When to Recommend Pre-Built vs Custom WooCommerce Bundles

Are your customers more interested in quick solutions or personalized shopping experiences?
As a WooCommerce store owner, understanding this can help you decide whether to offer pre-built product bundles or allow users to customize their own. Bundling products is a proven strategy for increasing average order value and simplifying the buying process. But the real magic lies in recommending the right kind of bundle to the right customer.

Right at the heart of this strategy is the mix and match products WooCommerce approach, which offers both flexibility and structure depending on your customer’s needs.

Let’s dig into when and why to offer pre-built bundles and when custom product boxes are a better choice.

Table of Contents

1. Understanding WooCommerce Bundles

2. What Are Pre-Built Bundles?

3. What Are Custom Product Bundles?

4. When to Recommend Pre-Built Bundles

5. When to Recommend Custom Bundles

6. Product Highlight: Extendons’ Custom Mix & Match Product Boxes Plugin

7. Use Cases: Real-World Examples

8. Pre-Built vs Custom: Which Suits Your Store?

9. FAQs

10. Final Thoughts

Understanding WooCommerce Bundles

In WooCommerce, product bundles are a way to group multiple products together. You can either set up bundles where the customer picks and chooses what goes into them or offer pre-selected bundles that are ready to add to cart.

Bundles are useful for:

• Increasing cart size

• Promoting complementary products

• Simplifying gift shopping

• Offering discounts on grouped items

The difference lies in whether the bundle is fixed or customizable.

What Are Pre-Built Bundles?

Pre-built bundles are ready-made product sets. They’re created by the store owner based on themes, common needs, or seasonal trends. Customers just click and buy. There’s no customization involved unless they’re allowed to remove items.

Benefits of Pre-Built Bundles

• Time-Saving: Ideal for customers who don’t want to browse.

• Themed Products: Great for holidays, birthdays, or seasonal needs.

• Strategic Pairings: Store owners can promote under-selling items alongside popular ones.

Examples

• A "Back to School" kit with notebooks, pens, and a planner.

• A skincare bundle with cleanser, toner, and moisturizer.

• A car maintenance pack with oil, filter, and gloves.

What Are Custom Product Bundles?

Custom product bundles let the shopper choose what goes into the box. This could be through a grid or list display where customers add and remove items. You might recognize this through the growing trend of custom product boxes WooCommerce stores are now offering.

Using a plugin like Custom Mix & Match Product Boxes & Bundles for WooCommerce by Extendons, you can enable this option in your store.

Benefits of Custom Bundles

• Customer Control: Shoppers pick what they want.

• Perfect for Gifts: Add a personal touch.

• Supports Unique Needs: Great for niche requirements (e.g., dietary restrictions, hobby kits).

When to Recommend Pre-Built Bundles

While custom bundles offer freedom, sometimes simplicity wins. Recommend pre-built bundles when:

1. Your Customer Wants Fast Checkout

Not everyone likes decision-making. Some just want to add a bundle to cart and move on. Pre-filled boxes cater to these buyers.

2. The Products Are Commonly Bought Together

If there’s a natural group of products that go well together (like a shampoo and conditioner), why make the customer build the bundle themselves?

3. It's a Seasonal or Promotional Campaign

Holiday bundles or promotional kits work best when they’re pre-assembled and marketed with urgency.

4. You're Introducing a New Product

Pair it with a best-seller in a ready-made bundle to get it in front of more people.

5. You’re Offering a Discounted Combo

Bundling under-performing items with hits makes sense in a fixed setting.

When to Recommend Custom Bundles

Custom bundles shine when customer preferences or use cases vary a lot. Recommend them when:

1. Customers Are Gift Shopping

Letting users add gift notes, handpick products, and even choose packaging makes the shopping experience special.

2. Products Require Personalization

Health foods, dietary supplements, or even art supplies often require personal selection. A blanket bundle won’t do here.

3. You Have a Diverse Catalog

When your catalog includes many variants of the same product (like multiple candle scents or coffee roasts), it makes sense to let the customer mix and match.

4. Your Target Market Expects Customization

Younger buyers, B2B clients, or anyone with specific needs will appreciate being in control.

Product Highlight: Extendons’ Custom Mix & Match Product Boxes Plugin

If you're planning to offer either type of bundle, Extendons offers a well-built plugin: Custom Mix & Match Product Boxes & Bundles for WooCommerce.

Here’s why it stands out:

• Offers both pre-filled and customizable boxes.

• Supports fixed and dynamic pricing.

• Allows display in list or grid views.

• Enables checkout with a partially filled box, so users aren’t forced to max out their box.

• Includes features like quick-view popups, gift notes, and product quantity control.

• Mobile responsive and supports both simple and variable products.

This plugin makes offering both bundle types straightforward and store-friendly. Whether your customer wants speed or control, the plugin adapts.

Use Cases: Real-World Examples

Case 1: A Gourmet Food Store

Use Pre-Built: Holiday baskets
Use Custom: “Build Your Own Treat Box” for picky foodies or dietary restrictions.

Case 2: A Baby Products Store

Use Pre-Built: Newborn starter kits
Use Custom: Allow moms to select sizes, formulas, or preferred brands.

Case 3: A Corporate Gifting Shop

Use Pre-Built: Executive gift packs
Use Custom: Let HR teams pick gifts and add custom messages for employees.

Case 4: A Beauty Brand

Use Pre-Built: Skin-type based bundles
Use Custom: Allow users to pick shades, types, and add a note for gifting.

Pre-Built vs Custom: Which Suits Your Store?

Ultimately, there’s no one-size-fits-all. The most successful WooCommerce stores offer both — and let the customer choose.

FAQs

Can I offer both pre-built and custom bundles in one store?

Yes, using a plugin like Extendons’ Custom Mix & Match Product Boxes & Bundles, you can do both.

Do custom bundles increase conversions?

Yes. Allowing users to personalize increases engagement and often the total cart value.

Is it hard to set up custom bundles?

Not with the right tool. Extendons’ plugin makes it intuitive with grid and list displays, drag-and-drop selections, and more.

Can I offer discounts on bundles?

Absolutely. You can set fixed prices, tiered discounts, or dynamic pricing based on what the user adds.

What happens if a user doesn’t fill their box completely?

You can allow checkout with a partially filled box—a helpful feature to reduce cart abandonment.

Final Thoughts

Pre-built or custom—each type of WooCommerce bundle has its place. Pre-built kits offer convenience, while custom mix & match product boxes provide flexibility and personalization. By understanding your audience and using tools like Extendons’ plugin, you can offer smart, attractive bundle options that align with customer intent and your business goals.

Ready to upgrade your store’s bundling game? It’s not just about selling more — it’s about giving shoppers what they’re really looking for.