For some business owners, the distance from having that first big idea to becoming successful can be a life-long journey.
Most will redefine what ‘success’ means to them as the journey progresses.
There may not be a clear vision from the outset at to what the route looks like.
This was certainly the case for Carlisle-based property expert and businessman David Hogarth, who founded one of the county’s largest estate agency businesses, Cumbrian Properties in 1995 almost by accident.
Having built a small empire of Spar stores in and around Carlisle with his wife Julia, a chance opportunity to develop some land next to one of their shops kick-started what would become a 30-year career in property sales, lettings and redevelopment.
After selling Cumbrian Properties in December 2021 to his brother Adrian who had been a partner in the business, David utilised three decades of experience to launch Cumbrian Holiday Cottages in January 2023.
Working in partnership with long-serving colleague and co-director Gail Corbishley, the firm now manages over 100 properties across the county, with several owned by the business.
Many are in the Carlisle area, including the villages of Castle Carrock and Wetheral, as well as a flagship development at local beauty spot Talkin Tarn near Brampton.
David and Julia purchased the former Tarn End hotel in 2019 and transformed the derelict building into 12 luxury self-contained cottages.
A chalet-style cottage was also built in the grounds offering a stunning view of the tarn and surrounding hills, and the waterfront gardens around the site redeveloped.
“I used to camp nearby when I was a child and brought my daughters here when they were young. They bring their children now.
“It’s always been a special place for my family and when the opportunity to buy the former hotel came along, we had to do it.
“The place had been an eyesore for too long and we knew it could be a wonderful place for people to enjoy again,” said David.
As well as redeveloping the properties, David and Julia installed a 50-space car park nearby to make the buildings a vehicle-free area.
The car park has improved accessibility for local residents and emergency vehicles and provided a much-needed solution for visitors and electric-vehicle owners enjoying the tarn and surrounding area.
“The project here at Talkin is special, it’s been a huge benefit to the local community and for the new residents and visitors who are part of that community now.
“It’s such a beautiful corner of the world and I’m just very happy to see it being enjoyed and admired again,” said David.
David, Julia and Gail are no strangers to the holiday lettings industry.
As well as running Cumbrian Properties, David and Julia previously owned the holiday lettings business Cumbrian Cottages, which they sold in 2003 with 500 properties on the books.
They then established Lakes Cottage Holidays in 2005 before selling the business to a national company in 2017 with over 450 clients.
“I have always loved the holiday lettings part of my work because it’s really all about working with people and establishing strong relationships. Owners with beautiful cottages and holiday makers who are looking for the perfect retreat, it’s a great business to be in.
“It’s easy to take Cumbria and the Lakes for granted when you live here, but the joy it brings to people is hugely rewarding, and it’s given me a lot of pride and happiness over the years too,” said David.
After nearly 30 years as managing director, David sold Cumbrian Properties to his brother and long-term business partner Adrian in December 2021.
Leading the firm through numerous challenges, including flooding, foot and mouth disease, recessions and the Covid pandemic, his instinctive ability to adapt and react was critical to ensure survival.
“We’ve always had a strong work ethic; Adrian and I inherited that from our father who worked seven days a week when he owned the village shop in Wetheral.
“There have been numerous ups and downs and all sorts of things that affect the business which are beyond anybody’s control.
“Maintaining a disciplined set of core values and customer service standards has underpinned the lasting success of the business and I am incredibly proud of the way Cumbrian Properties has helped thousands of buyers and sellers over the years,” said David.
As a teenager David worked in Carlisle’s WH Smith, working up to the position of trainee manager before moving to Newcastle and becoming a management trainee for Marks & Spencer.
In 1982 whilst working in the management team at the firm’s flagship store near Marble Arch in London, he met Julia, a fellow M&S manager and they later settled back in their native Cumbria.
Using their corporate experience and skills in retail and customer service, the couple’s first venture was a village store in the village of Houghton.
In the space of just eight years, one shop became 13, and they had a growing successful business on their hands.
Building an estate agency empire across the entire county was never the plan.
“The intention was to have a small chain of successful newsagents and convenience stores around the city. We got the licence for the Spar brand and by 1990 we had 13 stores in and around Carlisle.
“Nowhere else was doing late opening hours, we were the first to open until 10.30 pm and the first to open our doors on Christmas Day,” said David.
Soon known locally as the ‘Spar King’ of Carlisle, the move into property development happened when he was granted permission to develop eight flats next to one of their shops in the Upperby area of Carlisle.
With the Spar business being taken over by a large wholesaler they saw the opportunity to harness their skills and create a new business in property.
Originally intended to be a lettings-only service for local property owners and holiday-maker visitors, a suggestion from Adrian in 1995 prompted the brothers to develop a 360-degree sales, lettings and management estate agency, with 14 offices across Cumbria and North Lancashire by the early 2000’s.
“Adrian saw the potential for us to be bigger and offer more than just a holiday rental service, and that’s when Cumbrian Properties really became a family business,” said David.
At one point, 12 members of the Hogarth family were working across the business in different roles, from valuations, lettings management and customer service, to interior design and property redevelopment.
Semi-retirement has provided an opportunity to reflect on the many changes to the estate agency sector that have taken place during the last 30 years.
“The business has changed significantly. It used to be all about advertising and brochures but with the rise of the internet and changes in consumer habits, the way people buy, sell and search for property is very different now.
“The joy of the holiday lettings business is that it is a seven-day week, 52 weeks a year. Short breaks reflect people’s lifestyles now, and since the Covid pandemic more and more people are opting to stay in the UK for shorter holidays and it’s a very good time to be in this business,” said David.
Working alongside Gail for over 30 years has also provided David with a consistency and stability to each of his property business ventures.
“Gail has been a constant in my business since 1993, she’s seen it all and been right there with Julia and I through thick and thin.
“When I decided to start Cumbrian Cottage Holidays, I knew I couldn’t do it without her. Gail’s knowledge and understanding of this industry and this market is unmatched,” said David.
Having achieved more than most businessmen can hope to in two lifetimes, the future for Cumbrian Cottage Holidays is about continuing to do what they do best – using their extensive local knowledge and experience to provide a first-class service for property owners and holiday makers.
The wider supply-chain involved in running the business – from cleaners and maintenance workers to builders and tradespeople – is provided by local people and firms, ensuring that every aspect of the business is Cumbrian through and through.
“There is nowhere I would rather call home and nowhere else I would rather work. Cumbria has given me and my family an extremely happy and rewarding life,” said David.
