On Vision Australia Radio, this is Vision Xtra with Peter Greco.

On Vision Australia Radio, this is Vision Xtra with Peter Greco.

Well, you may have heard the ads on this particular radio station about Noble Me. Let's speak to the founder and the director, Kelly Schultz. Kelly, great to catch up again.

Well, you may have heard the ads on this particular radio station about Noble Me. Let's speak to the founder and the director, Kelly Schultz. Kelly, great to catch up again.

Great to talk to you again. Peter. Always is.

Great to talk to you again. Peter. Always is.

Oh, you're too kind now for new listeners or people that might not know about Noble Media, what is it and how did you and why did you set it up?

Oh, you're too kind now for new listeners or people that might not know about Noble Media, what is it and how did you and why did you set it up?

Well, noble mate, I should probably say, uh, you might want to spell it first. So noble as in k n o w a l e. So no, as in getting to no knowledge, all of those sorts of things. Noble me. Look, it came out of this need to having to keep prove proving why people with disabilities voice is worth listening to. There's always this thing where everyone wants you to tell them about their products or their services, and why it's good or why it's not. But they don't listen. They don't listen. They want data, so they want to prove that it's worthwhile. And so noble. Me is a market research company, effectively, but we are solely dedicated to the needs and the wants of people with disabilities and their support networks. So people who support them support workers, family and carers. And so we go out and do some amazingly fun things to understand what people want, what they want to buy, what their experience is like. How does.

Well, noble mate, I should probably say, uh, you might want to spell it first. So noble as in k n o w a l e. So no, as in getting to no knowledge, all of those sorts of things. Noble me. Look, it came out of this need to having to keep prove proving why people with disabilities voice is worth listening to. There's always this thing where everyone wants you to tell them about their products or their services, and why it's good or why it's not. But they don't listen. They don't listen. They want data, so they want to prove that it's worthwhile. And so noble. Me is a market research company, effectively, but we are solely dedicated to the needs and the wants of people with disabilities and their support networks. So people who support them support workers, family and carers. And so we go out and do some amazingly fun things to understand what people want, what they want to buy, what their experience is like. How does.

It work? You've got a website. So I guess that's kind of a starting point.

It work? You've got a website. So I guess that's kind of a starting point.

Websites definitely the front door, but we try and be as accessible as possible can ring us as well as email and and those sorts of things. I don't know that you can send you can probably send us a letter if that's your thing. But, um, the websites, the main way to find out about things noble me and people effectively create an account, tell us a bit about who they are and what they're interested in doing. And you might be interested in only doing online surveys, but you might also be interested in fun things like product testing or being interviewed for research projects or even mystery shopping. So where you go into a shop and they don't know that you're there to assess them and you test them out and give us a report, and we take that back and, you know, tell them where they did well and where they didn't do so well. And the benefit is after at the end of the day, we reward you for your contribution so you don't have to do any of this for free. Okay.

Websites definitely the front door, but we try and be as accessible as possible can ring us as well as email and and those sorts of things. I don't know that you can send you can probably send us a letter if that's your thing. But, um, the websites, the main way to find out about things noble me and people effectively create an account, tell us a bit about who they are and what they're interested in doing. And you might be interested in only doing online surveys, but you might also be interested in fun things like product testing or being interviewed for research projects or even mystery shopping. So where you go into a shop and they don't know that you're there to assess them and you test them out and give us a report, and we take that back and, you know, tell them where they did well and where they didn't do so well. And the benefit is after at the end of the day, we reward you for your contribution so you don't have to do any of this for free. Okay.

Bribery is alive and well. I'm getting more and more interested. Um, just people with disabilities.

Bribery is alive and well. I'm getting more and more interested. Um, just people with disabilities.

So people with disabilities. I actually like to say people with unique needs, because there are a lot out there who don't necessarily think they have a disability, but they are impacted by lots of different things. So they may not consider themselves disabled. But we also want to hear from support workers and family and carers because their perspective is really important as well. Support workers in particular give great data because they just observe and are witnesses to so much that goes on. So yeah, family and support workers are a big part of it too. But if you have a need where you know something just doesn't work for you, then we probably want to hear from you.

So people with disabilities. I actually like to say people with unique needs, because there are a lot out there who don't necessarily think they have a disability, but they are impacted by lots of different things. So they may not consider themselves disabled. But we also want to hear from support workers and family and carers because their perspective is really important as well. Support workers in particular give great data because they just observe and are witnesses to so much that goes on. So yeah, family and support workers are a big part of it too. But if you have a need where you know something just doesn't work for you, then we probably want to hear from you.

Tastic. Now, as I said, uh, people can kind of give you their ideas about what they're thinking about, but do you kind of, uh, actively seek, uh, opinions about a certain product or topic or event?

Tastic. Now, as I said, uh, people can kind of give you their ideas about what they're thinking about, but do you kind of, uh, actively seek, uh, opinions about a certain product or topic or event?

So there are two ways happens. One is our own research. So we do some of our own things based on what we know is a big deal for the community. So we've recently done a survey on accessible parking, which is a really hot button topic at times. We did that piece of research that was a paid survey, but then we have clients who ask us to do that research on their behalf. So it really does vary. That's um, some of it's our own. And a big part of it is, is people who want to know from and hear from the community.

So there are two ways happens. One is our own research. So we do some of our own things based on what we know is a big deal for the community. So we've recently done a survey on accessible parking, which is a really hot button topic at times. We did that piece of research that was a paid survey, but then we have clients who ask us to do that research on their behalf. So it really does vary. That's um, some of it's our own. And a big part of it is, is people who want to know from and hear from the community.

Let's go back to your original point about people want data. I guess in a sense, you can kind of understand that because, you know, if I'm paying for, for, uh, you know, someone to be doing something for me, I kind of want to have the, the facts and figures in front of me that, you know, this amount of people may be impacted or this amount of people could be coming through my door or coming to my website. I guess that's their rationale for wanting, you know, the hard data.

Let's go back to your original point about people want data. I guess in a sense, you can kind of understand that because, you know, if I'm paying for, for, uh, you know, someone to be doing something for me, I kind of want to have the, the facts and figures in front of me that, you know, this amount of people may be impacted or this amount of people could be coming through my door or coming to my website. I guess that's their rationale for wanting, you know, the hard data.

I think it's pretty valid.

I think it's pretty valid.

Like they say, if you've spoken to one person with a disability, you've spoken to one person with a disability. We all have different experiences. We all have different life experience. We all have our you can say some one person is blind and the next person is blind, but they can experience the world really differently. And so if you've spoken to one person and a lot of the time we use those sort of advisory groups which have a at a great deal of value, but they're often single opinions. And so if we can get the opinions of 50 people in a survey, that's gold, absolute gold.

Like they say, if you've spoken to one person with a disability, you've spoken to one person with a disability. We all have different experiences. We all have different life experience. We all have our you can say some one person is blind and the next person is blind, but they can experience the world really differently. And so if you've spoken to one person and a lot of the time we use those sort of advisory groups which have a at a great deal of value, but they're often single opinions. And so if we can get the opinions of 50 people in a survey, that's gold, absolute gold.

And obviously the, uh, the, uh, the people that you're providing the information to are kind of valuing and saying, oh, well, maybe we didn't think of that or that's a different angle that we can look at. I mean, I guess you're giving them, pardon the pun, but kind of food for thought.

And obviously the, uh, the, uh, the people that you're providing the information to are kind of valuing and saying, oh, well, maybe we didn't think of that or that's a different angle that we can look at. I mean, I guess you're giving them, pardon the pun, but kind of food for thought.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

And it's I also tell them that this is information and insight you might get from people who don't have a disability. So we recently did some product packaging testing where we got people with all sorts of different disabilities into the room, and we ripped things apart, and we cut things up, and we worked our way into these packages. And a lot of people, whether they have dexterity challenges or upper limb disabilities or vision impairment, whatever they have, are going to give the same feedback as non-disabled people. But for people with a disability and these disabilities in particular, it's a must have. You've got to make it accessible. And it turns out that it's a nice to have for everybody else. Because if you make it easier for the person with a vision impairment, you make it easier for everybody. And if you make it easier for someone with arthritis, you probably make it easier for everybody. So it's actually just one of the best places to start If you want to update and change and really innovate your products.

And it's I also tell them that this is information and insight you might get from people who don't have a disability. So we recently did some product packaging testing where we got people with all sorts of different disabilities into the room, and we ripped things apart, and we cut things up, and we worked our way into these packages. And a lot of people, whether they have dexterity challenges or upper limb disabilities or vision impairment, whatever they have, are going to give the same feedback as non-disabled people. But for people with a disability and these disabilities in particular, it's a must have. You've got to make it accessible. And it turns out that it's a nice to have for everybody else. Because if you make it easier for the person with a vision impairment, you make it easier for everybody. And if you make it easier for someone with arthritis, you probably make it easier for everybody. So it's actually just one of the best places to start If you want to update and change and really innovate your products.

There is such a powerful point, isn't it? Because, you know, it's a bit like a website or an app being accessible or indeed a building being accessible. It's not just the person using the wheelchair that's going to benefit from it. And and also, you know, tomorrow might be, uh, a situation where it impacts you differently than it does today.

There is such a powerful point, isn't it? Because, you know, it's a bit like a website or an app being accessible or indeed a building being accessible. It's not just the person using the wheelchair that's going to benefit from it. And and also, you know, tomorrow might be, uh, a situation where it impacts you differently than it does today.

Yeah, I.

Yeah, I.

Think that's what they say, isn't it? If you have an experienced disability, it's you have haven't experienced disability yet.

Think that's what they say, isn't it? If you have an experienced disability, it's you have haven't experienced disability yet.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Just a bit more about you. Sorry. You're not you're Barbara you're incentives I misspoke, you misspoke.

Just a bit more about you. Sorry. You're not you're Barbara you're incentives I misspoke, you misspoke.

Look, they are incentives. Rewards for for rewards. Yeah. And we pay. I did a survey, I did I love doing online surveys, but sometimes you only get $0.80 or less for spending ten minutes of your time doing that. We don't do that. Our minimum survey payment is $5 for a for a paid client survey. And that's only if you spend, you know, 5 or 10 minutes doing it. We believe that the incentives should match the effort put in. And so if you have to come into a store and do mystery shopping, the effort that's involved for someone with a disability or some additional needs is going to be greater than it is for a non-disabled person. So our rates of payment are quite, quite reasonable. I think for on that basis, we want to reward people for for actually putting that extra effort in.

Look, they are incentives. Rewards for for rewards. Yeah. And we pay. I did a survey, I did I love doing online surveys, but sometimes you only get $0.80 or less for spending ten minutes of your time doing that. We don't do that. Our minimum survey payment is $5 for a for a paid client survey. And that's only if you spend, you know, 5 or 10 minutes doing it. We believe that the incentives should match the effort put in. And so if you have to come into a store and do mystery shopping, the effort that's involved for someone with a disability or some additional needs is going to be greater than it is for a non-disabled person. So our rates of payment are quite, quite reasonable. I think for on that basis, we want to reward people for for actually putting that extra effort in.

Now you're expanding the mystery shopping or that's kind of just taking off, if I can put it that way.

Now you're expanding the mystery shopping or that's kind of just taking off, if I can put it that way.

It is just taking off. We've got some mystery shopping jobs coming up. They are $30 each for to spend ten minutes in a in a particular shop telling us about what you think about it. But we also have some interviews coming up that are in a retail store as well. And there are $100 each payment because we want to spend about half an hour or 45 minutes with you talking about what you think about the furniture, the lights, the signs, the noise, the atmosphere. Do you like the curtains? I don't know any anything you like really. And they pay $100. So, you know, like it's. I'd like to think that that's actually fair for for what we're asking people to do.

It is just taking off. We've got some mystery shopping jobs coming up. They are $30 each for to spend ten minutes in a in a particular shop telling us about what you think about it. But we also have some interviews coming up that are in a retail store as well. And there are $100 each payment because we want to spend about half an hour or 45 minutes with you talking about what you think about the furniture, the lights, the signs, the noise, the atmosphere. Do you like the curtains? I don't know any anything you like really. And they pay $100. So, you know, like it's. I'd like to think that that's actually fair for for what we're asking people to do.

And I mean, without sounding too touristic, I mean, you're kind of maybe helping other people in the future. You're getting a little bit of pocket money, but also maybe your feedback could be helping others in the future.

And I mean, without sounding too touristic, I mean, you're kind of maybe helping other people in the future. You're getting a little bit of pocket money, but also maybe your feedback could be helping others in the future.

Exactly right. Our collective voices have the power to make that change, and these are clients who want to hear it. So they've come to us because they want to hear it. So it's not just trying to be an advocate out there and banging on people's doors going, hey, you really got a problem, you need to fix it. These clients actually want to hear from you. So it is making change. It is about doing things better.

Exactly right. Our collective voices have the power to make that change, and these are clients who want to hear it. So they've come to us because they want to hear it. So it's not just trying to be an advocate out there and banging on people's doors going, hey, you really got a problem, you need to fix it. These clients actually want to hear from you. So it is making change. It is about doing things better.

Kelly, you founded the organization Noble me. We're talking about that noble as in k n o w. How are you kind of funded or how do you keep going? How are you sustained.

Kelly, you founded the organization Noble me. We're talking about that noble as in k n o w. How are you kind of funded or how do you keep going? How are you sustained.

We are sustained by lots of goodwill. Being my own, uh uh, but ultimately clients pay for the for the work we're doing. So we also do consulting work as well. So that helps people understand the recommendations we make. So from product packaging testing that we've done, we then make recommendations and provide advice and the ongoing development of how they build that. Um, so yeah, clients are paying for us to do this work for them, and hopefully we're building that up and hopefully it will become bigger and better.

We are sustained by lots of goodwill. Being my own, uh uh, but ultimately clients pay for the for the work we're doing. So we also do consulting work as well. So that helps people understand the recommendations we make. So from product packaging testing that we've done, we then make recommendations and provide advice and the ongoing development of how they build that. Um, so yeah, clients are paying for us to do this work for them, and hopefully we're building that up and hopefully it will become bigger and better.

Now, speaking about clients, you kind of, uh, shoot for the stars as well because you kind of, uh, were after the the top one 100 ASX listed companies as well.

Now, speaking about clients, you kind of, uh, shoot for the stars as well because you kind of, uh, were after the the top one 100 ASX listed companies as well.

We did we did a piece of research last year into the disability inclusion in the ASX 100. Nothing like going for the top. These are our most well resourced firms in Australia, so they also should be the leaders in disability inclusion. And sadly you know it really rates us 10%, have got some sort of decent action that they're trying to take. And so that's not good enough as far as I'm concerned. And we are aiming at the we're aiming at the consumer market. So while we do have some clients who are in the disability service provider, or they might be doing assistive tech or some of those sorts of things, our key clients and our biggest are those who are in the consumer market making average consumer goods that are for everybody. And we're trying to make sure they are for everybody.

We did we did a piece of research last year into the disability inclusion in the ASX 100. Nothing like going for the top. These are our most well resourced firms in Australia, so they also should be the leaders in disability inclusion. And sadly you know it really rates us 10%, have got some sort of decent action that they're trying to take. And so that's not good enough as far as I'm concerned. And we are aiming at the we're aiming at the consumer market. So while we do have some clients who are in the disability service provider, or they might be doing assistive tech or some of those sorts of things, our key clients and our biggest are those who are in the consumer market making average consumer goods that are for everybody. And we're trying to make sure they are for everybody.

Well, I guess at the end of the day, you know, if I spend $100 a week on X, I mean, probably, you know, 90% of that is going to go to the big companies around town.

Well, I guess at the end of the day, you know, if I spend $100 a week on X, I mean, probably, you know, 90% of that is going to go to the big companies around town.

It generally is that that's where most of our most of our wealth goes, isn't it? To the to the biggest companies. And they're the ones who are honestly at the moment least likely to to care.

It generally is that that's where most of our most of our wealth goes, isn't it? To the to the biggest companies. And they're the ones who are honestly at the moment least likely to to care.

And I know this gets repeated often on this program and others. But, you know, it's 20% of the population has got a disability. If you're ignoring 20% of your market. Well, uh, more for you.

And I know this gets repeated often on this program and others. But, you know, it's 20% of the population has got a disability. If you're ignoring 20% of your market. Well, uh, more for you.

Precisely.

Precisely.

Uh, succinct. And, uh, I like it when you agree with me. And, Kelly, what about as far as, uh, getting in touch with you and kind of giving feedback and stuff? Because, um, you talked about, you know, turning up to, uh, fund fund events, if you like. Is that just in Melbourne at this stage? How is that going?

Uh, succinct. And, uh, I like it when you agree with me. And, Kelly, what about as far as, uh, getting in touch with you and kind of giving feedback and stuff? Because, um, you talked about, you know, turning up to, uh, fund fund events, if you like. Is that just in Melbourne at this stage? How is that going?

It really does vary on where our clients are and where they need people to to join. A lot of our online surveys are for anybody in Australia. We also have some things like user testing coming up, which will be testing a website, and you can do that from home. So at the moment some of a lot of our companies and clients are looking at Melbourne and Sydney as where they want to do their testing because that's where they're based. But there's a lot of online activities as well, and definitely the online stuff. We all know that the blindness and low vision community are disproportionately impacted by inaccessible websites and those sorts of things. So I'd love people to join from anywhere in Australia to to help us out with that stuff along those lines.

It really does vary on where our clients are and where they need people to to join. A lot of our online surveys are for anybody in Australia. We also have some things like user testing coming up, which will be testing a website, and you can do that from home. So at the moment some of a lot of our companies and clients are looking at Melbourne and Sydney as where they want to do their testing because that's where they're based. But there's a lot of online activities as well, and definitely the online stuff. We all know that the blindness and low vision community are disproportionately impacted by inaccessible websites and those sorts of things. So I'd love people to join from anywhere in Australia to to help us out with that stuff along those lines.

People can sign up for like, your newsletter so you can be informed when the sort of opportunities come up.

People can sign up for like, your newsletter so you can be informed when the sort of opportunities come up.

Absolutely. So if you join, may create an account or sign up for our insights. You'll hear about when things come up and what opportunities are available for you and just generally engage in in what comes out of it. The one, the most interesting one recently. And honestly, Peter, this couldn't be a better job for me because I'm curious about everything. And now I have a captive audience who I can ask questions of. So any time I feel like I want to know something or push my own point, I can ask people. And so a couple of weeks ago, I had a discussion with a good friend of mine about whether the saying goes knife and fork or fork and knife, and she was insisting that it was fork and knife. Absolutely insisting. And I disagree because I think it's knife and fork. So I put that in a cutlery survey for our members to talk about how they find cutlery, whether they like plastic forks or bamboo forks. And I just added a question to make sure that I was right, that it is knife fork and 83% said it was knife and fork. So I feel vindicated. But that's the kind of thing that we get involved in and you'll get to hear about.

Absolutely. So if you join, may create an account or sign up for our insights. You'll hear about when things come up and what opportunities are available for you and just generally engage in in what comes out of it. The one, the most interesting one recently. And honestly, Peter, this couldn't be a better job for me because I'm curious about everything. And now I have a captive audience who I can ask questions of. So any time I feel like I want to know something or push my own point, I can ask people. And so a couple of weeks ago, I had a discussion with a good friend of mine about whether the saying goes knife and fork or fork and knife, and she was insisting that it was fork and knife. Absolutely insisting. And I disagree because I think it's knife and fork. So I put that in a cutlery survey for our members to talk about how they find cutlery, whether they like plastic forks or bamboo forks. And I just added a question to make sure that I was right, that it is knife fork and 83% said it was knife and fork. So I feel vindicated. But that's the kind of thing that we get involved in and you'll get to hear about.

There you go.

There you go.

Well, I'll make that 84% because that's what I would have said as well. It's a bit it's a bit like that's a Family Feud show. The survey said.

Well, I'll make that 84% because that's what I would have said as well. It's a bit it's a bit like that's a Family Feud show. The survey said.

Exactly.

Exactly.

It's exactly what it is. I love that these survey said. And it's just proving that people with disability one have different experiences of the world, but also have the same ones as everybody else.

It's exactly what it is. I love that these survey said. And it's just proving that people with disability one have different experiences of the world, but also have the same ones as everybody else.

Kelly, how can we find.

Kelly, how can we find.

You, noble?

You, noble?

Me so k n o w a b l e m is the website address. You can also email research at knowable me and unfortunately I can't remember the phone number but I can probably find it.

Me so k n o w a b l e m is the website address. You can also email research at knowable me and unfortunately I can't remember the phone number but I can probably find it.

What we'll do is we'll grab it off you off air and I'll put it up on our Facebook page as well so people have it there. Kelly, great to catch up. Congratulations on the initiative. I marvel at your, uh, well, your determination, your resilience and your persistence. And I'm sure this will be a great thing not just for you or hopefully for you, but also for, uh, people from Hollywood. So congratulations. And, uh, we'll speak again soon.

What we'll do is we'll grab it off you off air and I'll put it up on our Facebook page as well so people have it there. Kelly, great to catch up. Congratulations on the initiative. I marvel at your, uh, well, your determination, your resilience and your persistence. And I'm sure this will be a great thing not just for you or hopefully for you, but also for, uh, people from Hollywood. So congratulations. And, uh, we'll speak again soon.

Thank you. I'd love to come and share some more insights, like knife and fork with you again soon.

Thank you. I'd love to come and share some more insights, like knife and fork with you again soon.

Okay. That's, uh, Kelly Schultz there, the founder and the manager of the boss of me and me and all that information up on our Facebook page.

Okay. That's, uh, Kelly Schultz there, the founder and the manager of the boss of me and me and all that information up on our Facebook page.

Thank you for listening to Vision Xtra with Peter Greco. You can find this interview on the Focal Point podcast. This show was produced in the Adelaide studios of Vision Australia Radio.

Thank you for listening to Vision Xtra with Peter Greco. You can find this interview on the Focal Point podcast. This show was produced in the Adelaide studios of Vision Australia Radio.