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What’s the best way to keep things cool? Icicle Plates now available!

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After decades of inventions and technological advances, we’re still faced with many of the same questions we’ve had all our lives. What’s actually in a hot dog? How long are you supposed to wait after eating to jump in the water? What’s the best way to keep a beer cold?

For at least one of those questions, we may be closer to the answer.

Food and drinks don’t stay cool for long on a hot day on the beach or out on the water on a boat. We have plenty of options for trying to solve the same problem of how best to keep something cool, from koozies to coolers to bags of ice to a Beersicle. Introducing Icicle Plates, one of the newest, and possibly the best, way of keeping cold things colder for longer.

Icicle Plates are made to be frozen at 0° Fahrenheit. Because they are filled with a food-safe 4% saline solution, they freeze at a lower temperature, and are more effective at staying colder for longer. This means your food and drinks will be kept safely chilled for everyone to enjoy. When using several Icicle Plates, it’s possible to keep pre-chilled products cold (under 40 degrees) for up to 24 hours in an insulated box or enclosed cooler. Icicle Plates can also be used as a supplement in a freezer on-board a boat by leaving the Icicle Plate in the freezer at all times.

Icicle Plates don’t require electricity and can be placed in large coolers. The plates, made of durable plastic, measure 24-1/2”L x 14-1/2”W x 1”H. They are completely reusable and can be refrozen again and again. Also, they have a handle molded into one of the ends so you won’t freeze your hands while getting them from the freezer to the cooler.

There are just three steps for using Icicle Plates for a better day in the sun:

  1. Freeze until solid, preferably in a freezer at 0° Fahrenheit
  2. Put the plate and cold food or drinks into your cooler or insulated box
  3. Enjoy the rest of the day on the water!

This is the first time these innovative plates are being offered to the marine industry.

At an introductory price of $150.00 for a set of two, one Icicle Plate is less than the cost of a new cooler and will turn any enclosed, insulated box into a more effective solution for your day-long adventure. Icicle Plates have been proven to perform better than ice, and they provide a cold, clean, safe and drier environment for food and drinks. So stop buying 10 bags of ice, hoping they will last an entire day and pack Icicle Plates instead. Contact Info@Frigibar.com to order your Icicle Plates.

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

 

 

 

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.

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.”