Resource
Counter hour brief
Prep your supplier session in five minutes with this straightforward blocker brief, no faffing, just facts for a clear next step.
This guide supports real briefs across Cape Town, Gauteng, and beyond. For a tailored pack, email magic@bizmagic.co.za.
- Written for South African founder teams
- Pairs with supplier notes
- Link your kit from the kits hub
What’s on the Counter hour brief
The Counter hour brief keeps your visit tidy and productive, whether you’re popping in at the Stellenbosch supplier hub or pausing between jobs in Vryheid. It’s a single page, divided into bold fields that help you lay out exactly what’s slowing your business down this week. You don’t need anything fancy, just print it out or type straight into the PDF.
- Date and your full business name
- Contact details (email, phone)
- Main blocker or issue (one-liner)
- Quick background (context in 2-3 lines)
- What you’ve already tried
- Specific help or answer you need
- Urgency (low, medium, high)
- Session supplier name or hub location
- Next step and who’s responsible
How to fill it in, step by step
Filling in the brief before your supplier hub slot saves that last-minute scramble. Print or open the PDF, and follow these steps so you arrive prepared. If you’re not sure on a field, keep it honest, a little context helps us point you quicker to the right supplier or charm from the kits shelf.
- Write today’s date and your business name at the top.
- Add your email and phone, double check for typos.
- Summarise your biggest current blocker in one sentence.
- Jot down context: what’s happened, when, and with who.
- List what you have already tried to fix it (if anything).
- Say what help, info or resource you need from the hub.
- Mark the urgency so we can plan the session time.
- Pick your hub location or write which supplier you need.
- Note the next action and who will do it after the chat.
Sample entry, Stellenbosch produce exporter
Here’s one from Elsie, who runs Oompie’s Quality Jams in Stellenbosch. In the ‘Main blocker’ she wrote: 'HS code confusion for sugar-based preserves.' Her context line: 'Exporting 8 cartons to Walvis Bay, need correct code for SADC certificate.' Elsie listed: 'Checked SARS tariff book, called clearing agent, no clear answer yet.' For help needed: 'Which HS code should I use on the invoice?' Urgency: 'High, goods leaving Friday, need code before Lebombo border.' The next step was marked: 'Supplier to send code, I update paperwork, ship.' Her contact details were easy to spot, and the hub team could move fast.
Common mistakes to avoid
Don’t leave the background or urgency fields blank, supplier teams in Vryheid or Stellenbosch need that to prioritise you properly, especially on Fridays near month-end. The most common slip is skipping what you’ve already tried, and that’s a pity: it often means you’ll double up the same work. Also, if your contact details are wrong (we had one entry with a missing digit), you won’t get those magic follow-up notes. Remember, the brief is for blockers, save general chit-chat or new ideas for another slot. Oh, and avoid putting your supplier’s name in the location field (it’s easy to mix up if you’re in a rush).
When to bring the brief to a session
Always have your Counter hour brief ready when you book a supplier hub slot, especially for anything time-sensitive like last-minute VAT201 confusion or a courier cut-off at 3pm. Bring it printed, or show your filled-in file on your phone. If you’re stuck choosing the right session, email us and we’ll guide you to the fastest supplier window, be it Woodstock or out in Durban. For recurring issues, it’s smart to keep last month’s brief handy too. You’ll also find more tools for prepping supplier notes over at the resources page. If your blocker needs a new kit or a full ritual, we’ll point you towards the right charm for the job.
