Frigibar Exhibiting at Refit International 2016 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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The Refit International Exhibition and Conference, taking place January 28-29 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, is a new trade event from Professional BoatBuilder Magazine. The show will start a day after the International Marina and Boatyard Conference, also held in Ft. Lauderdale.

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Refitting is the process of updating a used boat or yacht to fit the wants and needs of current or future owners. Refitting can include repairing, restoring, mending, and completely renovating a vessel. The Refit International Exhibition and Conference was created to share ideas, information and resources on boat refitting.

The two-day event runs concurrently with an exhibition area, which will include marine refrigeration manufacturer Frigibar Industries, Inc. and is free to attend. The exhibitors will give attendees, including boat builders and enthusiasts, an opportunity to meet with many companies that can help them with projects and restoration. “We want to make sure boat yards and boat builders know that we have products and services that can help them during the refit. We can do custom jobs for refits as well,” says Frigibar President Shuly Oletzky.

Manufacturing marine refrigeration products in Miami, Florida for over fifty years, many boats and yachts around the world proudly utilize Frigibar cockpit freezers, deck boxes, and more, many of which several decades old. Frigibar will discuss how to properly care for units, restore and fix them with the crews and builders at the show. “There are a lot of boatyards in the area that might not be aware that we do more than aftermarket products. We can help them to design and build a custom solution,” says Oletzky.

Not having a retail space, boat shows provide an excellent opportunity for builders and boat owners to meet with Shuly Oletzky and experience Frigibar freezers and refrigerators in person. “I love meeting boat owners and builders to network with and learn about their vessels,” says Oletzky, who learned about the event from US Superyacht Association (USSA) Association Manager Kitty McGowan. Shuly continued, “we invite attendees to come and visit us at Booth 229, and are really looking forward to the show!”

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and like our Facebook page to keep updated throughout the year and see what we’re up to.

Frigibar to Participate in 11th Annual St. Maarten Captain’s Briefing and Golf Outing

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January 25-26, Frigibar will participate in the 2016 USSA St. Maarten Captains Briefing and Golf Outing. The event will center around the superyacht industry, which is a $26B industry worldwide, and the current opportunities and issues related to it. Some of the world’s top Captains and Senior Crew members will participate in the event’s activities and will be available to network with.

This will be Frigibar’s first year participating in the event, and President Shuly Oletzky is excited about the opportunity to learn first-hand from the superyacht captains and their staffs who will be in attendance. “I’m really looking forward to having the opportunity to meet these captains and their Senior Crew members. While exhibiting in the superyacht pavilion at the METSTRADE tradeshow in Amsterdam this past November, I learned a lot about the superyacht industry and how our company can properly serve them. I’m interested in spending some time with the captains and crews, getting to know the other sponsors involved in the event, and having the opportunity to visit some clients while on the island,” said Oletzky.

st-marteenThe two-day event includes networking opportunities, captain’s round table breakfast, pick-up rugby, beach games, a golf outing, awards, and more. For a full schedule of events and to register to participate, visit the registration page here, or contact Kitty McGowan of the U.S. Superyacht Association at 954-608-6966. Email: info@ussuperyacht.com.

About Frigibar Industries, Inc.

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.

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and like our Facebook page to keep updated throughout the year and see what we’re up to.

How Frigibar Approaches Customer Service

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“You’ve reached the wrong department, let me transfer you to someone who can help.”

“But I’ve already been transferred five times,” you say as you’re ready to cancel your service or return a product because of bad customer service. We’ve all been there before.

In January, President Shuly Oletzky published an article on customer service on the Huffington Post Business Blog titled “Using Customer Service as a Competitive Advantage: 5 Ways to Help Customers Love You.” In the article, Shuly explains her frustration with companies that avoid using customer service as a competitive advantage for their business. “There’s a big issue when it comes to customer service — many companies simply don’t provide it…,” says Oletzky.

“As a business or entrepreneur, if you truly care about your customers and their experiences with your company, customer service should be at the top of your ‘important things to do’ list, and not approached like an afterthought,” says Oletzky, who feels excellent customer service is just as important as providing a high-quality product. “Good service makes people feel important and valued. Keeping customers happy isn’t rocket science. It does take time and will cost money, but the return is what keeps you in business.”

Delivery of two new Frigibar freezer/refrigerators

Satisfied Frigibar Customers


Customer service means something different for each business. For Frigibar, it can mean driving several hours to inspect a Frigibar Freezer that may need maintenance, or personally delivering a new refrigerator unit to a new customer. The image above was taken after Shuly Oletzky drove to Marco Island (roughly two hours away from Miami) to meet with new customers and hand-deliver their new freezers.

Frigibar works with each person we come into contact with as if they are a customer we’ve known for decades; putting their needs first, even if that means referring them to a different company to find their perfect solution. “If another product on the market suits their needs better, I’ll refer them elsewhere without hesitation. Exceptional customer service includes being a good resource and looking out for your customer’s best interest no matter what. Just because someone may not be the right customer today, doesn’t mean they won’t be in the future.”

Read “Using Customer Service as a Competitive Advantage: 5 Ways to Help Customers Love You” on the Huffington Post Business Blog here!

Whether you’re looking for a fish box for your competitive fishing team’s boat, a cockpit refrigerator/freezer, or something completely different, we invite you to contact Frigibar. We are happy to help.

9th Annual Get Down to Business Lunch January 20th to Benefit Easter Seals Florida

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Get Down to Business Lunch Easter Seals West Palm Beach

The 9th Annual Get Down to Business Lunch, presented by The Breakers Palm Beach to benefit Easter Seals, will take place on January 20 at the Kravis Center Cohen Pavilion will feature bestselling author and leadership speaker Mark Sanborn to speak to the entrepreneurs and business professionals in attendance.

The 9th Annual Get Down to Business Lunch, presented by The Breakers Palm Beach to benefit Easter Seals, will take place on January 20 at the Kravis Center Cohen Pavilion. will feature bestselling author and leadership speaker Mark Sanborn to speak to the entrepreneurs and business professionals in attendance.

The 9th Annual Get Down to Business Lunch, presented by The Breakers Palm Beach to benefit Easter Seals, will take place on January 20th at the Kravis Center Cohen Pavilion. This year’s event will feature bestselling author and leadership speaker Mark Sanborn to speak to the entrepreneurs and business professionals in attendance.

Frigibar President Shuly Oletzky, who also serves on the Easter Seals Florida Board, has spent the past 15 years involved in the organization and related events. “I was originally just asked to help out with the organization fifteen years ago. I was amazed at the passion and good-hearted nature of the people that were and the good work they do. I immediately fell in love with Easter Seals and have been involved and a passionate supporter ever since,” says Oletzky, who has been involved in the Get Down to Business Lunch event since its inception nine years ago.

The annual event includes a VIP event the night before the lunch and a full luncheon the following day. The event relies on sponsorships and event tickets to help raise funds for Easter Seals Florida programming. “The lunch gives entrepreneurs, business professionals and philanthropists an opportunity to network, cross promote, share ideas, and most importantly, support an excellent cause,” says Oletzky.

According to Heather R. Weisbrod, Easter Seals Florida Director of Special Events, the event has been a significant contributor of funding for the organization. “Over the past eight years, the event has raised more than a half-million dollars which directly supports the local programs of the Igoe-Amar Child Development Center, providing services for children with developmental disabilities and delays.” Out of that more than $500,000 raised, 91 cents of every dollar is spent directly supporting West Palm Beach area programs.

“We are thrilled that this event continues to draw a sellout audience of business executives and young professionals working together to lead Palm Beach County in best practices of social and philanthropic responsibility within our community,” says Weisbrod.

Tickets to the event are still available and can be purchased online. To sponsor the event or to inquire about opportunities to get involved, please contact Heather R. Weisbrod at 561.471.1688 ext. 133 or email at hweisbrod@fl.easterseals.com. For more information on Easter Seals Florida, please visit EasterSeals.com/Florida.

About Frigibar Industries, Inc.

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 President Shuly Oletzky Featured in Huffington Post

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Frigibar Industries, Inc. President Shuly Oletzky is a passionate entrepreneur and philanthropist who took over the family business from her father, Sheldon Oletzky, in late 2010. After over 40 years providing quality marine refrigeration products manufactured in America, Frigibar is the most trusted and reliable brand of refrigerators and freezers that travel on-board vessels of all shapes and sizes around the world.

When Shuly isn’t helping customers enjoy their lifestyle out on the water, she’s travelling, learning from others, building relationships, and volunteering in the community, including serving on the Board of Directors for Easter Seals Florida, who are hosting the “Get Down to Business Lunch” on January 20th in West Palm Beach.  Shuly is also a 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).

As an alumni of the program hosted by Goldman Sachs, Shuly has the opportunity to submit articles to the Huffington Post. Over the past four months, Shuly has been featured on the Huffington Post small business blog three times. Here are the featured pieces and a short description of each.

–       7 Reasons to Plan for Succession in Your Business Today

Shuly highlights the importance of succession planning and seven reasons business owners and entrepreneurs should start planning for succession as soon as possible.

“When transitioning to President of Frigibar Industries, Inc., our family business for over 40 years, there was no succession plan. Instead of being able to jump into the position and begin working on building the company, several months were spent putting processes into place, organizing documents, and learning how things were done in the past — all of which could’ve been done months or years earlier.”

–       10 Tips to Turn In-Person Events into a Secret Weapon for Your Business

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In-person events have been one of the most beneficial activities to both Frigibar and the growth of Shuly as a business owner. From forming new partnerships to meeting new mentors, each event has brought value back to her and the business. This article covers 10 ways any business owner can turn an event into value.

–       Booth Tips: 9 Ways to Make the Most Out of Your Appearance at a Trade Show

Without a retail space, Frigibar relies on boat shows to give customers and partners access to freezer and refrigerator units. Shuly shares her advice to other entrepreneurs and sales professionals on how to get the most value out of appearing at a trade show or conference.

“To help you make the most out of exhibiting at a show without regretting your investment, here are nine ways to get more out of your next event or trade show, created with the help of one of the many valuable connections and friends I’ve made at an Inc. event, Nuphoriq Co-Founder and CCO Jamie Pritscher.”

To connect with Shuly, follow her on LinkedIn, Twitter, or email her at Shuly.Oletzky@Frigibar.com.

Happy New Year from Frigibar Industries, Inc.!

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Happy New Year! I want to thank you so much for being part of our business. Whether you’re a customer, partner, employee, friend, or just like to read our blog, I want to personally thank you on behalf of our family. Since taking over the business from my father Sheldon Oletzky in late 2010, I’ve been overwhelmed by the help and patronage both the business and our team has received. We would not be where we are today without your support. Heading into our 45th year, we look forward to serving you in the New Year and beyond to the high level of service and quality expected from the Frigibar brand.
2015 was an exciting and rewarding year for the Frigibar team. We love receiving annual family letters at the end of each year, so we decided to do one and share with you; where we have been this year, what we are doing, to thank you for your continued support, and to let you know why we’re so excited about 2016.

2015 Highlights

Boat Shows

Frigibar Booth at MIBS 2016

Frigibar at MIBS 2016

Since our family began this journey over forty years ago, boat shows have played a very important part in our business. Shows give us a chance to interact in-person with customers and partners, and give others the opportunity to see and touch our products. In 2015, we exhibited at five shows, including:

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Outside of the shows we were able to physically participate in, due to our partnerships with other companies, Frigibar units were displayed at several additional shows, including the Palm Beach International Boat Show, New England Boat Show in Boston, Providence Boat Show, and the Bay Bridge Boat Show in Annapolis, Maryland.

Featured in…

2015 was a great year for spreading our message and products throughout the industry and beyond in publications and advertisements. We were featured in Southern Boating Magazine with an advertisement and product feature. You can also find us online and in the upcoming print version of Yachting Pages.

We have shared our insight about relevant business topics on the Huffington Post Business Blog thanks to our involvement with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, which I completed last year. We have published three articles aimed at providing actionable advice for entrepreneurs. We enjoyed writing these articles and were thrilled to see one of them re-published on The Hartford’s website. Additional articles are in the works for next year. If you are interested in contributing, I welcome you to email our content manager, Michael Luchies at content@aquaair.com. Here are the three published articles from this year:

Frigibar Blog

We’ve designed our blog to provide you with relevant information on topics that add value to our readers. All in the past year, we’ve featured industry experts, fishing teams, boat-builders, yacht brokers, event directors, and several of our partners. At the urging of our team, I even discussed my passion for boat shows. We’d love if you took a look at our blog and read a couple of the articles we created just for you. If there is a topic that is of interest and you would like to learn more about, email us at content@aquaair.com and we will work on providing it.

Partnerships

2015 saw several new partnerships, including working with Yacht Equipment & Parts, and Whiticar Boat Works in Stuart, Florida to showcase Frigibar units. We also expanded our presence in the Northeast through our relationship with Island and Harbor Sales. For partnership inquiries, please contact us at shuly77@gmail.com.

Fishing Teams

We are so proud of our 2 spectacular fishing teams that we sponsored this year. Team Tito’s Fishing Team helped us start the year off right, hosting a special Tito’s Vodka tasting reception at our booth at the Miami International Boat show. The team had tremendous success with their Memorial Day family event and fishing tournament “The Downtown Showdown KDW” in West Palm Beach, Florida, which resulted in a 5-figure donation to Lauren’s Kids. Mark your calendars for May 20-21, 2016 for their 2nd Annual event and we will see you there!

Liquid Fire Fishing Team

The Liquid Fire Fishing Team and Frigibar President Shuly Oletzky

Liquid Fire Fishing Team received their custom Frigibar dunnage box for their Intrepid Powerboats 375 Center Console and traveled a good part of the year to numerous tournaments and events. Liquid Fire also spent a good portion of their time sharing knowledge through their fishing schools held around the country and you can see their upcoming schedule here. They had a fantastic finish to the year earning 1st Place in the Swansboro Five-0 King Mackerel Tournament and 3rd Place in the US Open King Mackerel Tournament. Read our interview with team captain Mark Henderson.

Why We’re Excited About 2016!

We have a lot of things to be thankful for and many opportunities to pursue in the New Year. Here are three of the things we’re looking forward to in 2016:

  • Expansion of online product availability
  • Partner acquisition and forming new relationships along with expanding existing partnerships Nationally and Internationally
  • New product development

Where we will be in the 1st Quarter of 2016

With any of our events, feel free to contact us ahead of time if you would like to schedule a time to meet with us or just stop on by. You can keep tabs on where we will be by visiting our events page which is updated with our upcoming event schedule and overviews of the fun stuff we do.

Thank you for an amazing 2015. We welcome you to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and like our Facebook page to keep updated throughout the year and see what we’re up to.

Our mailing address has changed, so please make sure to update your records: Frigibar Industries, Inc. 3324 NW South River Drive, Miami, Florida 33142.

Wishing you a very Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New Year from our family to yours!

  • Shuly Oletzky, Frigibar President & the Frigibar Family

Frigibar Freezer Units to be Displayed at Stuart Boat Show with Whiticar Boat Works Partnership

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STUART, FL, Dec. 22, 2015 — Frigibar Industries Inc., America’s foremost manufacturer of quality marine refrigeration products, and Whiticar Boat Works have partnered to bring the best in boat and yacht freezers and refrigerators to Stuart, Florida.

Frigibar Marine Refrigeration Unit

Frigibar is a staple at boat shows and marine industry events across the nation. Without a retail storefront, these events serve as a unique opportunity for boat and yacht customers to experience the quality of a Frigibar freezer.

As the largest boat show on the Treasure Coast, the Stuart Boat Show, now in its 42nd year, brings nearly 200 exhibitors, $100 million dollars in boats and marine products, and thousands of people together for a great three-day event. Taking place January 15-18 in Stuart, Florida, the show will feature motor yachts, cruisers, center consoles, speed boats, sport fishing boats, pontoon and personal watercrafts.

Whiticar Boat Works is the exclusive Frigibar dealer in Martin County, allowing local boaters to touch and feel what Frigibar has to offer. Asked why they partnered with Frigibar, a Whiticar representative stated, “We as a group feel their quality and long-standing market presence are the main reasons we recommend them and are proud to represent their product. We also appreciate the fact that they are “locally” made and customizable!”

The Stuart Boat Show will be located at 54 N. Dixie Hwy., Stuart, FL. There will be free parking, water taxi and shuttle service available at specified locations in downtown Stuart. Tickets are $12 for General Admission, $10 for seniors over 65, and tickets for Veterans and children (12 and under) and only $5. For more information on the Stuart Boat Show, visit: http://www.allsportsproductions.net/stuart-boat-show/   

About Frigibar Industries, Inc.

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.

About Whiticar Boat Works

Based out of Stuart, Florida, Whiticar Boat Works has been in the boat business for over 70 years, and is known for providing only the best in boating and yachting. With an average of 28 years of experience among their talented staff, they provide the most dedicated and versatile services with what they call “white glove treatment.”

 

METSTRADE 2015: Marine Trade Show Recap

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Frigibar President Shuly Oletzky has returned from Amsterdam after traveling to and exhibiting at METSTRADE 2015, the world’s largest marine equipment trade show. The show, which took place November 17-19 featured over 1,300 exhibitors from over 40 countries showcasing their products throughout nearly two-dozen pavilions. According to Boating Industry, overall attendance at METSTRADE 2015 was up 5.7 percent from 2014, which is a new record for the event.

METSTRADEThis show was the first METSTRADE event for Oletzky and a truly unique experience. When asked how this show was different from the 100 or so she’s attended in the past, Oletzky said, “One of the biggest differences of this show outside of being in Amsterdam, which was amazing, is that this was a business-to-business show and not aimed at end-users like at the other shows we participate in.” At METS she got access to meet partners and companies from around the world that she may not have been able to otherwise.

“Businesses in this industry truly understand the product — they want a way to contact you in the future, learn how to partner together, and begin a conversation on how a relationship can be mutually beneficial.” There are businesses at every show, but the atmosphere of this show was unlike that of consumer-focused shows. “I think the focus of the attendees is much different because there is a big emphasis on networking and improving and growing their business.”

One of the highlights was meeting the founders of a company in Greece that frequently works with Frigibar freezers while doing maintenance and repairs. “Having the opportunity to understand how a completely different market perceives our products and how they perform in a different part of the world was extremely valuable information,” said Oletzky. Although many stopped by, the entrepreneurs and executives in attendance moved quickly as most of them had an agenda and specific strategies when maneuvering around the show.

Asked for her favorite part of the experience at the show, Oletzky said, “the access I had to meet representatives from the US Department of Commerce located in Europe. I had a few opportunities to spend some time with them and learn about the European market. The education I received from them was really valuable.”

When attending an event for the first time, it can be hard to know what to expect, but Oletzky felt right at home. “I didn’t know what to expect because it was my first year, and I was extremely surprised with how much support I received while at the show. As soon as I found my booth on set-up day my freight forwarder was there to confirm the delivery of our showpiece. Shortly following, my contact from Enterprise Florida stopped by and assisted me in getting acclimated. Within the next 20 minutes the North America sales representative from the RAI was also at the booth to check in on things. It was very comforting and helpful to have all of this support,” says Oletzky.

Frigibar and Shuly Oletzky will now take a short break from attending shows before gearing up for the Miami International Boat Show in early February (February 11-15).

Don’t miss an update! Follow Frigibar onTwitter, Instagram and Facebook to see what we’re up to, news updates, new products, and more.

 

 

#FLIBS2015 Boat Show Recap: Thank You Fort Lauderdale! 

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After five days of fun (November 5-9), the 2015 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) is over. FLIBS is the world’s largest in-water boat show. Thousands of exhibitors and approximately 100,000 attendees took away memories and possibly even a boat or accessory with them.

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Booth Frigibar

Even after over a dozen FLIBS’ as an attendee and exhibitor, Frigibar President Shuly Oletzky couldn’t have had a better time at this year’s event. “It was a great show! The weather was great (for the most part), there were fantastic receptions, and once again, the show was even better than I had imagined.”

Asked about her favorite part of FLIBS 2015, Shuly said, “My favorite part is seeing our customers and meeting new ones. I love seeing all the people who knew my dad and tell me stories about how they used to work with him. Other favorite encounters are when customers share how well their (Frigibar freezer/refrigerator) units are still working 20-30 years after purchasing.”

This year Shuly will exhibit at six shows around the world, but FLIBS is a unique show. “I love this show because it’s consistently great and the whole community comes out to support it. The show is well laid out, easy to get around, and there is everything you’d want to do or see at a boat show.”

One of the unexpected bonuses of attending shows is that you never know who you might run into and the relationships you may form. When asked about the most memorable moment of the show, Shuly shared this story:

“I met a friend who I had only previously spoke to on the phone. We were introduced about a year ago when she moved from California to South Florida and was looking to get back into the marine industry. A few months back I introduced her to a female captain who is a friend and customer of mine. I felt it was beneficial for them to know each other and hoped it would be a good connection between them. My friend from California came to FLIBS and surprised me with a visit! I was so excited to finally meet her and took advantage of the fact that the Captain I had introduced her to was at the show. They got to meet in person for the first time too. This is a perfect example of how unexpected opportunities arise at events like these. If you ever wonder how memorable and valuable boat shows can be, this experience sums it up.”

Shuly didn’t take much time to relax before leaving the following week for METSTRADE, the world’s largest marine equipment trade show, held in Amsterdam November 17-19. Stay tuned for a recap of this event as well. Follow Frigibar on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to see what we’re up to, news updates, new products, and more.

 

Frigibar: As Seen in Southern Boating Magazine

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Founded in 1972, Southern Boating Magazine is a privately owned boating publication that aims to bring the best in boating lifestyle to you. Boating life is about leisure, luxury, and safety — three characteristics that stay true to Frigibar Industries’ brand as the leading manufacturer of quality marine refrigeration products.

Frigibar in Southern Boating Magazine

Frigibar was featured in the July 2015 issue of Southern Boating Magazine, and will also be featured in an upcoming product spotlight. Frigibar is proud to support media publications like Southern Boating Magazine that share tips, news, events, and other resources with the boating and yachting communities.

For more information on Southern Boating Magazine, visit SouthernBoating.com.

Looking for more great resources like Southern Boating Magazine? Visit Frigibar’s full boating and yachting resource list.