Palladium Alliance Awards Top Robbins Brothers Salesperson

(Billings, Montana) July 22, 2008 – Palladium Alliance International (PAI) awarded Ryan Muckelroy an exclusive, all expense-paid prize package for selling the most Palladium jewelry at Robbins Brothers, a national retail chain celebrated as “The World’s Biggest Engagement Ring Store.” Muckelroy, a six-year company veteran and Floor Manager of the Webster, Texas, branch, clinched first prize after selling nearly $18,000 of Palladium jewelry.

“The executives at Robbins Brothers have been behind Palladium for years, since Scott Kay introduced it into our product line,” says Muckelroy. “It’s easy to sell in my market. It’s beautiful, long-lasting and it just makes sense to our customers.”

Based on enthusiastic feedback about Palladium from both customers and employees, Robbins Brothers partnered with PAI to offer a tour of Stillwater Mining Co. in Billings, Montana, to the associate who sold the most Palladium between October and December 2007. Already known as one of the country’s leading Palladium sales teams, the associates at Robbins Brothers discussed Palladium engagement and wedding rings with customers across the nation.

“Robbins Brothers believes in Palladium and we appreciate PAI creating this incentive for the 2007 Holiday selling season,” says Robin Codner, Director of Product Development at Robbins Brothers.

In early July, Dawn McCurtain, PAI’s Director of Marketing, took Muckelroy and his wife, Amber, on a tour of Stillwater’s East Boulder Mine. As PAI’s main corporate sponsor and the site of its headquarters, Stillwater is a Sierra Club-approved green mine, the largest Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) producer in North America, and home of the world’s highest-grade Palladium ore.

“It was an incredible experience, and strange having all those guys at Stillwater interested in me,” says Muckelroy. “The tour helped me appreciate the work that goes into producing enough metal for one little ring. I’ve told my whole team about the process and it really increased their passion for selling Palladium.”

While visiting the mine, the couple stayed at The Lodge at Sun Ranch, a luxury eco-hotel near the angler-acclaimed Madison River, just 40 minutes from Yellowstone National Park. Located on a 26,000-acre sustainable cattle ranch in the scenic mountains of southwestern Montana, The Lodge’s commitment to organic dining, conservation and sustainability made it the perfect place to stay while the Muckelroys toured one of the world’s most environmentally sound mining operations.

“Palladium Alliance International will continue to offer unique incentives that not only educate the jewelry industry on this precious metal, but also highlight eco-conscious adventures,” said Dawn McCurtain of PAI. “We applaud Robbins Brothers for their vision in moving forward with the Now Metal™.”

About Palladium Alliance International

Palladium Alliance International (PAI) is the world’s first organization dedicated to establishing Palladium as a luxurious, precious and distinctive metal. To promote this idea, PAI provides education, marketing and technical support, and a vision for the advancement of Palladium. Formed in March 2006 with offices in the U.S. and China, PAI has planned a 2008-2009 campaign – designed and executed by their marketing agent, DJS Marketing Group – aggressively promoting Palladium to consumers and the trade. DJS is a fully integrated branding, advertising and PR firm with offices in New York City and Miami. Together, PAI and DJS Marketing are organizing a coalition of talented experts to work with retailers, producers and manufacturers to raise awareness of Palladium in the global marketplace.

About Robbins Brothers

A third-generation family-owned business since the 1920s, Robbins Brothers was founded in Southern California and today operates locations in California, Illinois and Texas. The engagement ring retailer specializes in extensive product education, exceptional value, unique Perfect Proposals™ engagement and wedding planning services, and onsite jewelers who can customize any ring. Robbins Brothers offers customers its exclusive MSID diamond along with proprietary collections such as Solana, Vivant, Enchante and Bridget. Other notable designers include Jeff Cooper, Scott Kay, Ritani and Tacori. For more information please visit www.robbinsbros.com.