No More Guesswork: Solving Inventory Challenges at Stillife
Challenges
Goals
See what bottles are missing. We're also able to track our sales, through our point of sales system. One of the things I love is that inventory now takes half the time it used to with the pen and paper. Now it's great. Instead of entering all our invoices manually, we just take a picture and it goes directly into the app.
See what bottles are missing. We're also able to track our sales, through our point of sales system. One of the things I love is that inventory now takes half the time it used to with the pen and paper. Now it's great. Instead of entering all our invoices manually, we just take a picture and it goes directly into the app.
The hesitations we had about WISK was, the fact that we were, doing pen and paper Excel, and then we'd have to try an app. Wouldn't work. Revert back to Excel and back and forth. So it was a big yoyo effect that never really got resolved.
My initial reaction when I first joined WISK super positive.
I love the fact that I could get the variance report every day, because this way I don't have to wait a week to see if I'm making money or not. I could check how good every night was sales wise and variance wise. Technology helps a bar business, because all of our records that we keep is electronic.
I love the fact that I could get the variance report every day, because this way I don't have to wait a week to see if I'm making money or not. I could check how good every night was sales wise and variance wise. Technology helps a bar business, because all of our records that we keep is electronic.
The Problem
Before WISK, Stillife in Montreal was struggling with some serious inefficiencies in their day-to-day operations. The team relied on pen and paper, along with Excel spreadsheets, to manage their inventory and sales—time-consuming methods that left a lot of room for mistakes. Jason Stock, the general manager, described it as a frustrating cycle: they’d try an app, it wouldn’t work, and they’d end up back in Excel, going in circles.
This approach made it difficult to track inventory accurately. Bottles would go missing, or they’d end up with too much of something, and it wasn’t easy to spot those discrepancies in real-time. The lack of visibility also meant they weren’t able to track profitability efficiently or spot trends in their sales data until it was too late.
Sharing records with the staff was another headache. Paper records could easily get lost or damaged, and keeping everything organized in a way that was accessible to everyone wasn’t as simple as it should have been. These manual processes were slowing them down, causing unnecessary stress, and ultimately preventing the bar from operating at its best.
The Solution
WISK provided Stillife with a simple, streamlined solution that completely transformed their operations, leading to significant success. Instead of juggling pen and paper, Excel, and unreliable apps, they were able to set up their entire inventory system in just a few hours with only a phone and a Bluetooth scale.
The real value came in the ability to access accurate, real-time data. As a powerful bar and restaurant inventory software, WISK allowed them to track inventory, monitor sales, and catch discrepancies immediately, eliminating the old waiting game of discovering missing or overstocked bottles days later. Invoices were no longer a manual task—they could just snap a photo, and it would be automatically uploaded into the system, saving precious time.
With the enhanced visibility WISK provided, Jason was able to access sales and variance reports every day, instead of waiting a week to see how things were going. This instant access to data empowered him to make smarter, quicker decisions. As a result, Stillife not only became more efficient but also positioned themselves for growth and success by operating more strategically and confidently.
No More Guesswork: Solving Inventory Challenges at Stillife
Jason shares how quickly and easily the setup process for WISK was, saying, “I was able to get my first inventory set up within a few hours. All we needed was our cell phone and a Bluetooth scale, and we were done in about an hour.” This fast setup process made a huge difference for Stillife, enabling them to hit the ground running without the usual hassle of complicated systems. It was straightforward and efficient, cutting down what would normally be a time-consuming task into something quick and manageable.
The real-time visibility WISK offers is something Jason greatly appreciates. “I’m able to track our profitability and see if bottles are short or overstocked,” he explains. This real-time tracking lets him quickly spot issues before they become bigger problems. If a bottle goes missing or there's an overstock situation, he can catch it right away, making it easier to take action without any delays.
The ability to track and manage inventory efficiently has completely changed how Stillife operates. Instead of waiting days to figure out inventory discrepancies, Jason now has the insight he needs at his fingertips. This visibility gives him a clearer picture of how the business is performing and helps him stay on top of the day-to-day details that are critical for running a successful bar.
With WISK, it made it that much easier because all we needed was a scale and a phone.
“I love the fact that I can get the variance report every day,” he explains, noting how it eliminates the need to wait a week to evaluate profitability. Instead, he can quickly assess how well each night performs, both in terms of sales and variance. This immediate insight empowers him to make faster, more informed decisions about the bar’s operations.
He also emphasizes the role technology plays in making record-keeping more reliable and accessible. With WISK, all records are stored electronically, making it much easier to share critical information with partners, bartenders, and managers. “We’re able to send it way easier than just having it on a paper,” Jason says. Unlike physical records, which can be lost or damaged, electronic records are secure and always accessible. This shift to digital documentation has ensured that every detail is preserved for future reference.
The simplicity of WISK is another key factor that Jason appreciates. “All we needed was a scale and a phone,” he shares, underscoring how the system avoids unnecessary complexity. It’s this combination of user-friendliness and powerful features that has made WISK an indispensable tool for Stillife, helping them operate more efficiently and effectively.
"One of the things I love about WISK is the visibility. I'm able to track our profitability. We're able to track if bottles are short or over."
Jason Stock - General Manager, Stillife MTL
General Manager - Stillife MTL
The implementation of WISK’s bar and restaurant inventory software transformed operations at Stillife, saving significant time, improving data accuracy, and enhancing profitability. Jason Stock and his team can now track inventory and sales in real-time, quickly identify discrepancies, and maintain secure, easily accessible digital records.
The streamlined processes and newfound visibility have not only resolved long-standing challenges but have also contributed to Stillife’s continued success, positioning it as a thriving cocktail bar in Old Montreal. Jason’s enthusiastic recommendation underscores the value WISK brings to bar and restaurant owners seeking to simplify operations and maximize efficiency.
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Stillife MTL
Stillife MTL in Montreal is a unique cocktail lounge and bar located in Old Montreal, known for its speakeasy vibe and industrial-chic design. Hidden down an alley on Saint-Paul Street West, Stillife embraces a moody, semi-basement setting with decor by Alain Carle Architecte. The interior features elements like rough stone walls, steel beams, and vaulted brick ceilings, which together create an intimate yet refined space for up to 125 guests. The bar's layout is purposefully designed with divided spaces and mirrored partitions, giving groups privacy and a sense of exclusivity in each section.
Specializing in high-quality cocktails crafted from carefully selected ingredients, Stillife’s bar staff prioritize a mixology experience that aligns with the speakeasy atmosphere. The drink menu also includes natural wines and local beers, and guests can enjoy charcuterie and cheese boards to accompany their drinks. This approach has made Stillife a popular spot for cocktail lovers, as well as a venue for group events, dates, and casual happy hours.
Maurice, Assistant Manager @ Flyjin
“Before using WISK, we had hesitations due to past unsuccessful experiences with other systems. We often reverted to pen and paper, which required transferring data to Excel, making the process very time-consuming. We started scanning everything, doing the inventory, it went super well, so I was very pleasantly surprised.”
Massimo, General Manager @ Lucille’s
“It took a lot less time to get everyone on board. They were all open for it because it's an app. They could use their phone. You know, at the touch of our phones, we have everything available. We just scan the item, we go through it all in a sequence, so it's very well organized, everything's well counted, and I think it just really facilitates the time efficiency of everything.”
Loyd, Owner @ L’infâme Tittle Tattle and La Gargamelle in Montreal
Before WISK, honestly, inventory was kind of a drag. We had this huge Excel sheet, we have over a hundred products in here, so it's kind of hard to just do inventories. It used to take us about one or two hours every week. Twice a week actually, it was not very accurate with our Excel sheet, but now it takes us like 20 minutes and we're done. And I was kind of surprised it was so user-friendly.