THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 29, 1995 TAG: 9510270184
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close Up
SOURCE: Janelle LaBouve
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
Ruby Hassell says she ``got that working thing'' from her father.
``My daddy shined shoes and worked hard,'' said Hassell, who owns the Flower's Bakery franchise in Great Bridge. ``He thought that if you work hard for something, you'll appreciate it more than if it's just handed to you,'' she said. ``He taught us to work for what we wanted and not to take things which did not belong to us.''
Being in church every Sunday was a must when Hassell was growing up. There was a penalty for faking illness to avoid attending church.
``If you couldn't go to church, you had to stay sick all week,'' she laughed. ``We could go to school, but we had to stay in after school.''
From her parents she also learned the principles with which she operates her businesses, Flower's Bakery at Great Bridge and two franchises in Suffolk which she recently acquired.
``Treat your customers nice and treat your employees the way you want to be treated,'' she said. ``If you can do these two things, I think you can make it.
``I care about my customers and I definitely care about my employees,'' she said.
``My employees are my friends,'' she said. ``And after a while, your customers are really your friends. You get to know their kids. It's a nice friendly setting, and I just like to work like that. I'm blessed.''
Hassell enjoys offering assistance to her customers most of whom happen to be women.
``If our female customers have children, we take the bread out to the car for them,'' she said. ``When elderly people come in, if they need assistance coming inside, we'll go out to their car and help them in.''
Hassell or one of her employees may take a phone order, do the shopping for an elderly customer and then deliver their purchases. On occasion, they may even go grocery shopping for a customer.
``My employees are very helpful in this way, too,'' she said. ``We work as a team. It's always a `we' thing, never a `me' thing. I wouldn't trade my employees for anything in the world.''
On weekends, Hassell's children enjoy helping out at the store.
``Robert likes the one-to-one customer thing, and Chenelle prefers stocking and bagging,'' she said. ``They get their little paychecks, too.''
Full name: Ruby Y. Hassell
Hometown: ``Norfolk. I was raised in Diggs Park on Campostella Road.''
Fond childhood memories: ``I was into music and played the clarinet in the band all the way through high school. I was offered three college scholarships but decided to get married. About five years ago we organized a 16-year band reunion.''
Children: Trineene, Chenelle and Robert
Occupation: Flower's Bakery franchise owner
Hobbies: ``I love being around people, and I love music.''
Last book read: ``Disappearing Act''
Favorite song: ``I like any type of concert music, jazz, orchestral or new age music.''
Favorite movie: ``Pretty Woman''
Can't resist: Chocolate-covered raisins
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? ``About 50 pounds.''
Favorite Chesapeake restaurant: Red Lobster
Favorite way to spend a day off: ``Hanging around the house, cleaning my house, watching `Pretty Woman' and preparing dinner for my children.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
by CNB