Privacy Policy for Cara Hotchkiss

1. Introduction
Cara Hotchkiss (“we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy informs you about how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website cara-hotchkiss.com (the “Site”) and make a purchase or interact with our services.

2. Information We Collect
We collect several types of information to provide and improve our services to you.

  • Personal Identification Information: This includes your name, billing address, shipping address, email address, and phone number, which you provide when making a purchase or creating an account.
  • Order and Payment Information: Details of the products you order and your payment information. Please note that all payment transactions are processed through secure third-party gateways, and we do not store your full credit card details on our servers.
  • Technical and Usage Data: This includes your IP address, browser type, device information, operating system, pages you viewed on our Site, and browsing behavior. This data is collected automatically through cookies and similar technologies.
  • Personalization Data: The specific names, dates, words, or other text you provide for the customization of your jewelry.
  • Communication Data: Any correspondence when you contact our customer service.

3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for various purposes:

  • To Fulfill Your Order: To process your payment, communicate with you about your order, ship your purchase, and handle returns or repairs.
  • To Personalize Your Product: To create the handcrafted, personalized jewelry you have ordered.
  • To Communicate With You: To send you order confirmations, shipping updates, and responses to your inquiries. With your explicit consent, we may send you marketing communications about our products and promotions.
  • To Improve Our Site and Services: To analyze how our Site is used, troubleshoot problems, and enhance user experience.
  • For Security and Fraud Prevention: To protect our business and our customers.

4. Legal Basis for Processing (for EEA/UK Customers)
Our processing of your personal data is justified by the following legal bases:

  • Performance of a Contract: Processing necessary to fulfill your order.
  • Legitimate Interests: Processing for purposes such as security, fraud prevention, and website improvement.
  • Consent: Where you have given clear consent for specific purposes, such as marketing emails. You may withdraw consent at any time.
  • Legal Obligation: Processing necessary to comply with the law.

5. Sharing Your Personal Information
We share your data only with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our business, under strict confidentiality agreements:

  • Payment Processors (e.g., Shopify Payments, PayPal).
  • Shipping and Logistics Partners (e.g., DHL, FedEx, national postal services).
  • IT and Cloud Service Providers for hosting and maintaining our Site.
  • Professional Advisors such as lawyers or accountants, when required.
    We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

6. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, including for legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Order information is typically retained to comply with tax and warranty obligations.

7. Your Data Protection Rights
Depending on your location, you may have rights including:

  • Access: The right to request copies of your personal data.
  • Rectification: The right to request correction of inaccurate information.
  • Erasure: The right to request deletion of your personal data under certain conditions.
  • Restrict or Object to Processing: The right to request restriction or object to our processing of your data.
  • Data Portability: The right to request transfer of your data to another organization.
  • Withdraw Consent: Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.
    To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 10.

8. Cookies
Our Site uses cookies to enhance functionality, analyze performance, and support marketing efforts. You can control cookie settings through your browser. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy on cara-hotchkiss.com.

9. International Data Transfers
As an international brand, your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this policy and applicable law.

10. Contact Us
For questions about this privacy policy, your personal data, or to exercise your rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer:

  • By email using the contact form available on cara-hotchkiss.com.

11. Policy Updates
We may update this privacy policy periodically. The latest version will always be posted on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review it regularly.