Hey everyone! It’s a bittersweet moment for YapaTree and me. After two and a half wonderful years, we’re saying goodbye to our office space at idiomART and closing the chapter on our discount card program. I wanted to take this opportunity to share a bit about why we’ve made these changes, how YapaTree has evolved, and what’s next on the horizon. Let’s dive right in.
The idiomART Experience – Why We’ll Miss It
Our time at idiomART has been something of a whirlwind. Picture this: our “office” was actually the pantry of the original house! I can only imagine this little room once filled with rice, beans, and maybe even a guinea pig or two running around – though I can’t say I have any proof of that. But for us, this quirky space became home. We held countless meetings here, and some of the best ones happened by chance.
One of the coolest things about working out of idiomART was the amazing array of people walking through the door – artists, travelers, locals, and expats all coming together. Some of my most cherished memories were simply sitting in the office, a stranger wandering by, and before I knew it, we’d be talking for hours. For expats moving to Cuenca, idiomART is a valuable stop; it’s a place where you can find community and share in new experiences.
But as much as I loved those organic connections, I’ll admit it wasn’t always the most efficient setup. Wearing my “business hat” now, I realize we needed to streamline things to focus more intently on YapaTree’s growth. And that brings us to some other changes, like saying goodbye to the discount card program.
The YapaTree Discount Card Program – What Worked and What Didn’t
When we launched the discount card, I thought we’d created a no-brainer offer for local businesses. All they had to do was provide a small discount or “yapa” (which means “a little something extra”), and we’d bring them new customers. For most businesses, it was a win-win – no cost to them, just the chance to get more people through their doors. And initially, it was a great way to connect expats with local businesses, which was a huge part of our mission.
Unfortunately, things didn’t quite go as planned. The biggest blow was when one of our main card partners decided they’d only allow discounts for expats, excluding locals. This went against everything YapaTree stood for, and we fought to change their stance, but ultimately, they wouldn’t budge. The program was supposed to foster inclusivity and a sense of community, so this was a real hit to our goals.
Then came the time and energy it took to manage the program itself – selling it to businesses, setting up the discounts, creating content, and training staff on how to use it. It became clear that the program was taking up resources we needed to focus elsewhere. At the end of the day, I had to be honest with myself. We were pouring a lot into a program that just wasn’t sustainable long-term, so we made the tough decision to close it down.
Real Estate Focus – Maximizing our Impact
Let’s rewind a bit to why we first rented that pantry office at idiomART: real estate, advertising, and our discount card program. Real estate has been at the heart of YapaTree, and helping expats navigate the Cuenca market has been incredibly fulfilling. However, early on, we made a rookie mistake. Instead of building our own real estate service from scratch, we tried to partner with established local agents. The idea was that we could leverage their market knowledge, but as we soon found out, the quality and service didn’t meet our standards.
After six months of trying to work together, we parted ways, and that experience taught us a valuable lesson: we needed to take quality into our own hands. That meant creating our own real estate team, systems, and processes. Now, we have a hybrid model where we work with local agents but with our own “quality layer” to make sure clients get the best possible service. We’ve still had our hiccups, but I’d say we’ve come a long way and can proudly say we offer some of the best quality service in Cuenca.
What’s Next for YapaTree
So, what’s next? As we move forward, we’re putting our focus on where we can have the greatest impact: real estate. This is where we can truly make a difference, both for expats moving here and for locals interested in property buying and selling. Real estate isn’t just the primary revenue driver; it’s also an area where I feel we can have the most impact. Over the years, we’ve built relationships with some key partners that have really opened up the market for us, especially with local buyers.
Now that we’re moving out of idiomART, we still have another office for staff meetings and operations, but we generally prefer meeting clients in the warm, friendly vibe of Cuenca’s many cafes. As for video content, that’s still a big part of our plan, but I’ll admit – we don’t have a replacement studio lined up just yet. And with a new baby on the way, I’m pausing those decisions for a bit until things settle down at home.
Wrapping Up
Leaving idiomART and saying goodbye to the discount card program is definitely a mixed bag of emotions. I’m grateful for everything we’ve learned along the way and for the support of everyone who’s been with us on this journey. YapaTree started with a vision to support Cuenca’s community, and while the methods may evolve, that mission stays the same.
We’re not saying goodbye to Cuenca – not by a long shot! We’re just refocusing our energy on where we can best serve this community and continue helping expats and locals alike. Thanks for all the love and encouragement over the years, and I hope you’ll stick around to see what’s next for YapaTree.
Ciao ciao, and see you soon!
