The Preferred Platinum Partner Program (4P) is an innovative strategic trade program designed by PGI-USA as the first, truely integrated program of its kind in the industry.  The program provides targeted support to all levels of the supply chain from the manufacturer through to the retailer, while continuing to keep consumer desire high and driving consumers into platinum retailers. The program's ultimate goal is to help turn the high consumer desire for platinum into bottom line sales and increased dollar profits for retailers and manufacturers.

Through the program's national advertising component, partner manufacturers and retailers gained increased visibility to the buying public. Preferred Platinum manufacturers and retailers received well over 81 million consumer impressions by being tagged or having their product featured in top national consumer bridal and fashion magazines.

Since summer of 2006, over 2000 in-store sales associates across the country have received facilitated platinum sales training, designed to develop their platinum knowledge and effective selling techniques. Many of these sales associates additionally went on to complete a DVD mastery course to perfect their platinum sales expertise. Retailer stores who learned how to effectively present platinum's unique benefits to customers have seen up to 20 percent increases in their sales of platinum jewelry.  For most, this training has helped increase transaction size and augment sales across several categories.

"The sales training seminar provided confidence to our sales team to sell the values and benefits of platinum. We have increased our sales of platinum wedding bands and engagement settings because of its virtues, such as its purity and rarity over other metals. Any price objection has become less of an obstacle because over the long run, platinum will endure the test of time," says Jose Freitas, Diamond Manager for Barmakian.

Additional partner perks include:
Inclusion in a variety of website referrals such as www.theknot.com, www.preciousplatinum.com, and www.engagementguide.com
Free technical consultations from PGI-USA Director of Technical Education, Jurgen Maerz
Sales associate incentive programs designed to increase platinum sales and excite sales associates about selling platinum.

Voting for the next group of 4P partners has now begun. Platinum jewelry manufacturers are voting on retailers they believe show leadership in platinum jewelry sales. In turn, those retailers will vote for the industry leaders in design and manufacturing of platinum jewelry.

Retailers and manufacturers with the most industry votes will become partners for the 2008-2009 program.

To learn more about the Preferred Platinum Partner Program and to learn how to be nominated, please contact Kevin Reilly at (212) 404-1608 or kreilly@pgiglobal.com.