If you're shopping on Amazon today, you might discover local products available for purchase alongside well-known brand names.

Katie Stoeckeler, the owner of Peace in Piermont in Rockland, a yoga studio catering to the entire family, is passionate about promoting mindfulness. She achieves this goal through her classes and picture books, which can be found on Amazon.

"It's definitely much harder to self-publish Amazon on Amazon than it is to link with a big publisher that has a lot of, you know, connections and outlets to promote themselves. But it is still a great resource to use because so many people have the prime membership and taking advantage of the benefits of it," says Stoeckeler.

Word-of-mouth advertising is Stoeckeler's preferred method, including encouraging customers to leave reviews on Amazon. Additionally, for those who prefer not to shop online, her books are also available for purchase at her yoga studio.