Creative kitting projects are one of the fastest-growing trends today.
What is kitting?
Quite simply, “kitting” can be defined as, “filling orders by preassembling individual items into ready-to-ship kits instead of picking and packing those individual items”. What we know is that when done right, sending out kits is a fantastic way to leave an impactful impression on the recipient.
Why choose kitting?
Have you been on social media lately and seen the unboxing videos? Where a recipient (like an Influencer) takes the time to record – and share – the experience of unboxing a package of goodies they received? They’re always so surprised and often delighted by the contents. Cleverly crafted, kits can have a “Wow!” effect.
Depending on the project scope, kitting can also offer savings in fulfillment costs. Often individual items are packaged together and assigned a new, unique SKU for the kit itself. This makes it easier when you only need to pick, pack and ship one item rather than several individual items.
Kitting projects can be large or small; local, national, or even international, and can be as simple or as complex as you want them to be. Often this is determined by your goals, budget, and creativity!
Customized and personalized
From adding personalized items to the box (like a coffee tumbler with your company logo) to fun confetti and colorful wrappings, customizing the box for the recipient is an important option to consider. Does your recipient love dogs? Throw in a toy for their playful pooch! Is the kit going to someone working from home? Include a fun desk accessory like this cool Phenom 360 phone stand that they can display during Zoom calls. If you know they have a family, send a game for the family to enjoy together. The more creative you can be, the more special and meaningful it will be for the recipient.
Why now?
Requests for kitting projects that included at least one promotional product grew dramatically in 2020. Which makes sense given the need to reach customers, employees, and other key audiences by new methods other than in-person. For example, many regular trade shows and events went virtual last year, increasing the need for businesses to find innovative ways to create user experiences. Kitting was a great solution to this dilemma. As seen in the growth of unique direct mail subscription programs by hundreds of companies in the U.S., sending out product kits to clients has become a solid and integrated marketing, sales, and branding strategy. In fact, there are more than 3,500 U.S. companies currently selling subscription boxes. What that tells us is that advertisers, marketers, and business owners realize that kitting can be a great way to do business, and the trend is expected to expand in 2021 and beyond.
So, if you’re a small business owner looking into new ways to reach customers and other stakeholders, consider testing out a kitting project. The key to a successful program is to work with a partner who understands your goals, your budget, and your timing. The creative experts at Vernon will work with you to help you determine the direction of your next project. From choosing the right kit components to branding, packaging, and shipping, we’re here to guide you through the process to ensure success.