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Frigibar LLC

Letter From Shuly Oletzky: Frigibar is Back in Fort Lauderdale with New Ownership and Opportunities

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Late last year when I announced that Frigibar Industries Inc. would cease operations, I received an overwhelming amount of support from customers, partners, and friends. From letters thanking us for a cockpit freezer that is still working 30 years after it was delivered to brand partners calling to express their appreciation, every word meant the world to me.

47 years after my father, Sheldon Oletzky, started the brand that we are today, the closing of the business was bittersweet. I was proud of our accomplishments and the legacy we left behind, but disappointed that we no longer would serve the yacht owners, captains, and crews we know and love.

I am very pleased to announce that Frigibar is back in business with many exciting changes to announce and unveil over the next several months.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Frigibar, we build handcrafted, custom-built freezer/refrigerator units, fiberglass cockpit freezers, dock boxes, insulated fish boxes, ice chests, and more. Our products are available online at Frigibar.com and now, in a brand new showroom in Fort Lauderdale.

Frigibar was recently acquired by marine industry entrepreneur Seann Pavlik, who has been a loyal customer, supporter and friend of Frigibar for decades. Seann has built a reputation for providing boat owners with exceptional products through is companies; Misters Unlimited, Innovative Products, and IceFree. Frigibar has now joined his family of brands as Frigibar, LLC.

The Frigibar brand has always stood for quality and delivering exceptional value in customer service to boat owners, captains, and crews worldwide. Finding this fit with Seann and his family of companies is a dream come true for Frigibar. Frigibar is now located in Fort Lauderdale.

Our new headquarters and showroom is located at 1632 NE 12th Terrace in Fort Lauderdale, and the showroom will be available weekdays 10 AM – 4 PM and alternative times are available by appointment. Frigibar units, including cockpit freezers are currently on display and available for purchase.

Shuly Oletzky

I want to thank you all for your support over the years. I will remain a part of Frigibar and support the vision Seann has for the future. I am very much looking forward to new product lines and a lot of exciting changes that are on the horizon for the near future. We plan to resume our boat show schedule this year and will be announcing our participation for 2018 shows soon.

Please feel free to contact us at info@frigibar.com, call at 305-757-7697, and visit Frigibar.com for additional information.

Sincerely,

—  Shuly Oletzky, Frigibar, LLC

How Does a Condensing Unit Work in a Marine Refrigeration System?

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Freezers are made for different environments and purposes. In marine refrigeration, units have to be able to perform in a tropical climate, be environment resistant and even rustproof, and be crafted to meet the needs and preferences of the owner, captain, and crew. One of those needs is being able to freeze items solid at an extremely low temperature.

A condensing unit, along with a well-insulated box, thermostat, and properly functioning freezer, can accomplish temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

One of the questions I get when discussing our freezer/refrigerators is, “How does a condensing unit work?”

A function of a condenser is defined as; “In systems involving heat transfer, a condenser is a device or unit used to condense a substance from its gaseous to its liquid state, by cooling it.”

A condensing unit is comprised of all the components required for a refrigeration system to remove heat from the interior of the freezer or refrigerator by putting gas through a meter and into an evaporator. The gas is returned to the condenser which cools the gas, turning it back into a liquid before it is then returned to the compressor to start the process all over again.

Once the temperature inside the box reaches the programmed temperature of the thermostat, the unit stops, and when the temperature returns back above the programmed amount it turns the system back on again. This is the refrigeration system’s cycle.

To simplify, a condensing unit is the heart which makes your freezer or refrigerator work, keeping your food, drinks, or bait cold and fresh so you can enjoy your weekend outing or fishing trip.

Having manufactured handcrafted marine refrigeration systems over forty-five years, we take pride in having informed customers. To help captains, crews, and owners understand their systems better, we provide content on specific aspects of marine refrigeration. What would you like to know more about? Email us your questions at info@frigibar.com.

Frigibar’s Shuly Oletzky Talks Miami Boat Show on Entertaining Business Podcast Episode #176

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In a packed show that includes Valentine’s Day tips, stories, and news, Nora and Jesse welcome Shuly Oletzky of Frigibar Industries to discuss the upcoming Miami International Boat Show. This year’s show will take place February 16 and runs through Monday, February 20, and for the second year, will be in Virginia Key at the Miami Marine Stadium.

Over 1,300 boats will be displayed at the Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show, which is one of the largest boat shows in the world with over 100,000 attendees. Many of the thousands of visitors will be boat and yacht owners and crews, but the event is not just for owners. Asked about who should attend the Miami Boat Show, Oletzky said, “Anybody that likes to fish, kayak, or boat. There are 1100 exhibitors and there is something for everybody.”

Despite the large crowd attending the event, there will be water taxis, buses, and many ways for visitors to attend and get around to the different areas of the show. Visit MiamiBoatShow.com for more information and to get your tickets.

Come and see Shuly Oletzky and the quality marine refrigeration units, dock boxes from Frigibar, and a special creation from Pull Coolers in Tent C at Booth C554 throughout the show. For more information on Frigibar, visit Frigibar.com. Listen to the full episode of Entertaining Business here:

Business Leadership Series Podcast Features Frigibar’s Shuly Oletzky

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Our paths as entrepreneurs, just like our businesses, our unique. While these routes can’t be replicated, there are valuable lessons to learn from the failures, successes, and words of advice from others.

Derek Champagne, CEO of The Artist Evolution and the host of the Business Leadership Series Podcast recently interviewed Frigibar President and SuccessionProof Founder Shuly Oletzky. The podcast focuses on inspiring their audience of entrepreneurs and leaders to be “the best leader (they) can be.”

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In the episode, the two discussed Shuly’s unexpected ownership of the family business (Frigibar Industries, Inc.), relating to customers, succession planning, work-life balance, and more during the 41-minute conversation.

Shuly succeeded her father as the President of Frigibar Industries after Sheldon Oletzky fell ill. With no plan in place or previous discussion of who would take over the business, Shuly left her career in real estate. Five years later, Shuly is the President of Frigibar and sharing her story with others, but there were many hurdles to overcome and help needed along the way.

The biggest piece of help came from her employees, whom she consulted with before deciding to take over the business. “It was an amazing teamwork exercise and experience,” Shuly said. While she gained experience and a stronger connection with her employees from the ordeal, she lost important time that could’ve been spent with her father, began her role at the bottom of a steep learning curve, and the uncertainty and stress of the situation took a toll on the family and employees.

Earlier this year, Shuly applied to share her succession story with the Small Giants Community at their Summit in Denver. “From the speech came the term succession proof, and I went from there,” Shuly, who created SuccessionProof to help other businesses and entrepreneurs avoid succession planning nightmares. Shuly shared the four-step plan, which includes having the conversation, making a plan, teaching and fostering, and being nice. Curious as to why being nice is an important aspect of a succession plan; Derek asked Shuly to elaborate. “My dad was a very well-liked and well-loved person….The connection they had with him transfers into the beginning of their relationship with me. If that’s negative to start with, you’ve got a tough mountain to climb,” explained Shuly.

shuly-quoteThe importance Shuly places on being nice and helping others translates into her philosophy on customer service. “You don’t sell stuff — you create friendships and relationships, and people buy stuff from you,” said Shuly.

“I’m very, very passionate about customer service. I am just as happy to help somebody find the right product even when it’s not ours, because that’s still an experience they have with our company,” said Shuly, who loves the friendly nature of the marine industry. “It’s very social — people in the industry are there because they’re having fun and this makes them happy. It’s fun to be around happy people,” she continued.

The interview concluded with a conversation about content marketing, which Shuly has utilized to her advantage to raise awareness of the handcrafted marine refrigeration products Frigibar manufactures in the U.S. “You have to market. If you don’t market, no one knows you exist,” said Shuly.

Don’t stop here! Read more and listen to the full interview here on TheArtistRevolution.com. Want to hear more from Shuly? Read her work on the Huffington Post business blog.

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.

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.

Frigibar Featured in Yachting Pages Marine Refrigeration Guide Article

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Frigibar and President Shuly Oletzky were recently featured in Yachting Pages article, “Taking care of your marine refrigeration systems.” The guide, written by Luke Wheeler, covers how to avoid the most common yacht refrigeration problems, the importance of servicing systems regularly, and quick marine refrigerator maintenance tips for captains and crews. As Luke points out in the guide along with information from Oletzky, marine refrigeration is one of the most overlooked aspects of yachting.

Luke Wheeler:

“Of all the essential products we use in our lives every day, the refrigerator is one that often gets taken for granted. Being able to go and grab some cold milk for a bowl of cereal isn’t normally something we consider a particular luxury – but when you’re dealing with a broken-down fridge, it quickly becomes one.

The ability to store chilled and frozen goods aboard a superyacht isn’t quite as simple as fitting the same kind of fridge-freezer you’d have in your kitchen at home. In fact, marine refrigeration is quite a specialised field.”

Yachting Pages

Yachting Pages is the world’s leading superyacht directory. Their directories, reviews and guides are trusted around the world by boating enthusiasts, captains, crews, and the entire marine industry.

Read the full article by Luke Wheeler on Yachting-Pages.com here. View Frigibar’s official Yachting Pages page here at: http://www.yachting-pages.com/hvac-refrigeration/frigibar/ms.html.   

Have questions about marine refrigeration? Ask Shuly Oletzky directly by contacting Frigibar at info@Frigibar.com.

 

Frigibar President Shuly Oletzky Featured On Entrepreneur Podcast Network

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Frigibar President Shuly Oletzky joined host Eric Dye on the Entrepreneur Podcast Network to discuss personal, business branding and relationship building. Here is the full transcript of the interview.

Frigibar Featured on Entrepreneur Podcast Network

Eric Dye: Frigibar is in Marine Refrigeration, which sounds like a very niche industry. How does Frigibar stand out in the industry?

Shuly Oletzky: “Frigibar has been around for about 45 years, and one of the things that we do to stand out in our industry is to provide exceptional quality products for our customers that not only enhance their lifestyle out on the water, but also helps them solve common problems that they come up against on their vessel.”

ED: Being an entrepreneur for you is about more than just running a business. You write for the Huffington Post business blog, exhibit at boat shows, go to networking events and conferences. Why are these types of efforts important for entrepreneurs?

SO: “You have to let people know that you’re out there. Getting out there, getting to trade shows, writing articles that are important to your consumers and partners — let’s them know that you exist. This is key in making sure that your business survives.

It also helps me meet new people and collaborate on new ideas and opportunities. In addition to that, I’ve found a lot of mentors by going to different events and conferences that have helped me in my business. “

ED: With a luxury product, something at the top price point in the market, how do you approach customer service and why is this extremely important for a luxury product?

SO: “Customer service is important because it makes people feel special. It makes them feel like you care, not only about their problems, but about their best interests. We provide customer service to a level that if we’re not the best product of fit for them, we will help them find that best product or fit for them.

We also know that there are a lot of companies out there that don’t provide customer service. We’re happy to do it because in addition to making people feel good, it also helps build our relationships with our customers.”

ED: For something like a refrigerator or freezer, how can you demonstrate it’s value over a product less than half of the price?

SO: “Consumer education is extremely important. Helping the consumers to understand why our products are different and why it’s specifically designed to be in the environment in which they’re in. Being on a boat is much different than being on land, and we build a product that accommodates that.

For example, we have a customer that is very hard on our units. We do our best to learn what it is that they need, and accommodate them by altering the products. They know that the general refrigerator that they can buy at a store won’t stand up.

That’s one of the things that we can also do for our customers, is customizing the products to meet the exact qualifications for their needs.”

ED: Partnerships are something valuable to every entrepreneur on the planet. Can you detail how you go about forming partnerships with other businesses and some tips for our audience of entrepreneurs?

SO: “I have to like the people I work with. Making sure that we get along, that we have some synchronicity, and that we can benefit from knowing and working with each other is key. When developing partnerships and relationships with other businesses, it’s important not only to complement our business, but hopefully give them some value as well.”

Listen to the full episode here on the Entrepreneur Podcast Network

Concluding Tip

SO: “One tip that I like to share with entrepreneurs is to write thank you notes. People don’t write many thank you notes anymore. When you can share with a customer that not only did you value the time that they took to spend with you to learn about whatever product or service that you had to offer them, but that you remembered speaking with them and that you were there to help them when they are ready.

Be very careful to not try to sell in your thank you note. Thank you notes are just about being gracious and showing your gratitude for the fact that they took the time to inquire.”

About Shuly Oletzky:

Shuly is the President of Frigibar Industries, Inc., America’s foremost manufacturer of quality marine refrigeration products, including fiberglass cockpit freezers and refrigerators, deck and dock boxes, ice chests and refrigeration kits for boats and yachts. Frigibar is a family-owned company that has been serving the Miami, Florida community and beyond for over 40 years. Shuly also serves on the Board of Directors for Easter Seals Florida, is the Co-Vice Chair of Easter Seals Get Down to Business Lunch in Palm Beach, Boat Show Committee Member for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), and is an alumni of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Businesses program and Leadership Palm Beach County (LPBC).

Learn more about Shuly Oletzky at ShareIdeaswithPurpose.com

 

 

 

What I Enjoy Most About Being an Entrepreneur: Shuly Oletzky

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Being an entrepreneur is not an easy job, but it is a rewarding one. For Shuly Oletzky, entrepreneurship runs in her family. After taking over the business from her father in late 2010, Shuly has used her outgoing personality and resolve to overcome obstacles, create strong partnerships, and further the Frigibar, and her family’s, legacy.

We asked Shuly what she enjoys most about being an entrepreneur.

“I love ideas. I think everything starts with ideas. Being an entrepreneur allows me to pursue so many different kinds of ideas. Having the platform of my business gives me ideas to pursue certain things and go in different directions with my company, whether it’s new products, assisting a customer, or bringing something to the market that there’s a need for. All of those come from ideas from conversations with people or something I come across myself going “gee, why doesn’t that exist?”

Being an entrepreneur gives me a platform to exercise those. I like to collaborate, I’m naturally curious. So when I have an idea, I kind of take off running. Some people tell me I’m like an advertisement sometimes when I’m sharing things I get really excited.

When you find an idea that works and you talk to people about it and they start to get excited, and then you get the right people together, the things that it can turn into are extraordinary.

Being an entrepreneur allows me to create and to see my ideas come to fruition.”

About Frigibar Industries, Inc.

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Frigibar Industries, Inc. is one of the longest established manufacturers of marine refrigeration. Frigibar was started in 1971 by Founder and President Sheldon Oletzky, a twenty-one year veteran of the United States Navy and experienced aerospace engineer. In 2011, Sheldon’s daughter Shuly Oletzky took on the role of CEO and President of Frigibar and strives to grow the company’s legacy of providing the best in marine refrigeration. These freezers have taken on a secondary meaning; on-deck fiberglass freezers are referred to by boat builders and owners worldwide as Frigibars. Frigibar provides hand-crafted, marine refrigeration systems of the highest quality.

Frigibar Marine Refrigeration Products Now Available on SailorSams.com

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Established in 2003, SailorSams made a name for themselves by carving out a niche within the marine industry by specializing in selling 12v LED boat lights online. SailorSams is now a full marine retailer, carrying both common staples of the industry and exclusive partnerships and luxury products. “SailorSams has some products that everybody has, but we’re always looking for unique quality products — and Frigibar is certainly that,” says SailorSams’ Kyle Mosher.

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SailorSams has partnered with Frigibar Industries to provide the manufacturer’s boat and yacht refrigerators, freezers, and boxes to their wide base of customers. The Frigibar name has been synonymous with the highest quality marine refrigeration products for boats, yachts, docks and more for nearly 45 years. Asked why SailorSams is partnering with Frigibar, Mosher said, “Because there’s nothing else like it…I like finding things that are the best. Frigibar is hands-down the best in what they do.”

Frigibar’s products will be showcased in product pages on SailorSams.com. The Frigibar Captain Cockpit Refrigerator and Freezer is currently available at a discount and comes with several customization options to allow boat owners to best accommodate their boating adventures.

While SailorSams is primarily known as an online retailer, they and Frigibar have similar philosophies on creating personal relationships with customers, which requires in-person connections. “We work on creating real relationships that expand far outside of just our online presence. We exhibit at boat and trade shows and connect with customers to find out what they need and how we can fill that need within the marine industry,” says Mosher.

Asked why he’s passionate about the industry, Mosher replied, “I love the marine industry, and I love boating. I spend most of my summers out on the water. Since getting involved with SailorSams, I’ve been able to build some great relationships, like that with Frigibar President Shuly Oletzky.” Mosher and Oletzky were recently both exhibitors at the 2016 Miami International Boat Show at Miami Marine Stadium along with hundreds of exhibitors and over 100,000 boating enthusiasts. “The marine industry feels like a family. Primarily, we’re dealing with a fun industry created by people who are passionate about having a good time,” says Mosher.

Future opportunities for the partnership include making additional Frigibar products available to SailorSams audience, including deck boxes, dock boxes, fish boxes, and other refrigerator and freezer options.