Smartbox
Smartbox Group Limited is a Dublin-registered European experience gifting platform operating across 11 countries, selling physical gift boxes, e-Smartbox digital vouchers, and gift cards redeemable against 140,000+ experiences for B2C consumers, corporate clients, and physical retail channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersStockelsdorf, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Smartbox does
Smartbox Group Limited, a private Dublin-registered company, operates a multi-country European experience gift platform that distributes physical gift boxes and e-Smartbox digital vouchers redeemable against a catalog of more than 140,000 experiences across stays, gastronomy, spa & wellness, action & adventure, motorsport, and entertainment. The company was founded in 2003 and runs localized e-commerce sites in France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Portugal, with the Netherlands and Belgium operated under the Bongo brand and Portugal under Odisseias. Smartbox Group is led by Managing Director Fanny Ponce, with founder/owner Pierre-Edouard Stérin retaining an ownership stake; the firm has 700+ engaged employees across 10 countries spanning 39 nationalities.
The core product set comprises (i) physical Smartbox Gaveæske gift boxes containing booklets of curated experiences, (ii) e-Smartbox digital vouchers delivered by email for last-minute or digital-first recipients, (iii) prepaid Gavekort (Gift Cards) issued in fixed denominations (499 kr, 999 kr, 1499 kr, 1999 kr, 2499 kr), and (iv) Business Solutions for corporate gifting. Experiences span stays at hotel partners (Comwell, Scandic, Mercure, Best Western, Center Parcs, Adagio, The Originals, Brit Hotel), dining and gastronomy, spa/thalasso (Thalazur), motorsport (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Audi track days), and entertainment (Tivoli, Europa-Park, Parc Astérix, Puy du Fou, Rail Europe). Both physical box (€49.90–€559.80) and digital formats share a 39-month validity period, and a Smartbox mobile app supports discovery, voucher management, and booking.
The business model is hybrid: direct-to-consumer e-commerce on owned localized sites, supplemented by physical retail placement (Danish chains Føtex, Bilka, Spar, Min Købmand, Meny, Magasin, Salling, KonTur, Løvbjerg; the French "Collection Classique" in-store range), a sales-led B2B corporate channel for employee rewards and client gifting, and an affiliate/influencer program (Rakuten-integrated) with over 45,000 experiences offered to partners. Payment integrations include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, and reCAPTCHA. Source data records only one funding round (Series 4 with Naxicap Partners, dated 2007), and provides no disclosed revenue; ownership and parent-company structure are not evidenced in the input.
Smartbox firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Smartbox
- Legal name
- Smartbox Group Limited
- Website
- https://smartbox.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Smartbox Group Limited is a Dublin-registered European experience gifting platform operating across 11 countries, selling physical gift boxes, e-Smartbox digital vouchers, and gift cards redeemable against 140,000+ experiences for B2C consumers, corporate clients, and physical retail channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Smartbox industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Experience Gifts
- NAICS
- Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Retailers (45942)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Closed-Loop Gift Cards (Single-Merchant) (FSAMANAB)
Keywords
Where Smartbox is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stockelsdorf
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Smartbox business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Physical Gift Box Sales: One-time purchase of physical experience gift boxes containing a booklet with experience options, redeemed through the Smartbox app or website.
- E-Smartbox Digital Vouchers: Digital gift vouchers sold at various price points (999 kr, 1499 kr, 1999 kr, 2499 kr) with validity period of 39 months, redeemable for experiences across Europe.
- B2B/Corporate Solutions: Bulk purchase solutions for businesses for employee rewards, client gifts, and corporate incentive programs.
- Affiliate/Partner Revenue: Commission-based revenue through affiliate partnerships and influencer programs promoting Smartbox experiences.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Card 999 kr |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Card 1499 kr |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Opholdsgavekort 1999 kr |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Experience Gift Boxes 299-3199 kr |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | European Experience Packages 79.90-349.80€ |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Smartbox product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Smartbox sells physical gift boxes and digital e-Smartbox vouchers redeemable for curated experiences across Europe, including hotel stays, gastronomy, spa and wellness, adventure activities, motorsport driving experiences, and entertainment. Recipients select and book experiences through the Smartbox website or mobile app using the voucher's unique code, with 39-month validity. The company operates across 10+ European countries with a catalog of over 140,000 experiences.
Product overview
Smartbox is an experience gift company offering both physical gift boxes and digital e-Smartbox vouchers. The core product portfolio consists of experience gift boxes organized into distinct categories: Stays (hotel stays, romantic getaways, glamping), Gastronomy (restaurant dinners, wine tastings, cooking classes), Wellness & Spa, Action & Adventure (helicopter rides, water sports), Motorsport (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche driving experiences), and Entertainment (cinema, theme parks). The product line includes physical Smartbox gift boxes with physical booklets, e-Smartbox digital vouchers for immediate email delivery, prepaid Gift Cards in various denominations, and Business Solutions for corporate gifting. Smartbox operates across multiple European markets including Denmark, Sweden, Germany, France, and others, with over 140,000 experiences available. The company also offers regional collections (Classic Retail Collection) and web-exclusive products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Smartbox Gaveæske (Physical Gift Box)
Quantifiable outcome
- 39-month validity period reduces pressure on gift recipients
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Smartbox
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Smartbox technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature2 records
Smartbox partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Comwell HotelscoreComwell Hotels is a key hotel partner offering spa, wellness, and dining experiences within Smartbox gift boxes. Experiences include luxury stays with spa access and multi-course dinners at Comwell properties across Denmark.
- Scandic HotelscoreScandic Hotels provides accommodation and breakfast experiences as part of Smartbox gift offerings in Scandinavia, with stays at Scandic Opus Horsens, Scandic Palace Hotel, and other properties.
- Center ParcsmajorHoliday village partner offering family vacation experiences within Smartbox stay packages.
- Mercure HotelsmajorAccor hotel brand included in Smartbox accommodation experiences across Europe.
- Best WesternmajorBest Western hotel network partner providing quality accommodation options in Smartbox stay packages.
- The OriginalsminorHotel network partner offering unique and independent hotel experiences within Smartbox gift packages.
- Brit HotelminorFrench hotel network included in Smartbox accommodation experiences.
- ThalazurminorThalasso and spa hotel partner offering wellness-focused stays within Smartbox experiences.
- AdagiominorAparthotel partner offering extended stay options within Smartbox accommodation packages.
- Puy du FoumajorHistoric theme park partner offering premium tickets and experience packages within Smartbox leisure offerings.
- Europa-ParkmajorMajor theme park partner with locations in Germany and France, offering family entertainment experiences.
- Parc AstérixmajorFrench theme park partner offering family entertainment experiences within Smartbox.
- Rail EuropeminorTrain travel partner enabling combined rail and experience packages.
- Affiliate PartnerscoreNetwork of affiliates promoting Smartbox products with competitive commissions, customized promotional materials, and exclusive discount codes. Program includes over 45,000 experiences.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Smartbox competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Buyagift: UK-based experience gift retailer offering experience boxes across stays, dining, driving, and adventures — directly comparable on curated experience packaging and redemption model.
- Illicado: Multi-retailer gift card and voucher platform serving French consumers and corporates; overlaps with Smartbox on stored-value gifting and B2B incentive use cases.
- Red Letter Days: Long-standing UK experience-gifting brand providing experience days and gift boxes; competes with Smartbox's stays, dining, and adventure categories in the British market.
- Wonderbox: French-headquartered experience gift box and voucher company with a comparable multi-category catalog (stays, gastronomy, wellness, adventure) sold across several European countries — the closest structural competitor to Smartbox.
- Tinggly: Global digital-first experience gift company offering experience gifts redeemable across thousands of providers — directly comparable to e-Smartbox on digital voucher delivery and international redemption.
- Virgin Experience Days: UK experience-days retailer with a strong brand and broad experience portfolio; competes with Smartbox on consumer experience gifting, particularly in the UK and Ireland.
- Kadéos (Groupe Up): French gift voucher brand operated by Groupe Up; competes head-on with Smartbox in employee incentives, B2B benefits, and consumer gifting in France and adjacent markets.
Emerging players
- Cloud 9 Living: US-based experience gift company with a strong motorsport, aviation, and adventure catalog — comparable on experience curation and digital/physical hybrid delivery, with a more limited international footprint than Smartbox.
Regional players
- Odisseias: Portuguese experience gift company operating as Smartbox's local brand in Portugal; illustrates the regional experience-gifting model Smartbox competes with or absorbs in Iberia.
Broad incumbents
- Amazon Gift Cards: Mass-market digital gifting incumbent; competes indirectly for consumer gift-card wallet share and offers a closed-loop stored-value alternative to Smartbox's curated experience positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Smartbox social profiles
Digital presenceSmartbox financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Smartbox leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Smartbox funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Smartbox M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Smartbox
What does Smartbox do?
Smartbox sells physical gift boxes and digital e-Smartbox vouchers redeemable for curated experiences across Europe, including hotel stays, gastronomy, spa and wellness, adventure activities, motorsport driving experiences, and entertainment. Recipients select and book experiences through the Smartbox website or mobile app using the voucher's unique code, with 39-month validity. The company operates across 10+ European countries with a catalog of over 140,000 experiences.
Is Smartbox a public or private company?
Smartbox is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Smartbox founded?
Smartbox was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Smartbox based?
Smartbox is headquartered in Stockelsdorf, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Smartbox make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Physical Gift Box Sales are the primary driver. The others are E-Smartbox Digital Vouchers, B2B/Corporate Solutions and affiliate/Partner Revenue.
Who are Smartbox's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Buyagift, Illicado, Red Letter Days, Wonderbox, Tinggly, Virgin Experience Days and Kadéos (Groupe Up). Cloud 9 Living is listed as an emerging player. Odisseias is listed as a regional player. Amazon Gift Cards is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Smartbox have an API?
No public API is recorded for Smartbox.
What industry is Smartbox in?
Smartbox's product category is Experience Gifts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMANAB, Closed-Loop Gift Cards (Single-Merchant). Its NAICS code is 45942 and its SIC code is 7990.