Tips for Buying a Frigibar Marine Refrigeration System or Freezer

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ensign-open-mibs-2012For over forty years, Frigibar, based out of Miami, has manufactured the best in marine refrigeration to become beloved fixtures of boats and yachts traveling around the world. While we don’t have a retail storefront, we make it easy to get your hands on a Frigibar.

Frigibar freezer and refrigerator systems are available through Frigibar directly or one of our authorized retail partners and distributors, who can offer the same great price and quality you’ll get directly from us. Each freezer with the Frigibar logo will be of the highest quality, rust-free fiberglass construction, and handcrafted in Miami, Florida.

When considering purchasing a quality Frigibar marine refrigeration system, here are several tips to make the process as enjoyable and easy as possible:

  • Experience the Difference

Seeing and feeling a Frigibar in person is a great way to understand why they’re unique and trusted by captains and crews everywhere.

Frigibar exhibits at boat shows around the world, primarily in Florida, to meet with customers, captains, crews, boating enthusiasts and others and to display our units. In 2015-2016, Frigibar exhibited at the Miami International Boat Show, Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Refit International, METSTRADE, the Stuart Boat Show, the Bay Bridge Boat Show in Annapolis, MD, the New England Boat Show in Boston, MA, and the Newport International Boat Show.

We’d love to meet you and have you experience a Frigibar in person. Follow the Frigibar Blog to see what events we will be exhibiting at.

  • Visit a Frigibar Partner

Frigibar works with partners around the world. These partners allow us to showcase our products for customers at local and international boat shows, retail locations, captain’s lounges and more. Partners include SailorSams, Whiticar Boat Works, Yacht Equipment and Parts and Ultra Marine.

To see if there is a Frigibar partner in your area or an available unit to view or purchase, please contact us today.

In addition, while they may not have Frigibar units on display, your boat builder, refit yard, chandlery, project manager, or marine refrigeration service provider is also available to assist you in purchasing your unit.

  • Know Your Size and Style

Depending on the size of the space you have available on your boat and your style preferences, Frigibar manufactures 15 sizes in two different categories that all offer something unique. We have both chest and bench style freezers with varying dimensions and storage capacity.

To determine the size of the space you have available, view our Marine Refrigeration Fit Guide. View Frigibar’s full online product catalog here.

  • Custom Builds

You have an unlimited number of options when working with Frigibar. If you prefer something truly one-of-a-kind or your available space does not work with one of our best-selling freezers, we can custom build a unit just for your boat. Contact us for specifics.

  • Explore Custom Options

Custom builds aren’t the only way to both have the best marine freezer on your boat and have something no one else has. We have many custom options available to make your Frigibar your own.

Custom options include ‘Dual Control’ option (use as a freezer or refrigerator), 3-inch and 1-1/2” thick Snap-On marine cushions to allow your freezer to double as a seating option, custom gel coat colors, condensing unit orientation, and more. If you have a specific want or need that isn’t listed, please contact us.

  • Planning Your Order

While we keep some of our most popular sizes in stock, keep in mind that due to our many customization options, many units are built to order. Please allow enough time to order your Frigibar for that important trip or boat delivery. Contact Frigibar or one of our marine partners to find out current availability and time-frame for the unit you are interested in.

  • Call and Ask

We pride ourselves on truly looking out for your best interests, even if that means recommending a competitor’s solution. If you have a “go-to” person or company that handles all your vessel’s needs, we will be happy to help them assist you with your purchase. Read more about our approach to customer service here.

Please call us today for more information and to ask us any and all questions you may have: 305-757-7697.

Connect with Frigibar on social media! We provide regular updates, news, images, and more on our Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram accounts.

 

 

Frigibar President Shuly Oletzky to Speak at Small Giants Summit 2016 in Denver

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In-person events present a great opportunity to meet with and learn from others. Frigibar Industries President Shuly Oletzky will speak to fellow entrepreneurs and business leaders at the upcoming 2016 Small Giants Summit in Denver, Colorado, which will take place June 12-14.

Oletzky, who took over Frigibar Industries after her father passed away in late 2010, will share her experience, insight and advice for others on the important topic of succession planning.

Shuly left her corporate job in real estate to take over the business, but did so unexpectedly and without a clear path due to the lack of succession planning. Although her father Sheldon Oletzky had built a well-respected business and was an admired leader, as Shuly puts it, “he thought he would live forever.” When he fell ill, no plan was in place and Shuly was left to make a tough decision about the business without knowing what her father wanted (until later) and without guidance and time to prepare for the shift.

“Instead of being able to enjoy the last few months of my father’s life, we were scrambling to get as much in place as possible with the business and figure out what to do,” Shuly stated. The business was saved, but at a steep cost. About a year after taking over the business, Shuly learned from a family friend that her father did indeed hope she would take over the business, but didn’t want to put pressure on her, so he decided to keep his wishes a secret.

Unlike Frigibar, many businesses never recover after a business owner leaves behind a company without a plan. Shuly will try to leave summit attendees with sometools they can use to navigate the process of planning for succession. “If I can help even one business forego what I went through with my talk and ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the importance of succession planning, the time and effort I put into it will be more than worth it,” says Shuly.

Founded by entrepreneur and thought leader Paul Spiegelman, the Small Giants Community exists to identify, connect and develop values-driven business leaders. The community was inspired by author Bo Burlingham’s book, Small Giants: Companies that Choose to Be Great Instead of Big. The book profiled fourteen companies that had unique founders and processes that set them apart from the millions of small businesses that do business and management as usual.

For more information and to register for the 2016 Small Giants Summit, visit the Small Giants Community registration page.

Stay tuned for information about Shuly’s talk and a video of her presentation on succession planning. For more from Shuly, visit her blog at ShareIdeasWithPurpose.com.

Protecting Your Investment: Frigibar Releases Two New Products UV Surface Shield and Smart Fabric Protector

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For over 40 years, Frigibar Industries, Inc. has provided the best in marine refrigeration systems, including freezers, refrigerators, icebox conversion kits, deck boxes, dock boxes, and more. In addition to our hand-crafted freezers, Frigibar is releasing new products for boat owners, including two new maintenance products created to improve the look and lifespan of your vessel’s fiberglass and fabric.

Introducing UV Surface Shield and Smart Fabric Protector.

UV Surface Shield

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Scratches and nicks can make even the most beautiful crafts appear dull, rough or damaged, and can be expensive to repair. The UV Surface Shield acts as a liquid coat of armor for your vessel and any fiberglass surface, giving your boat or yacht a bright shine, keeping it cleaner longer, and protects against UV damage with Smart Surface Technology.

UV Surface Shield will save you time by making maintenance a breeze. No longer will water, dirt, fish blood or other potentially harmful liquids stick to and damage your vessel’s surface. You can expect to see and maintain a gorgeous luster and smooth clean surface that’s hydrophobic for 4-6 months after a surface is treated. We highly recommend trying UV Surface Shield to protect your investment and give your boat or yacht a shine to admire.

Price: $49.95 + $4.49 S&H

Purchase Information: Purchase on Amazon, or by calling or emailing Frigibar.

Smart Fabric Protector

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The fabric on a boat isn’t always the first thing you notice on a yacht, unless it’s damaged or stained. Fabric in need of repair is an eyesore and can be costly and time-consuming to repair. Needless to say, it’s worth protecting.

Frigibar’s Smart Fabric Protector makes waterproofing ordinary fabrics and vinyl easy, and also makes them easy to clean. This protectant spray can be used to prevent soaking, swelling or rotting. It can be used to protect almost anything fabric-based on your vessel, including boat cushions, canopies, awnings, marine mattresses and more. It has anti-bacterial properties that kill 99.9% of bacteria, allowing treated surfaces to last five times longer than with other conventional water-repellent coatings.

Price: $29.95 + $4.49 S&H

Purchase Information: Purchase on Amazon, or by calling or emailing Frigibar.

The UV Surface Shield and Smart Fabric Protector are the two latest additions to the Frigibar product family, and we’re proud to continue to expand our catalog to meet the ever-changing needs of boat and yacht captains, crew and owners. If interested in getting the most out of your adventures by adding a quality marine refrigeration freezer system to your vessel, or any of our other products, contact us at 305-757-7697 or email us at info@frigibar.com, or view our full line of products online here.

Feeling Balanced: Frigibar President Shuly Oletzky on the Business Rescue Roadmap Podcast with Stacy Tuschl

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business-rescue-roadmapEntrepreneurs are frequently labeled workaholics, and probably rightfully so. Owning and operating a business requires thick skin, hard work, and usually, long hours. During episode 46 of the Business Rescue Roadmap Podcast with Stacy Tuschl, Frigibar President Oletzky was asked what is “work-life balance,” is it possible, and how she defines it. “It depends on how you define balance. What does balance mean to you? For me, balance means doing the things that are most important,” Oletzky said, which is exactly what she’s doing.  “I’m working, but I’m with my friends…as long as I’m accomplishing what’s more important to me at that particular juncture, then I feel balanced,” she continued.

Shuly’s path to entrepreneurship is as unique as the niche luxury marine refrigeration units Frigibar manufactures. “This business, Frigibar Industries, has been our family business since 1971. My father (Sheldon Oletzky), was diagnosed in late 2009 with ALS, and unfortunately, we didn’t have a plan in place. As his health started to decline, and it was fairly rapid, someone had to step in. I started to help out part-time while we figured out what to do,” explained Oletzky. In 2011, she became President of Frigibar Industries full-time.

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Shuly was new to the position and had plenty of innovative ideas and things she wanted to add to the business, the company had an established brand, loyal customer base, and served a specific purpose in the industry. “When I took over the business, it had a personality already. I didn’t have the luxury of creating my brand — it existed. I had to work within what our customers already knew about us and the reputation and brand presence we had, and find a way to intertwine my personality and the things that I wanted to see the brand and business become. It took a little bit of time to find that message and how to get that message across. I think we’re finally there and we have a great foundation,” Oletzky said.

The difficulty Oletzky faced when learning to lead the business taught her many lessons, including how to build great relationships. “I love people. I find that the process I had to go through when taking over the business and trying to learn things — I had to reach out to a lot of people,” said Oletzky. She also stated that making and building relationships has been “critical” to Frigibar’s continued success. “You’re (entrepreneurs are) in the people business, and you need to make sure you’re building those relationships and nurturing them,” Tuschl added.

One of the most important types of relationships entrepreneurs have to create and build are employer-employee relationships.

When taking over Frigibar in late 2010, not only the industry, but the entire U.S. economy was in a major recession. Employees were worried about their jobs and how many hours they would get a week. To help them focus on the business and helping her instead of understandably worrying about their financial stability, Shuly made the decision to guarantee their hours. It was a bold move that helped earn trust and showed the employees that she was looking out for them. “I work for my employees as much as they work for me, because if I don’t do my job, they don’t have one,” Shuly said.

When Stacy Tuschl asked Shuly about financial mistakes made in the past, Shuly said the biggest mistake made in the company’s past was not having a succession plan in place. “Most people don’t think of it (failing to plan for succession) as a financial mistake, but it really is,” said Shuly. “If you have a family business and children…you want to make a plan!” Although Shuly ended up taking over the business, her father, not wanting to put pressure on her, never told her that he wanted her to take over the business. After he had passed, Shuly was told by a family friend that Sheldon Oletzky, Shuly’s father, did indeed hope she took over the business.

Succession planning is a subject of passion for Shuly. This June, she will share her experience and how entrepreneurs can prepare for succession with over 100 business owners at the 2016 Small Giants Summit in Denver, Colorado. For more from Shuly Oletzky, visit her blog at ShareIdeaswithPurpose.com.

Listen to the Business Rescue Roadmap Podcast here, or download episodes on iTunes.

May 21st Downtown Showdown KDW Offers $10,000 for Biggest Fish, Even More for Charity

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A guaranteed cash prize of $10,000 is up for grabs to the angling team that catches the largest fish during the upcoming 2nd Annual Downtown Showdown in West Palm Beach on May 21. More than 500 anglers are expected to compete in the event, hosted by members of the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Fishing Team and Southern Fishing Charities, John Jackson, John Mitchell and Grant Portier.

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Last year’s inaugural event paid out $30,000 in cash prizes and gave $15,000 to charity. The event was launched to honor the group’s friend and fellow angler Scott Terry. This year’s event is expected to be one of the biggest fishing tournaments ever held in South Florida and will have free, fun activities for the entire family. The tournament will feature many other attractions, including live music, food vendors, a kids’ zone, an Invitational Wing Competition and a Classic and Custom Muscle Car Show.

As a tribute to Scott Terry, proceeds from the Downtown Showdown will go to Lauren’s Kids, a non-profit organization that educates adults and children about sexual abuse prevention. It will also support Paws for Veterans and Boy Scouts of America.

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“Lauren’s Kids is incredibly proud to be a part of the Downtown Showdown for the second year in a row and to honor the memory and legacy of a courageous man, our friend Scott Terry,” said Lauren Book, founder and CEO of Lauren’s Kids.

Southern Fishing Charities

Earlier this year, we featured Team Tito’s Fishing Team on the Frigibar Blog. Their philanthropic efforts have resulted in fun fishing tournaments and tens of thousands of dollars for charity. “Personally, I feel like I’ve been very fortunate in my life to do what I’ve done and see what life has given me,” says Tito’s John Mitchell. “Anytime you can help somebody and give somebody a fighting chance; I believe they deserve that.”
Frigibar President Shuly Oletzky is also on the Downtown Showdown board, helping to plan and raise awareness for the event that promises to be a favorite among local and regional anglers.
The event as a whole is open to all and free. Registration for the tournament is now open. Register for $350 on the official registration page for the 2nd Annual Downtown Showdown KDW. We hope to see you there!