Oberhof, Schleusingen, Suhl and Zella-Mehlis have introduced a shared gift-voucher programme for spending across the four South Thuringian cities. Their joint municipal organisation announced the arrangements on September 4, 2026, with a September 11 sales start. The scheme also includes a Jobkarte for employer-funded local benefits. [S01]
A wider listed network, with redemption charges to consider
At the pre-launch press briefing, 27 acceptance points were registered; further businesses had expressed interest but were still being added. On October 19, the programme’s live website advertised 60 participating shops. These are two dated snapshots of the same scheme at different stages: registered acceptance points before launch and businesses listed afterwards. They do not measure purchases, successful redemptions or additional sales. [S01] [S02]
Reported acceptance network before launch and in October
Pre-launch registrations reported by the municipal organiser and the later public programme-directory total.
locations
Tap or hover for details. All values are also available in the data table.
Sources
Different reporting stages: 27 registered acceptance points versus 60 publicly listed shops. The later number is the website’s stated total, not an independently audited count or proof of active redemption. No sales-growth inference.
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| Category | Reported acceptance points / listed shops |
|---|---|
| Pre-launch briefing, reported September 4 | 27 locations |
| Public programme website, October 19 | 60 locations |
The shared balance can be used in parts at participating retailers, hospitality businesses and service providers across the four cities, irrespective of where it was purchased. Buyers can choose EUR 10 to EUR 250, add a personal message and image, then send the voucher digitally or print it. Physical voucher cards are also available through local sales outlets. [S01] [S02] [S03]
The municipal announcement calls participation free. The programme’s merchant page gives a narrower explanation: registration and the business listing are free, with no recurring charge, but voucher redemption attracts a processing fee of 2.20% of the redeemed amount. It also says merchants need no additional hardware or software and describes a 30-day commitment period. The redemption charge matters when judging the economics of acceptance; free registration does not mean every transaction is free. [S01] [S04]
The Jobkarte creates an additional route for employers to issue local benefits. The operator offers automated allocations, employee records, reusable physical cards and digital wallets. Neither the launch announcement nor the pages reviewed publish employer take-up, issued balances or redemption volumes. The provider’s general tax-benefit claims are not evidence that any particular employer arrangement qualifies. [S01] [S05]
Launch events were announced for September 11 in Schleusingen and Zella-Mehlis, followed by September 19 in Suhl and Oberhof. The subsequent directory establishes a broader publicly listed network, while the commercial effect still depends on buyers loading credit and recipients using it. No attendance, sales or local economic-impact result is inferred from the launch timetable. [S01] [S02]
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Suzie Elis
Suzie Elis covers gift card products, digital gifting and distribution for Gift Card News.