Merchandising

Smut sells, or so it seems. Sears is battling negative press this week due to a number of extremely offensive T-shirts that were (until very recently) for sale on the Sears.com website. Journalists found T-shirts jesting about violence against women. 

Madhouse, a nationwide chain of discount men's clothing stores, was branded "shameful" and "outrageous" by hundreds of Twitter users yesterday because of the label's washing instructions to "Give it to your woman." 

Peyton Manning's change of address is good news for Nike, which replaces Reebok next month as the maker of National Football League-branded apparel and uniforms. Manning, whose No. 18 jersey has been among the NFL's top 10 sellers since 2004, was released by the Indianapolis Colts, ending a record-setting era.

Those Coach designer items that look like a steal at the flea market? Well, Coach wants you to know that they're fakes. The pricey luxury goods company has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. against the corporation that owns the swap shop and its eccentric landlord, Preston Henn.

Target is pulling a greeting card that mocked Whitney Houston's questionable taste in men. The discount retailer announced that the card, which reads "Next time you think of dating the bad boy, consider Whitney Houston," was sold in its stores prior to Houston's death on Feb. 11th, but they began the process of removing it from their nationwide stock shortly after it was flagged as inappropriate and insensitive.

CafePress, the online store where independent artists and merchants can sell T-shirts, mugs and other collectibles, has removed pages promoting anti-Mexican products after Latino bloggers and news sites brought them to public light this week. 

Ikea has collaborated with Oregon architectural firm Ideabox to launch its first line of prefabricated houses in the U.S., named the "Aktiv." The Ikea-themed dwelling is a one-bedroom home centered around space-saving furniture and products. 

Would you wear a baseball hat with an image of a man getting sick on the pavement? That's what Urban Outfitters has put on a baseball cap it launched in the United States for St. Patrick's Day. The green and white hat has a man on the front on his hands and knees getting sick. The slogan below reads, ''Irish Yoga'' and ''downward facing upchuck."

The NBA is working to raise awareness among fans that counterfeiters are also drawn to the star-studded NBA All-Star weekend festivities and to make sure fans take precautions to avoid being stuck with unlicensed NBA merchandise.

Crocs is looking to branch out beyond footwear, entering licensing deals with several companies on everything from clothing to sunglasses.