The kit might just be the perfect distillation of the idea of print-and-promo convergence. It’s a curated and highly thoughtful combination of different promotional products, often with apparel, and usually with a collection of print inserts or other print collateral. There’s also, of course, the box that it comes in, which is promo, too. It might not even be a box, either. It could be a bag, and often, the designers find a way to make the packaging stand out with its construction.

At the 2026 PRINTING United Expo in Las Vegas, there was plenty of inspiration to take from printers and distributors and apply it to future packaging or kitting promotional campaigns.

An Entry Point

Gregg Szpicek, senior vice president of sales for Tekweld (asi/90807), a Counselor Top 40 supplier, said that a lot of the conversations that he’s been having with printers and print distributors as they explored the booths at the ASI Pavilion had to do with introducing them to the concept of selling promo, and educating them on how it differs from print. Kitting, he said, is a natural entry point because they understand parts of it, but the promotional product selection needs to be thoughtful and purposeful.

Tekweld (asi/90807) used the concept of kitting to show different product categories and how they can fit together for a kitting campaign or multi-item promotion.

“The box makes sense to them, but then if they’re not really sure what they want to do for promo, it’s a thing where you don’t have to zero in on one product,” he said. “It can be more of a theme piece.”

Bespoke Designs

Szpicek points to one design that Tekweld has on hand – a printed box for a yogurt company which was made with the exact design of the yogurt cups to fit inside. Some kits can be a “jumble display” of products inside the box, and others can include packaging that was purpose built for specific products, he said.

Tekweld displayed a kit design that used custom printing to fit specific products inside.

Don’t (Always) Be a Square

Some distributors might understandably start their kit planning around a box, but a standard box might not be the best choice for your promo’s packaging. Different shapes and folds in the cardboard can help make a memorable impression. Some boxes can be custom-shaped to play into the customer’s branding aesthetic. A distributor can also use a plain box but allow the branding to live on a different component of the piece, like the tape.

Stouse (asi/89910) showcased branded packaging tape at the PRINTING United Expo. Branded packaging tape can make for a uniquely branded packaging look.

Luxury Embellishments

Whether the products are in a box or a bag, small decoration details and embellishments like foil or textured print can elevate the campaign to look more like a luxury product. Take, for example, the bags on display at the Veritiv (asi/92480) booth. With simple additions to a regular bag, the piece starts to feel much more upscale.

Embellishments like foil or textured print can turn an ordinary box or bag into a more memorable sensory experience and give off a luxury look and feel.