ProGifts Inc., a promotional products company based in Gainesville, has expanded its operations to New Delhi, India, where a new branch office will handle the company's IT work.
The branch, headed by India Operations Manager Chandra Bisht, will create the company's Web sites, artwork, logos, and perform similar work, said John Farrell, who co-owns ProGifts with his wife, Melinda.
Lower labor costs were the primary reason for opening the New Delhi branch, he said.
"In New Delhi, labor costs are considerably less there than in the U.S., but the one thing that's most important to me is that we doubled the operations manager's salary, and we're paying extremely well in India standards," Farrell said.
Farrell said he currently is negotiating to buy a small leather factory in New Delhi to produce products for Dacasso, a Gainesville-based subsidiary of ProGifts that sells leather desk sets and other promotional products, business gifts and branded apparel.
Doris Chandler can be reached at 352 374-5094 or chandld@ gvillesun.com
