Meet the Business Owner: Claire Jorgensen from Who What Why
Who What Why is a local favourite for ‘Toys that Teach, Toys that Last and Toys that Entertain’. With decades of experience, this cherished Albury business brings joy, creativity, and fun to families and children from all walks of life.
AlburyCBD: Tell us a little about yourself. What’s something about you people might not know?
Claire: We’re a team of two partners, one’s an accountant, the other’s a teacher, and we’ve been running Who What Why together for 30 years! Most people don’t know we started the idea in a laundromat with a simple dream. Who What Why is fortunate to have talented staff who have been with us for almost 20 years.
AlburyCBD: Tell us about Who What Why. What’s your why, and what do you love about running your business?
Claire: We run as a close partnership, each with our own roles, but always working together. In the beginning, it was just a fun idea; then it got tough, but we kept going and made it work. What keeps us going is the clientele, kids, mums and dads, grandparents, friends, and extended families. Every day, we share gorgeous conversations about who the kids are, the funny things they do, and the milestones they reach. New parents, supportive dads, funny grannies, and beautiful daughters-in-law all come through our doors.
The best part of working at Who What Why? We get to toy test and play every day!
AlburyCBD: What’s a challenge you’ve had to overcome in business?
Claire: We’ve faced all kinds of challenges over the years, good staff, tricky staff, and the ever-present struggle to balance it all. The hardest challenges are the ones you can’t control: landlords, rising bills, freight, and endless subscriptions that quietly eat away at finances. But if we had to name just one, it would be online shopping – when customers check out an item in-store but buy it elsewhere online. That one stings.
AlburyCBD: What would you be doing if you weren’t running Who What Why?
Claire: Golly, who knows?? Maybe teaching! But we can’t imagine doing anything else right now.
AlburyCBD: What do you love about being in the Albury CBD?
Claire: We’re so lucky to be on the best side of the best block in the best main street around. Our location looks awesome, and we’re surrounded by a great pod of retail stores (Zeinert &Co, The Oracle Shop, Beckers News Agency, Camera House, Just Jeans, Hello Darling, Bed Bath & Table, and more). In a time when so many shops are closing, we feel grateful to be part of a vibrant local retail community. The stronger our local stores, the better for everyone.
You’ll find Who What Why at 485 Dean St, Albury, ready for a chat, a laugh, and maybe a little toy testing of your own.
Some answers have been lightly edited for flow and clarity.
Images supplied by Who What Why