Repacking and kitting are two of the most common jobs ecommerce brands hand to a warehouse, and two of the hardest to price from a website. If you have ever wondered why one quote is twice another, this is what is actually going into the number.
What repacking and kitting mean
Repacking means taking products out of their original packaging and putting them into new or different packaging. That could be retail-ready boxes, branded packaging, or compliant packaging for a new sales channel. Kitting means combining several items into one ready-to-ship unit, like a gift set, a subscription box or a product bundle. Both are hands-on work, done item by item.
When brands need it
- Bundling products into gift sets, kits or subscription boxes
- Relabeling or repackaging imported goods for the US market
- Switching packaging for a new retailer or sales channel
- Adding inserts, labels or branded touches before shipping
- Fixing or reworking inventory that arrived in the wrong packaging
What drives the cost
There is no honest flat rate for this work, because every project is different. The price comes from a handful of factors:
- Labor time per unit. A simple relabel takes seconds per item. Building a six-piece gift box takes minutes. This is usually the biggest factor.
- Number of components. More items per kit means more touches, more checks and more time.
- Materials. Boxes, tissue, tape, labels and inserts. Some brands supply their own, others ask the warehouse to source them.
- Volume. Larger runs bring the per-unit cost down, because setup time is spread across more units.
- How the goods arrive. A loose-loaded container takes more handling than clean pallets ready for the line.
- Storage. Inventory that sits before and after the project takes warehouse space.
How to get an accurate quote
The fastest way to a real number is to describe the job clearly. Before you ask for a quote, know roughly: how many units, how many components per unit, what packaging you want, whether you are supplying materials, and how often the project repeats. A photo of the product and the packaging spec saves a week of back and forth. Any warehouse that gives you a firm price without asking these questions is guessing.
The cheapest quote is not always the cheapest project
Repacking errors are expensive. A mislabeled run, a kit with a missing component or packaging a retailer rejects can cost far more than the difference between two quotes. Ask how the warehouse checks accuracy, and ask to see how a finished unit will look before the full run starts.
Talk to us about your project
Goldpack USA handles repacking, labeling and prep work from our warehouse at 94 Walton St in Brooklyn, including goods that arrive by the container. Send us your project details at office@goldpackusa.com or call 929.585.5892 and we will come back with a clear quote.