Shannon Smyth of Lake Wallenpaupack is CoalCreative’s 15th #NEPACreative of the year. Shannon brings creativity to the area through blogging.

“I began blogging 12 years ago when the only way to hear about a new product was to pick up a magazine each month or watch an advertisement on TV. It was my goal to connect the community with an easy way to find reviews of current and new-to-market products as well as reviews of the services at local spas and salons,” Smyth said. “And while my reach has expanded globally, I still have a passion for the NEPA community and connecting with women here.”

Shannon is the founder and owner of her very own bath and body brand, A Girl’s Gotta Spa. Her brand launched as a result of reviewing countless beauty products over the years on her blog. It helped her to develop a deep understanding of which ingredients work and the characteristics a product needed to encompass in order to become a “must have.”

After moving from the Southeast to the Northeast region, Shannon went from endless social activity and knowing many people with always something to do to knowing no one and living in a rural area.

Suddenly, she found herself lonely. Shannon ended up joining a direct sales company selling bath and body products and did not want to do the conventional home-party scenario. She looked online for alternative ideas to talk about the products and discuss uses and benefits.

“I did online parties in chat groups before Twitter parties, held online group parties via message boards before Facebook groups and finally discovered blogging by way of Problogger. I’ve always loved to write, so it was a no brainer to be my next step.”

Shannon has had the opportunity to host and be part of numerous local events. When WBRE initially launched PA Live, she was their on-air social media expert and she also filled in a few times for NEPA Blogs featuring the Blogger of the Week. Shannon has also spoken at NEPA BlogCon and hopes to be doing that again sometime soon.

Blogging about beauty is not her only passion. Shannon shared that part of her next blogging mission is to spread awareness about becoming a Living Donor.

“I began this journey at the end of last year when a man at my church needed a kidney. He ended up getting a donor before I was done with the process, so I have continued to pursue it and possibly see if I am a match for a friend of my family’s brother in (Rhode Island),” Smyth explained. “I’ve learned so much about living donation and the lack of donors for the very, very long wait list of people in need. It’s now something I am passionate about and hope to be able to really advocate for those in need of a kidney!”

When being considered as an NEPA Creative, individuals are asked to explain how they bring creativity to the area, how long they have been doing it and why, and finally what being creative means to them. Once chosen, the next step is to bring each creative into CoalCreative’s studio space to be filmed for a 60 second video that is shared every Wednesday across all their social media platforms. The series plans to highlight all sorts of creatives throughout the rest of the year. There are no limits to who could be considered. Photographers, musicians, barbers, magicians and improv artists are just a handful of the submissions CoalCreative has received thus far.

Shannon Smith founded her own brand of bath and body products, A Girl’s Gotta Spa.
https://www.theweekender.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_trio.jpgShannon Smith founded her own brand of bath and body products, A Girl’s Gotta Spa. Submitted photo

Shannon Smyth, of Lake Wallenpaupack, reviews bath and body products as well as services of local salons and spas on her blog agirlsgottaspa.com.
https://www.theweekender.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_Shannon-Smyth-Photo.jpgShannon Smyth, of Lake Wallenpaupack, reviews bath and body products as well as services of local salons and spas on her blog agirlsgottaspa.com. Courtesy of CoalCreative
Shannon Smythconnects consumersthrough blogging

By Holly Pilcavage

For Weekender

To be considered for the series, submit a consideration form at www.coalcreative.com/are-you-a-nepa-creative or send an email to holly@coalcreative.com.