What Are Kitting Services? A Complete Guide for Online Retailers

Blue30
Sep 12
6 min read

Updated: Oct 20

Running an ecommerce business in the UK is both exciting and challenging. From managing stock and keeping delivery times short to ensuring customer satisfaction, there are countless moving parts that demand attention. One often-overlooked strategy that can dramatically improve efficiency is the use of kitting services.

Retail Kitting is not just about packing items into boxes; it’s a fulfilment strategy that saves time, reduces costs, and improves the customer journey. Whether you sell on Amazon UK, Shopify, or across multiple channels, outsourcing kitting services to a trusted fulfilment partner such as Blue30 can streamline your operations and give your business a competitive edge.

This comprehensive guide will explain what kitting is, how it differs from bundling, why it matters for ecommerce businesses, and how Blue30’s specialist fulfilment solutions—including our capacity to handle high-volume kitting—can transform the way you manage inventory and orders.

What Are Kitting Services?

At its core, kitting is the process of combining individual products into a new SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) that is stored, picked, and shipped as one single item. Instead of warehouse staff having to retrieve multiple products separately each time an order is placed, pre-assembled kits are ready to go.

For example:

A beauty retailer might create a skincare kit containing cleanser, toner, and moisturiser.
An electronics brand could sell a camera starter kit with the main device, charger, and protective case.
Subscription box companies rely heavily on kitting to create monthly packages delivered directly to customers.

By creating these ready-to-ship kits, retailers save time during the fulfilment process and improve efficiency, while offering customers greater value and convenience.

Kitting vs Bundling: What’s the Difference?

The terms “kitting” and “bundling” are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.

Bundling is a broad strategy where multiple SKUs are grouped together for promotion or convenience. For example, a Christmas gift bundle containing chocolates, wine, and candles might be offered only during the festive season. Bundling often leans towards marketing campaigns and seasonal sales.
Kitting, on the other hand, involves assembling products in advance and creating a new SKU that is regularly picked, packed, and shipped as one. This is particularly useful for subscription boxes, custom product packs, or items frequently bought together.

The main difference is that bundling is usually promotional, while kitting is operational—designed to streamline fulfilment processes and reduce handling times.

Why Ecommerce Businesses Use Kitting Services

Ecommerce retailers across the UK are increasingly adopting kitting services to address common challenges around efficiency, customer experience, and cost management.

Here are the key benefits:

1. Faster Order Processing

With pre-assembled kits, warehouse staff don’t need to search for multiple SKUs. Instead, they simply pick one ready-made kit. This reduces handling time and allows orders to be dispatched quickly—vital during peak shopping seasons.

2. Cost Savings on Labour and Shipping

By reducing the labour hours needed for picking and packing, kitting services cut operational costs. Shipping costs can also be reduced, since multiple items combined into one package often result in fewer parcels being sent.

3. Improved Inventory Management

Creating new SKUs for kitted products provides better visibility of stock. Retailers can prepare high-demand kits in advance, reducing the risk of stockouts or delays.

4. Increased Sales Opportunities

Offering pre-assembled kits encourages upselling. For instance, a customer buying shampoo might be tempted by a complete haircare kit at a discounted price. This increases average order value while giving customers added convenience.

5. Enhanced Customer Experience

Instead of searching for multiple items, customers can purchase a ready-made kit with just one click. This convenience can lead to higher satisfaction, repeat purchases, and positive reviews.

Practical Examples of Kitting Services in the UK

To illustrate how kitting services work in practice, here are some real-world examples:

Subscription Boxes – Companies like Gousto and HelloFresh pre-assemble recipe kits containing all the ingredients needed for weekly meals.
Retail Promotions – High-street retailers frequently create gift sets for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or Christmas.
Amazon UK Sellers – Third-party sellers use kitting services to create product bundles that stand out from competitors while saving on fulfilment time.

These examples demonstrate the flexibility of kitting services across sectors, from food and drink to beauty and consumer electronics.

How Kitting Services Work in a Fulfilment Centre

When you outsource kitting services to a fulfilment partner such as Blue30, the process follows a structured workflow:

Product Receipt – Individual items are received at the fulfilment centre and logged into the warehouse management system.
Assembly – Items frequently ordered together are combined into kits. This may involve custom packaging, protective inserts, or branded labelling.
SKU Creation – Each kit is assigned a new SKU, making it easy to track and manage.
Storage – Completed kits are stored in the warehouse, ready for immediate picking.
Fulfilment – When an order is placed, the pre-assembled kit is picked, packed, and shipped as one unit.

This streamlined process eliminates the need for last-minute assembly and ensures a faster, more reliable fulfilment cycle.

Should You Outsource Kitting Services to a 3PL?

While some businesses manage kitting in-house, outsourcing to a third-party logistics (3PL) provider offers several advantages:

Scalability – Fulfilment centres can adapt to seasonal demand and rising order volumes.
Expertise – 3PL providers specialise in warehouse efficiency and can recommend optimal kitting strategies.
Technology – Advanced warehouse management systems track SKUs accurately, reducing errors.
Focus – Outsourcing allows retailers to focus on growing their brand instead of managing fulfilment operations.

For many UK ecommerce sellers, particularly those using Amazon FBA, outsourcing kitting services is the most practical and cost-effective solution.

Key Industries That Benefit from Kitting Services

Kitting services are versatile and apply across multiple sectors:

Ecommerce Retail – Clothing, homeware, and lifestyle products often work well in pre-assembled sets.
Health and Beauty – Skincare regimes, cosmetics kits, and seasonal beauty boxes are ideal for kitting.
Food and Drink – Recipe kits, subscription boxes, and curated tasting sets rely heavily on kitting.
Electronics – Accessory packs and starter kits simplify customer purchases.
Publishing – Book sets and educational kits are popular kitting applications.

Wherever convenience and added value matter, kitting provides a strategic advantage.

Common Challenges in Kitting—and How to Overcome Them

While kitting services bring clear benefits, there are also challenges:

Stock Imbalances – If one item in a kit runs out, the entire kit cannot be shipped. Solution: proactive inventory planning and forecasting.
Complex Assembly – Some kits require multiple steps or quality checks. Solution: consistent processes in a professional fulfilment centre.
Storage Space – Pre-assembled kits take up more space than individual SKUs. Solution: outsourcing to a 3PL with sufficient warehouse capacity.

By partnering with Blue30, these challenges can be managed effectively, ensuring a smooth kitting process.

How Blue30 Supports High-Volume Kitting

One of the biggest hurdles for ecommerce businesses is managing high volumes of kitting. While small-scale assembly may be handled in-house, scaling up is far more complex. This is where Blue30 excels.

Blue30 has the space, processes, and specialist machinery to manage high-volume kitting projects with precision and efficiency:

Dedicated Space – Our fulfilment centres are designed to handle both individual SKUs and large quantities of pre-assembled kits.
Refined Processes – From quality control checks to sequential assembly, our trained teams follow proven workflows to maintain consistency.
Specialist Machinery – Automated labelling, packing equipment, and inventory tracking systems allow us to handle repetitive tasks at scale.

Whether you need thousands of subscription boxes assembled every month or seasonal retail kits for peak shopping periods, Blue30 ensures your products are prepared, packed, and shipped with speed and accuracy.

This capability makes us a trusted partner for ecommerce businesses across the UK looking to scale without compromising efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kitting Services

1. How do kitting services save money?By reducing labour hours in the warehouse and combining items into one parcel, businesses cut both staffing and shipping costs.

2. Can kitting services help with seasonal promotions?Yes. Many retailers rely on kitting for gift sets during Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and other high-demand periods.

3. Is kitting suitable for small businesses?Absolutely. Even SMEs can benefit, especially when outsourcing to a flexible 3PL provider like Blue30.

4. How do kitting services support Amazon UK sellers?By creating unique bundles, sellers stand out from competitors while streamlining fulfilment for multi-item orders.

Conclusion: Unlocking Efficiency with Kitting Services

Kitting services are more than a warehouse tactic—they are a powerful strategy for cutting costs, accelerating fulfilment, and enhancing customer experiences. For UK ecommerce businesses, particularly those selling on Amazon UK or managing high seasonal demand, kitting services offer a smarter way to operate.

At Blue30, we specialise in providing tailored fulfilment solutions, including expert kitting services. With the capacity to manage high-volume assembly projects, we ensure your products are always ready to ship—no matter how big your order volumes grow.

If you’re ready to simplify your operations, reduce costs, and give your customers the seamless service they expect, contact Blue30 today to learn how our kitting services can support your business growth.