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Why should a boat or yacht owner consider going with a Frigibar marine freezer system?

For over 40 years, Frigibar Industries, Inc. has provided the marine industry with the highest quality marine refrigeration systems. Based out of Miami, Florida, all freezer and refrigerator units are manufactured in America and are handcrafted.

As a boat or yacht owner, you know that your vessel isn’t just a toy, it’s an investment. Each aspect of your boat either adds to its value and your enjoyment or takes away from it. Here at Frigibar, we’re dedicated to adding to the value of your boat and making each and every trip better so you can enhance your life on the water.

Why Buy a Frigibar?

When asked why a boat or yacht owner should consider a Frigibar marine freezer system, Frigibar President Shuly Oletzky replied:

“Boat owners should consider our systems because they are very unique and will give you safe cold storage space outside of a typical application, like in a galley or under a cabinet. It provides a lot of flexibility.

When you choose a unit that goes outside, there are a few things to consider, and one of them is — was it designed to be outside?

Our units are designed to be in that environment, which I think is one of the key reasons to consider something like our freezers.”

See for yourself! View the Frigibar product catalog here.

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Have a question, contact a Frigibar representative today to get the answers you’re looking for. Call Frigbar at 305-757-7697, or email us at info@Frigibar.com.

Trip Necessities: 5 Things to Keep in Your Boat’s Freezer On a Long Trip

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We’ve all been on vacations where something doesn’t go as planned. It’s almost part of the experience — the realization that exciting things, either for better or worse, are bound to happen. When out on the water for days or weeks at a time, there’s nothing fun about something going wrong.

Whether for comfort or survival, there are several things you should always keep in your boat’s freezer when taking a long trip. Here are five items to not leave your dock or marina without.

Ice Packs

The most obvious item you should always keep in your vessel’s freezer is an ice pack (or several). Ice packs are the duct tape of the frozen world — they can be used for nearly anything. From icing a bump on your head to cooling down something that’s overheated to adding extra depth to your freezer to keep it cold in case power goes out, ice packs are a must.

Extra Tip: Consider bringing along a couple of different sizes of ice packs, especially if you have achy joints. Like Band-Aids, different sizes of ice packs can be useful when icing different body parts and items.

Bread

Bread can keep for weeks in a freezer. It can be toasted in a few seconds to make toast, or thawed out for sandwiches. If the power goes out on your boat or you end up getting lost, bread kept in a freezer will remain safe to eat longer than nearly any other non-canned food.

Extra Tip: Use sliced bread rather than whole loaves to allow for easy cutting and defrosting.

Frozen Fruit

Slip in a drink, make a smoothie, nibble on as a snack, or use as your source of needed vitamins, fruits frozen safely are always good to have on hand. Frozen fruit can last in a freezer 6-9 months. If preparing your own fruit to freeze instead of purchasing pre-packed frozen fruit, make sure to do it properly (here’s how!).

Extra Tip: Make sure to give your fruit enough time to freeze properly before spoiling. Also, keep in mind that fruits will lose nutrients when frozen, so if using solely for nutrition, it is best to keep them fresh, not frozen.

Proteins

Proteins have a stabilizing effect on blood sugar. Being cranky because of low blood sugar is only going to make a bad situation worse, and can turn a great trip into a frustrating one.

Whatever your favorite proteins are: cheeses, meats, nuts, or other, their benefits will keep you energized and your immune system protected. Make sure to store more than enough for your trip in the case that it runs longer than expected.

Extra Tip: Bring along at least some proteins that are pre-cooked or do not need a heat source in order to be consumed.

Bottles of Water

A weathered and hot plastic bottle of water when you’re thirsty isn’t an attractive option. Frozen bottles of water can serve as emergency ice packs and will also still be safe to drink once the ice melts, giving you something cold to drink and keeping at least a portion of your bottles of water out of the heat and away from the sun.

Extra Tip: Always keep bottles of water that are not stored in the freezer in a safe and cool location.

Since many of these are about survival, also make sure to bring things like trail mix, beef jerky and protein bars, which will keep for weeks and have the protein your body needs. For more on the best foods to stock for survival, check out Best Foods to Stockpile for an Emergency.

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

small-giants

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

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

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

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

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

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.

shuly-and-sailorsams

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.

2016 Miami International Boat Show Experience Recap: Frigibar Industries

The 75th Miami International Boat Show is over, but we’ll be enjoying the experiences, connections, and memories from the show for years to come. This year’s show, which took place February 11-15, marked the 50th year Frigibar took part in the event as an exhibitor. According to the Miami Herald, over 1,200 new boats were on display and over 100,000 attendees were expected for the five-day show.

Frigibar was in Booth 554 in Tent C, right next to Brownie’s Yacht Diver. “They were great booth neighbors and brought a crowd to the area,” said Oletzky.

Brownie's Yacht Diver Booth

On the Friday of the show, the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Fishing Team stopped by the Frigibar booth to host a small reception to raise money for their charity, Southern Fishing Charities. What was planned to be an hour and a half gathering lasted over three hours and turned into a highlight of the show for many. The reception received a surprise visit from NMMA President Thom Dammrich, Outdoor Channel reality star Carter Andrews of The Obsession of Carter Andrews, and many others. The event raised $500 for the charity and was something exhibitors and attendees talked about for days afterward.

Liquid Fire Fishing Team

The Liquid Fire Fishing Team and Frigibar President Shuly Oletzky

The booth also got a visit from the red-hot Liquid Fire Fishing Team. The team was recently named the sports story of the year by the Tideland News. Read more about Liquid Fire and their great team in our interview with team captain Mark Henderson.

“This was a spectacular event, and we’re glad we were able to be a part of it. It’s hard to imagine all of the hard work that was done behind the scenes to pull this off just 16 months after it was first announced that the event would be coming to Miami Marine Stadium,” said Oletzky. The stadium was last used in 1992 and was renovated to bring the Miami Boat Show to the venue for its first event in over 20 years.

The venue did not disappoint. “My favorite aspect of this year’s show is that we were actually on the water! It felt like a real Florida boat show where everyone could enjoy the beautiful views of the beach, and the boats were in the water. It was something missing from previous shows and it added a special element to this year’s show,” said Oletzky.

There were many other firsts experienced by attendees and exhibitors at this year’s show. Organizers invested in free land and water shuttle services for attendees and there were over 10,000 available parking spaces. “There was a relaxed feel to the whole event even with it being so busy. The show was easy to navigate, there were tons of food options, and the NMMA (National Marine Manufacturers Association) staff was working directly with exhibitors and attendees to quickly help when any help was needed. The show got better each day,” said Oletzky.

During a pre-event interview on AM 880 The Biz, which aired Tuesday, February 9, Cathy Rick-Joule, NMMA Vice President of the Miami Boat Show said, “We believe we’ve found the future home of the boat show for many, many, many years to come at Miami Marine Stadium Park and Basin.” We’re excited to see how the show takes advantage of the great space and location Miami Marine Stadium provides.

NMMA Vice President Cathy Rick-Joule announced her retirement at the show. “Cathy means so much to me and is the reason I’m so involved in the show. She’s caring and thoughtful, and really helped in my transition to President of Frigibar and making sure our family-owned business would still be involved in the Miami Show, there are no words to express my gratitude for her guidance and friendship over the years.” said Oletzky. Rick-Joule will provide guidance in a consulting role to ensure a smooth transition going forward. Frigibar would like to thank Rick-Joule for her support and amazing work with the NMMA and Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show.

Next up, Frigibar President Shuly Oletzky will be visiting the 31st Annual Palm Beach International Boat Show (March 17-20). After exhibiting for the five-day Miami show, Shuly will be able to speak with exhibitors and attendees at the show as an attendee herself. “The Palm Beach Show is such a fun show and will be a great time. It’s always great to exhibit at a show, but this will be a refreshing opportunity to get out from behind the booth and network with all of the exhibitors and see the whole show,” said Oletzky.

“If you didn’t get a chance to come this year, come next year (to the Miami Beach International Boat Show). It’s only going to get better,” said Oletzky to end our post-event interview. Dates for the 2017 Miami International Boat Show have not yet been released. Follow the show on Facebook for updates and news.

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

Discussing the Miami International Boat Show on AM 880 THE BIZ Entertaining Business with Frigibar & NMMA

“The 75th Anniversary of the Miami International Boat Show has a new home – back in Miami where it started in 1941,” said Cathy Rick-Joule, VP of the Miami International Boat Show for the NMMA (National Marine Manufacturers Association). The show was previously located at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Rick-Joule and Frigibar President and NMMA member Shuly Oletzky joined Nora Adler and Jesse Stolow on AM 880 The BizEntertaining Business to talk about the upcoming Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show. Listen to the full interview here:

“We’re gearing up for the Miami International Boat Show, which is a consumer show. We’re looking forward to having the opportunity to meet with our customers to have them have a hands on opportunity to touch, feel, and see our products,” said Oletzky. When asked to explain what her company does, she said, “Frigibar Industries is the manufacturer of fiberglass marine refrigeration equipment. We make freezers, refrigerators. We also do dry storage options (including) dock boxes and deck boxes. We also build for boat builders and (superyacht) refit yards as well.”

Frigibar Freezer

Frigibar Captain Freezer

The upcoming show will showcase many new activities, opportunities and attractions for attendees, highlighted by their new location — the newly renovated Miami Marine Stadium. This will mark the first time in 46 years the Miami International Boat Show is hosted in a new location. “We finally have the opportunity to provide enough parking not only for attendees, but for vendors,” said Rick-Joule, who also mentioned that over 10,000 parking spots will be available for attendees. “I remember going to the stadium (Miami Marine Stadium) when I was a kid watching concerts and boat races. That was the place to go – it was an event to go down for (to be there),” said Oletzky.

The show brings a lot more than boats and attendees to Florida and the city of Miami. “This is a $600 million economic impact event. About 25% of our customers come from outside of the state of Florida. Many of them are international. We have a very significant South American influence. Out-of-towners spend $80 million while they’re here during their visit. The product sales result in about $30 million of sales tax for the state. Two-hundred thousand hotel rooms are filled, and I think most importantly – the people that come to the show take away a very positive memory of a beautiful paradise that we are lucky enough to live in,” said Cathy Rick-Joule.

The 75th annual Miami International Boat Show also marks a significant milestone in the history of Frigibar Industries, Inc. “This is our 50th year participating in the show, which we’re very excited about. We’re in Tent C Booth 554. Anybody that would like to come down, we’d love to see you. Come and enjoy a fantastic experience,” said Oletzky.

Attendees 15 and under receive free admission to the show. To learn more and to get your tickets, visit: www.MiamiBoatShow.com. If you would like to learn more about Frigibar visit www.aquaair.com. Come out and enjoy the show (February 11-15).

Additional interview quotes:

  • “It’s the gathering of the marine industry.” – Cathy Rick-Joule
  • “You have the opportunity to control your experience when you come to the show…You can have your parking ticket in hand, know where everything is before you leave your house. That wasn’t possible before. You don’t have to hope for that one parking spot.” – Cathy Rick-Joule
  • “We believe we’ve found the future home of the boat show for many, many, many years to come at Miami Marine Stadium Park and Basin.” – Cathy Rick-Joule
  • “We are fortunate to have wonderful, mindful, kind business owners like Shuly participate in our events. They build a wonderful product; they stand behind their product. She stands shoulder to shoulder with many other manufacturers that run the same type of business. We have an association of members that are absolutely fantastic.” – Cathy Rick-Joule

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.