Businessman backs power of positivity

Prominent Albany businessman Paul Lionetti has called for a positive change of attitude as a way forward to get the community supporting local business.

The vocal small business advocate and IGA York Street and Spencer Park owner believes greater education around the benefits of supporting small businesses would help people return to shop in York Street and the central business district.

“We need to have a positive attitude to get people to understand that they need to support small business,” he said.

Having been in business for 41 years, Mr Lionetti said he had understood the pressures of being a small business owner but said while it was unfortunate some long-running local businesses were closing down recently, attitudes from the community must also change.

He said the media helped play in important role in the required positive attitude and education of supporting the local businesses and their ongoing benefits to the community.

“It is education, we have to talk to people to support your central business district and small businesses because there will be nothing left,” he said.

“It’s our heart of our town which needs to grow and survive.

“We don’t want all banks, insurance agents and service stations.

“If you’re going to educate people and try to bring them back into York Street and support small business, you’re not going to see results straight away as the whole economy has to change.

“It really is an education thing.”