Privacy Policy for MinimalFeet

Effective Date: [October 16, 2025]

This Privacy Policy ("Policy") governs the collection, use, storage, disclosure, and protection of personal information (as defined below) provided by users ("You" or "User") of the MinimalFeet website (the "Website"), an e-commerce platform offering home shoes and related products. By accessing or using the Website, You acknowledge that You have read, understood, and agree to be bound by the terms of this Policy, as well as our Terms of Service.

This Policy complies with applicable global privacy regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for users in the European Economic Area (EEA), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for users in California, and other relevant data protection laws. MinimalFeet ("We," "Us," or "Our") is committed to protecting Your privacy and ensuring the security of Your personal information.

1. Definitions of Personal Information

For the purposes of this Policy, "Personal Information" refers to any information that can identify, contact, or be associated with a specific individual, either directly or indirectly. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Identifying information (e.g., name, email address, phone number, shipping/billing address);
• Payment information (e.g., credit card details, PayPal account information) (note: We do not store full payment card data—see Section 4 for details);
• Usage data (e.g., browsing history, pages visited, search queries, device type, IP address, operating system, browser information, and access times);
• Account information (e.g., username, password (encrypted), order history, wishlist items, and communication preferences);
• Voluntarily provided information (e.g., feedback, reviews, survey responses, or information shared through customer support).

"Anonymous Information" refers to data that has been de-identified or aggregated such that it no longer identifies a specific individual. We may use Anonymous Information for analytics, research, and improving the Website without restriction.

2. Information We Collect

We collect Personal Information in the following ways:

2.1 Information You Provide Voluntarily

• Account Creation: When You create an account on the Website, We collect Your name, email address, password, and shipping address (optional during account setup).
• Order Processing: When You place an order, We collect additional information necessary to fulfill the order, including billing address, shipping address, phone number, and payment details (processed through third-party payment processors).
• Communication: When You contact our customer support team (via email, phone, or the Website’s contact form), We collect information about Your inquiry, including Your name, contact details, and any information You provide to resolve the issue.
• Reviews & Feedback: If You submit a product review, feedback, or participate in a survey, We collect the content of Your submission, along with Your name (if You choose to display it publicly) and email address (for verification purposes only).

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When You access or use the Website, We may automatically collect Usage Data through the use of cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies.

• Cookies: Small text files stored on Your device that help us recognize Your browser, remember Your preferences (e.g., language, shipping country), and track usage patterns. You can manage cookie preferences through Your browser settings (see Section 8 for details).
• Web Beacons: Tiny graphics embedded in the Website or emails that track interactions (e.g., opening an email, clicking a link) to measure campaign effectiveness.
• Device & Technical Data: We collect information about the device You use to access the Website, including IP address, device type, operating system, browser version, screen resolution, and internet service provider.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive Personal Information from trusted third-party partners in limited circumstances:

• Payment Processors: Third-party payment providers (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) share transaction details (e.g., payment confirmation, order amount) to process payments and prevent fraud. We do not store full credit card numbers or sensitive payment data.
• Shipping Partners: Courier services (e.g., USPS, DHL) provide tracking information to update You on order deliveries.
• Social Media Platforms: If You choose to sign up or log in using a social media account (e.g., Facebook, Google), We collect the information You authorize the platform to share (e.g., name, email address).

3. How We Use Your Personal Information

We use Your Personal Information only for legitimate purposes consistent with this Policy and applicable law. The primary uses include:

3.1 Fulfillment of Services & Orders

• Process, confirm, and deliver Your orders (including communicating with shipping partners);
• Provide order updates, tracking information, and delivery confirmations;
• Resolve issues related to orders (e.g., returns, exchanges, refunds).

3.2 Website Improvement & Personalization

• Analyze usage patterns to improve the Website’s functionality, design, and user experience;
• Personalize content, product recommendations, and marketing communications based on Your browsing history and preferences;
• Test new features, products, and services to better meet user needs.

3.3 Communication

• Respond to Your inquiries, feedback, or customer support requests;
• Send transactional emails (e.g., account verification, password resets, order confirmations) that are necessary for using the Website;
• Send marketing communications (e.g., newsletters, promotions, new product announcements) if You have opted in to receive them. You can unsubscribe at any time (see Section 5.5).

3.4 Security & Fraud Prevention

• Protect the Website and users from unauthorized access, data breaches, fraud, or malicious activities;
• Verify user identities, detect and prevent fraudulent transactions, and comply with anti-money laundering requirements;
• Monitor and respond to security incidents (e.g., suspicious login attempts, unauthorized purchases).

3.5 Compliance with Legal Obligations

• Comply with applicable laws, regulations, court orders, or legal processes (e.g., subpoenas);
• Enforce our Terms of Service and resolve disputes;
• Report illegal activities or threats to public safety as required by law.

4. How We Store & Protect Your Personal Information

4.1 Storage Practices

• We store Your Personal Information on secure servers located in the EEA, United States, or other countries with adequate data protection laws (as recognized by the GDPR and CCPA).
• We retain Personal Information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. For example:
  • Order information is retained for 7 years to comply with tax and accounting regulations;
  • Account information is retained until You request deletion (see Section 5.3);
  • Usage data is anonymized or deleted after 2 years unless needed for security or legal purposes.

4.2 Security Measures

We implement industry-standard technical, administrative, and physical security measures to protect Your Personal Information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction:

• Encryption of data in transit (via SSL/TLS) and at rest (using AES-256 encryption);
• Secure access controls (e.g., two-factor authentication, role-based permissions) for employees and third-party partners;
• Regular security audits, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing;
• Training for employees on data protection best practices and privacy compliance;
• Firewalls and intrusion detection systems to prevent unauthorized access to servers.

Despite these measures, no security system is 100% foolproof. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but We will promptly notify You and relevant authorities of any data breach that may affect Your rights, as required by law.

5. User Rights Regarding Personal Information

You have certain rights regarding Your Personal Information under applicable privacy laws. To exercise these rights, please contact our Privacy Team at [dawn54717@gmail.com] with Your name, email address, and a detailed description of Your request. We will respond within 30 days (or within the timeframe required by law) and may request additional information to verify Your identity.

5.1 Right to Access

You may request a copy of the Personal Information We hold about You, including details of how it is collected, used, and shared.

5.2 Right to Correction

You may request correction of inaccurate or incomplete Personal Information (e.g., updating Your shipping address or email).

5.3 Right to Erasure ("Right to Be Forgotten")

You may request deletion of Your Personal Information, provided that We are not required to retain it by law (e.g., tax records) or for legitimate business purposes (e.g., resolving disputes). Deletion requests will result in the closure of Your account.

5.4 Right to Data Portability

You may request a copy of Your Personal Information in a structured, machine-readable format (e.g., CSV file) to transfer to another service provider, where technically feasible.

5.5 Right to Withdraw Consent

You may withdraw consent for certain uses of Your Personal Information (e.g., marketing communications) at any time. Unsubscribing from marketing emails can be done by clicking the "Unsubscribe" link in the email or contacting our Privacy Team. Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before withdrawal.

5.6 Right to Restrict Processing

You may request that We restrict processing of Your Personal Information (e.g., if You dispute the accuracy of the data or object to processing).

5.7 Right to Object

You may object to processing of Your Personal Information for direct marketing purposes or for purposes based on legitimate interests (e.g., personalized recommendations). We will cease processing unless We can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for processing that override Your interests.

5.8 Right to Lodge a Complaint

If You believe We have violated Your privacy rights, You may lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority (e.g., the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the UK, the California Attorney General’s Office, or Your local data protection authority).

6. Disclosure & Sharing of Personal Information

We do not sell, rent, or lease Your Personal Information to third parties for marketing purposes without Your explicit consent. We may share Your Personal Information in the following limited circumstances:

6.1 Service Providers

We share Personal Information with trusted third-party service providers who perform functions on our behalf, including:

• Payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) to process payments securely;
• Shipping partners (e.g., USPS, DHL) to deliver orders and provide tracking;
• Marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp) to send newsletters (if You opted in);
• Analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics) to improve the Website (see Section 8 for cookie details);
• Customer support tools (e.g., Zendesk) to respond to inquiries.

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect Your Personal Information and may only use it to perform the services we request.

6.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose Personal Information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or to protect our legal rights, property, or safety, or the rights, property, or safety of others.

6.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or bankruptcy, Your Personal Information may be transferred to the acquiring entity as part of the business transaction. We will notify You of any such transfer and ensure the acquiring entity complies with this Policy.

6.4 User Consent

We may share Personal Information with third parties if You explicitly consent to the disclosure (e.g., sharing Your information with a partner for a joint promotion).

7. Third-Party Links & Services

The Website may contain links to third-party websites, social media platforms, or services (e.g., product reviews, payment gateways). This Policy does not apply to the privacy practices of these third parties. We recommend that You review the privacy policies of any third-party sites You access through the Website. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third parties.

8. Cookie Policy

8.1 Types of Cookies We Use

• Necessary Cookies: Essential for the Website to function (e.g., remembering items in Your cart, enabling secure login). These cookies cannot be disabled.
• Functional Cookies: Remember Your preferences (e.g., language, shipping country) to enhance Your user experience.
• Analytical Cookies: Track usage patterns (e.g., pages visited, time spent) to improve the Website and analyze trends. We use Google Analytics for this purpose—You can opt out using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
• Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver personalized ads and measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. These cookies are only used if You opt in.

8.2 Managing Cookie Preferences

You can manage cookie preferences through Your browser settings (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari). You can block or delete cookies, but disabling necessary cookies may limit functionality of the Website (e.g., unable to complete purchases).

9. Children’s Privacy

The Website is not intended for users under the age of 13 ("Children"). We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from Children under 13. If We become aware that We have collected Personal Information from a Child under 13 without parental consent, We will promptly delete the information. Parents or guardians may contact us at [dawn54717@gmail.com] if they believe their child has provided Personal Information.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements, business practices, or Website functionality. We will notify You of material changes by:

• Posting the updated Policy on the Website with a new "Effective Date";
• Sending an email to Your registered email address (if You have an account);
• Displaying a pop-up notification on the Website.

Your continued use of the Website after the effective date of the updated Policy constitutes acceptance of the changes. We recommend that You review this Policy periodically.

11. Contact Us

If You have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Policy or the handling of Your Personal Information, please contact our Privacy Team:

• Email: dawn54717@gmail.com