About us
Who’s behind all this
and why?
We’re Marty, Liza and James — three friends who believe in the power of good conversation. Why? It broadens minds, it enriches the soul and improves well-being. So our mission is to encourage good conversation across all areas of our lives.
But there’s a problem. The internet, devices and all those pesky algorithms have fundamentally changed how we converse. In some ways we’re more connected than ever before but deeper face-to-face personal connection is becoming a rarity. Plus, let’s face it, us Brits have never been good at talking, have we?
At the start of 2021 we asked ourselves ‘what if?’. (Well, actually a few ‘what ifs’ to be precise.) What if we could find a space for parents to have many more meaningful conversations with their children? What if we could help liberate mealtimes from device intrusion, sharpen critical thinking and help kids to open up about their feelings? What if we can fuel conversation for the nation?
So we created Whats & Whys — a little venture to help support parents in doing a good job.
Placemats are only just the start.
About us
Marty
‘Smarty Marty’ is the brains of the outfit, the bees knees, the… alright, you get the gist. Strategist by day and wordsmith by night, Marty is always thinking up a new project for W&Ws and making sure we’re sticking true to our mission.
Liza
Our business mega-mind and numbers wiz - Liza is the ultimate organiser and maker. With a background in retail design and a passion for ethical sourcing Liza makes certain our products are beautiful inside and out.
James
With an eye for detail, James is the designer behind the W&Ws overall look and feel. When he’s not sketching (or eating) he’s probably in his shed or going on an adventure. He once had a spot of bear training. #truestory.
Watson
Always bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, Watson’s our curious little sausage dog who helps us to tell our story. And as for the hamster, well we don’t know where he came from exactly. He was just too enthusiastic to turn away.