{"id":21509,"date":"2025-11-13T14:12:04","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T19:12:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/magazine\/?p=21509"},"modified":"2025-11-25T09:01:55","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T14:01:55","slug":"the-business-of-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/magazine\/the-business-of-fun\/","title":{"rendered":"The Business of Fun"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When Kure\u00e9 Sheard ’12 graduated from Monmouth University with dual degrees in history and political science, a future in party decor was the last thing on her mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI took an unconventional path,\u201d Sheard recalls. Following graduation, she landed a job in financial services, ultimately rising to the position of trust administrative officer. But even as she navigated corporate America, Sheard had a side hustle brewing, a baking business called Sweetly Chic. \u201cBaking was therapeutic for me,\u201d she says. \u201cI am a talented baker, and it\u2019s something I keep in my back pocket.\u201d By 2017, she had left finance to open a kiosk in the Freehold Raceway Mall, where she ran a dessert bar and took orders for custom cakes and other treats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The grind of 12-hour mall days was grueling, and by 2018, the kiosk had closed. But Sheard gained invaluable lessons from the experience that would come in handy later: hiring, payroll, and the ins and outs of running a business. \u201cI\u2019m glad I did it, and I live my life with no regrets,\u201d she says. \u201cEverything is a learning experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two years later, when her creativity struck again, she was ready. \u201cI had this idea to do fun and raunchy party decor with a nod to pop culture, which I wasn\u2019t seeing in mainstream party stores,\u201d she says. \u201cMy friends and I wanted decor that our inner 21-year-old college selves would love, but that would also speak to our experiences and interests now.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August 2019, Ninalem’s Party\u2014that’s “melanin” spelled backward\u2014launched on Etsy. The brand’s ethos is simple: Joy should be unapologetic, inclusive, and reflected in decor that celebrates people as they truly are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shop\u2019s popularity exploded during the pandemic. \u201cI thought it was a fluke because people were home and that after COVID, business would slow down,\u201d she says. But demand for her clever and fun banners, confetti, cupcake toppers, sashes, and more kept growing. For the past five years, Ninalem\u2019s Party has been a top 0.1 percent Etsy seller, and the company now sells on Amazon, TikTok Shop, its own website, and in stores such as Urban Outfitters and HomeGoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, the brand went viral with its Cowboy Carter sash, inspired by Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s newest album. \u201cIt went viral before I could even make a video about it,\u201d Sheard says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day Beyonc\u00e9 announced the tour, we sold over 1,000 sashes.\u201d That was just the beginning. Sheard\u2019s team leveraged TikTok, Instagram Reels, paid advertisements, and \u201cany marketing we could,\u201d she says, to grow sales. \u201cThere were others selling this type of sash,\u201d she adds, \u201cbut we were the best at marketing it. I still can\u2019t believe its success.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheard credits Monmouth\u2014where she was active in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., on the debate team, and on the Black History Month planning committee\u2014for building her confidence and leadership skills, both integral to her success as an entrepreneur. \u201cMonmouth taught me how to be a leader,\u201d she says. \u201cI had that spark inside me, but I needed someone to pull it out and hone my skills. If I never went to Monmouth, I never would have had the confidence to leave my corporate job and start my own business.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n

How to Throw a Party on a Budget<\/h2>\n\n\n

1. SET THE SCENE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A banner instantly sets the vibe and lets guests know exactly what they\u2019re celebrating. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to go overboard with decor,\u201d Sheard says. \u201cOne well-placed banner can transform a space and set the tone. Snap a few photos in front of it, and boom\u2014 you\u2019ve also got a party backdrop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. DON\u2019T OVERDO DESSERTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe truth is, people usually only try two or three treats from a dessert table,\u201d Sheard says. Instead of over-spending (and ending up with a ton left over), focus on a few quality options presented beautifully. This not only saves money, but also provides for an intentional, elevated setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. REPURPOSE WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyday items like vases, picture frames, candles, or even books can be styled to fit your party theme. A few DIY touches, like filling jars with candy or string lights, can make a big impact without costing extra. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. MIX UP A SIGNATURE DRINK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stocking a full bar can get expensive fast. Instead, simplify things with one signature cocktail or mocktail. This cost-effective approach adds a personal, thoughtful touch that makes your event feel more curated. Plus, you\u2019ll spend less time mixing and more time enjoying the celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. WHEN IN DOUBT, KARAOKE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A karaoke machine (or even a TV and YouTube) can turn any party into a memorable night. It\u2019s inexpensive entertainment that gets everyone involved. \u201cGuests love the chance to let loose,\u201d Sheard says, \u201cand it creates memories far better than anything you could buy.\u201d
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kure\u00e9 Sheard founded Ninalem\u2019s Party, a thriving decor brand that\u2019s generating Beyonc\u00e9-level buzz.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":21513,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"image_focus":"{\"x\":57,\"y\":29}","hide_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[93,81],"class_list":["post-21509","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-back","tag-alumni-donor-profiles","tag-alumni-profile"],"thumbnail":"\"\"","catString":"The Back","issue":"Fall\/Winter 2025","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21509","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21509"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21509\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22096,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21509\/revisions\/22096"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21509"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21509"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}