U.S. retail.