Bundling Strategies

Guide to B2B and Wholesale Bundles on Shopify: Setup, Pricing, and Fulfillment Best Practices

When buyers know exactly what they’re getting, when it will arrive, and how much it will cost, they’ll keep coming back.

Guide to B2B and Wholesale Bundles on Shopify: Setup, Pricing, and Fulfillment Best Practices
Tina Donati's Picture

Tina Donati

Aug 27, 2025 · 8 min

If you’re a B2B or wholesale merchant on Shopify, you already know your buyers don’t shop like retail customers. 

They’re not here for one-off purchases or casual browsing — they’re ordering in bulk, restocking inventory, and counting on you to deliver predictability, clarity, and speed.

That’s why bundles sit at the center of most wholesale orders. Whether it’s a pre-packed size run, a case of identical SKUs, or an assortment of bestsellers, B2B bundles are the default language of wholesale commerce.

But if you’re not setting up your bundles correctly, they can become the single biggest source of inventory headaches, fulfillment mistakes, and unhappy buyers.

In this guide, we’ll break down:

  • The most common B2B bundle types and when to use them
  • How to avoid inventory and fulfillment issues with bundles
  • The pricing strategies that make sense for wholesale buyers
  • Pro tips for making bundles easier to order and reorder

Whether you’re scaling an existing wholesale program or setting one up from scratch, these strategies will help you keep orders accurate, margins healthy, and buyers coming back.

Why Bundles Matter So Much in B2B

In direct-to-consumer ecommerce, bundles are often used as promotions: “Buy 2, Get 1 Free” or a holiday gift set. They’re designed to increase average order value or move seasonal stock.

In wholesale, bundles serve a very different purpose. They’re about efficiency, not promotions. A bundle represents the most logical way for a buyer to place an order and for your warehouse to fulfill it.

Think of it like this:

  • A retailer orders a case pack of 24 lip balms so each store shelf is filled evenly.
  • A boutique orders a size run of dresses (XS–XL) so they can test how each size sells.
  • A grocer orders a display-ready PDQ filled with mini lotions so staff can drop it straight onto a counter.

Because these orders often involve large quantities and strict delivery expectations, you can’t afford sloppy setup. 

Yet… Unfortunately, bundles are also where many merchants run into trouble. Without a thoughtful setup, you risk:

  • Inventory oversells if bundles don’t account for component stock.
  • Fulfillment mistakes when packing teams don’t know what’s inside.
  • Price list mismatches if buyers see retail prices instead of wholesale rates.
  • Frustrated buyers who feel misled when orders arrive incorrectly.

These errors cost money and chip away at trust. And in wholesale, trust is the currency that keeps buyers coming back.

7 Types of B2B Bundles (and When to Use Them)

B2B buyers don’t all think the same way. Some want simplicity and speed (a carton they can just drop into storage), while others want flexibility (a curated assortment for display). 

That’s why it’s important to understand the different bundle types in wholesale commerce and when to use each one.

1. Prepack (Pre-pack) Bundles

A prepack is a fixed-size assortment of a single style in different sizes or colors. They’re most common in CPG, apparel, and footwear, where retailers want to stock a predictable spread without overthinking the mix.

Example: A women’s top comes in a 6-piece prepack: 1 Small, 2 Medium, 2 Large, 1 XL.

Why it works: Prepacks streamline ordering for retailers and fulfillment for merchants. Instead of manually choosing quantities per size, a buyer can click once and get a balanced set. For warehouses, one “prepack” equals one pick — much faster than breaking down individual SKUs.

2. Size Run Bundles

A size run is one unit of each size in a style, often used for display, sampling, or initial stocking. It’s like giving the buyer a taste of the full range.

Example: XS / S / M / L / XL = five units of the same shirt.

Why it works: Size runs are ideal for new retailers or boutiques testing your line. They can display every size on the rack, learn which ones move fastest, and reorder accordingly. It reduces risk for the buyer and can lead to bigger case pack orders once they see the demand.

3. Assortment Bundles

An assortment combines multiple SKUs into one curated package. These are common in categories where variety is a selling point, like candles, skincare, or giftware.

Example: A candle company offers a “Spring Assortment” bundle: 12 candles across six seasonal scents (two of each).

Why it works: Buyers want to test or display a collection without guessing which scents or products will sell best. By controlling the assortment, you ensure they carry your chosen mix — boosting visibility for your whole product line, not just the top sellers.

4. Multipack Bundles

A multipack is simply several units of the same SKU bundled together. Think bulk value.

Example: A 6-pack of kombucha bottles or a 4-pack of bar soaps.

Why it works: Multipacks are efficient for buyers who need to restock fast-moving SKUs. They also align with consumer buying habits in food, beverage, and personal care, where multipacks are the standard on store shelves.

5. Case Pack Bundles

A case pack (or just “case”) is the standard carton quantity of a single SKU. It’s the most straightforward bundle type — one box, one SKU, many units.

Example: Case of 12 lip balms, all identical.

Why it works: Cases are the backbone of wholesale distribution. They’re designed around shipping efficiency and store replenishment. For buyers, case packs eliminate decision-making. For merchants, they keep warehouse operations tight and predictable.

6. Display Unit / PDQ Bundles

A PDQ (short for “Pretty Darn Quick”) is a small, display-ready bundle. It’s both a selling unit and a merchandising tool.

Example: A grocery chain receives a PDQ tray filled with 24 mini lotions in four fragrances, ready to sit on the checkout counter.

Why it works: PDQs save retailers time and labor. Staff can pull the display from the box, set it on the shelf, and start selling. They’re particularly powerful for new product launches or seasonal promotions where speed to shelf matters.

7. Variety Pack (or Flavor Pack) Bundles

A variety pack is a consumer-facing bundle that mixes product variants in one box. While similar to assortments, variety packs are designed for the end shopper.

Example: A protein bar brand sells a 12-pack with three chocolate, three vanilla, and six peanut butter.

Why it works: Variety packs make it easier for consumers to sample multiple flavors, increasing the chance they’ll find a favorite and come back for more. For wholesale buyers, it’s a way to sell “samplers” without breaking cases apart.

Remember, the bundle type you offer should reflect the buyer’s needs. A boutique testing your products might prefer a size run. A supermarket chain wants case packs. A specialty shop might ask for assortments. The better you align bundle structure to buyer intent, the smoother your wholesale operations will run.

Tips for Selling B2B Bundles Without Operational Chaos

Understanding bundle types is step one. Step two is making sure they’re set up in a way that keeps operations clean and buyers happy. 

Here are four best practices every Shopify wholesale merchant should follow:

1. Keep Your Inventory in Sync, Always

One of the most common pain points we see in Shopify wholesale is inventory overselling. A bundle can only be sold as long as each component SKU is available. If one piece runs out, the entire bundle should be unavailable, but many merchants don’t have systems in place to catch that.

That’s why real-time inventory sync is critical. It ensures that:

  • Bundle availability always reflects the lowest stock level of its components.
  • Updates cascade across your Shopify store, ERP, and 3PL.
  • Multi-location stock is tracked accurately across all warehouse locations.

Simple Bundles automates this process by breaking down bundles into individual SKUs, syncing stock across locations, and preventing oversells before they happen.

2. Use Smart Pricing Strategies for B2B Bundles

Wholesale buyers expect different pricing structures than retail shoppers. A strong B2B pricing strategy not only protects your margins but also gives buyers confidence in your partnership.

Here are common approaches:

  • Separate Pricelists: Keep retail and wholesale bundle prices distinct.
  • Tiered Pricing: Offer different discounts for Gold, Silver, Bronze buyers.
  • Volume Discounts: Encourage larger bundle orders with lower per-unit costs.
  • Regional Pricing: Adjust based on shipping costs or market variations.
  • Exclusive Pricing: Offer special rates for key distributors or repeat stockists.

Shopify’s B2B features let you create pricelists that apply only to specific buyers. The key is to keep them clean. Messy or outdated pricing in the backend can create more confusion than clarity.

3. Pre-Pack for Speed, Stay Transparent for Trust

Prepacks and case packs save enormous time in the warehouse. Instead of picking 12 individual units, your team grabs one pre-labeled box. But speed is useless if clarity is missing.

Buyers and fulfillment teams need to know exactly what’s inside a bundle. Using Shopify metafields (or bundle apps that support them), you can display bundle breakdowns on:

That way, there’s no confusion — buyers trust they’re getting what they ordered, and your warehouse avoids costly mistakes.

4. Make Ordering (and Reordering) Effortless

Most wholesale buyers don’t place an order once. They reorder the same bundles month after month. The easier you make that process, the more likely they’ll stick with you.

  • Offer saved bundles or quick reorder buttons in your wholesale portal.
  • Provide downloadable PDFs or spec sheets with bundle details.
  • Assign SKUs to bundles so buyers can plug them directly into their own systems.

When buyers can reorder with a few clicks, they’ll spend less time managing logistics and more time selling your products.

Final Takeaways

When buyers know exactly what they’re getting, when it will arrive, and how much it will cost, they’ll keep coming back.

The key:

  • Match the bundle type to the buyer’s needs
  • Keep inventory synced in real time
  • Maintain clear, transparent bundle details
  • Price strategically for wholesale
  • Make reordering a breeze

If you want to take the manual work out of bundle management, tools like Simple Bundles can automate SKU breakdowns, sync stock across locations, and keep your pricing consistent — so you can focus on selling, not fixing errors.

FAQs About B2B Bundles on Shopify

How do I set up B2B bundles in Shopify?You can create bundles natively with Shopify’s B2B features or use an app like Simple Bundles to automatically break down SKUs, sync inventory, and manage pricing.

What’s the difference between a prepack and a case pack?A prepack is a fixed assortment of sizes or variants (e.g. XS–XL). A case pack is a carton of identical units (e.g. 12 of the same SKU).

Can Shopify handle wholesale pricing for bundles?Yes — with Shopify B2B pricelists, you can assign different bundle prices to specific buyers, companies, or regions.

How do I prevent overselling bundles in Shopify?Use real-time inventory sync. Apps like Simple Bundles ensure bundle stock levels always reflect available component inventory.