Local business owner gives back to community schools

The back wall of Bloomington Hardware is dotted with colorful scribbles reaching nearly to the ceiling. They come in all designs; pictures showing stick figures playing tetherball or sitting under rainbows. All bear the same message: "Thank you, Victoria Temple."\nVictoria Temple Davison simply smiles, knowing she has done what she feels is right. \n"Education is important. We try to do a lot -- we donated paint for (Highland Park's) parking lot. We also donated tetherball poles and rubber mulch," Davison said.\nDavison, owner of Bloomington Hardware, makes a commitment to give back to the community through her knowledge and her store, she said. She goes to Bloomington schools and teaches classes about owning a business and what it entails. She also gives tips on how to apply for a job, such as watching spelling and writing neatly on resumes. \n"The stuff I talk about is reality based," Davison said. "I've had kids that will end up applying for a job." \nFor her efforts around the community, Davison will be honored this year with the Business Volunteer of the Year Award from the Monroe County Educators. \nCarol Maloney is the vice president of education initiatives with the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce and the director of Franklin Initiative. When she called Davison about possible donations to Highland Park Elementary School, she only expected Davison to give a small amount. \n"The amount of money was maybe $90, but once Vickie got in there, she donated 10 times that amount," Maloney said. "She took a small request, and just made it blossom." \nDavison believes this is part of her job as a business owner. \n"Just like investing in your environment, you need to invest in the best (thing) your community has to offer, and that's your children," Davison said. \nShe never imagined she would come to own the business that has been in her late husband's -- John Temple -- family since 1928. \nShe bought into the business in 1981 when John was looking for a partner to continue the store. At the time, John was deciding whether to close the store or move it from its original location in downtown Bloomington to a new location.\n"Nobody believed in him, other than me," Davison said. "He ended up coming to me. I took my life savings (and) cashed it in to build the hardware store." \nWhen John died 10 years later, Temple Davison took a year off, but eventually came back to the store to take over. \n"I fell in love with the customers -- I fell in love with the employees," she said. "After working in big corporations, it's nice to be a small corporation where you really can be in control." \nBloomington Hardware continues to prosper even today. \nIn the last fiscal year, it made $2 million in sales. Because of the hardware store's success, Davison was honored this year with the Family-Owned Small Business of the Year Award. \nAlthough Davison is honored to have received this award, she is more concerned with the everyday duties of maintaining the store, because it is a family-owned business.\n"I like that people realize there is something valuable in a family-owned business. They like that day-to-day person," Davison said. "You kind of hope that it's not, 'Oh, we're honoring you on your way out.' I do feel like we're a small business because we constantly redefine ourselves and thrive on change." \nPart of that thriving comes from Davison's belief that work can be enjoyable.\n"There's a real difference between doing work and doing something you enjoy. If you're doing something you enjoy, your batteries stay charged," Davison said. \nHer work ethic has rubbed off on her co-workers, as well. \n"She's very progressive, very easy to work with," Tony Ruggiero said. "She's very up-to-date on merchandising. We work pretty well as a team. We always seem to find the different merchandise." \nDavison is appreciative of her employees, as well. \n"You feel like you solve problems, and you really help people. I'm surrounded by people that enjoy what they're doing," she said. \nDavison advises students to find something they love doing and make that their career.\n"Really step back and look at what you're good at and what you enjoy," she said. \n-- Contact staff writer Catherine Hageman at chageman@indiana.edu.