Hawking Seeds Privacy Policy
Welcome to Hawking Seeds. We value your privacy and want to be clear about how we handle your personal information. As an online seed store, we use your data to make sure your orders reach you smoothly and to keep our cosmic community safe and informed. This policy explains what we collect, why we collect it, and what your rights are under UK law.
Who We Are
Hawking Seeds UK is an independent collectable seed and art brand. We are the 'data controller' of your personal information, which means we decide how and why your information is used. If you have any questions, you can always reach us at support@hawkingseeds.co.uk.
The Data We Collect
To run our store effectively, we collect details you provide and information generated by your use of the site:
- Account Details: Name, email address, password, and account preferences.
- Orders & Payment: Details of the seeds you buy and your delivery address. Payment information is securely processed by third parties; we do not see or store full card details.
- Marketing Preferences: Information on whether you've signed up for our cosmic newsletter.
- Cookies & Analytics: We use cookies to understand site use and keep track of your shopping basket.
Legal Age & Verification
Our products are for collectors aged 18 and over. We may use your data to verify your age to ensure we are complying with UK law and our own safety standards. By using this store, you confirm you are of legal age.
How and Why We Use Your Data
We only use your data when we have a legal reason to do so:
- Fulfilling Orders: Processing your purchases and delivering seeds to your door.
- Preventing Fraud: Shielding our store and customers from suspicious activity.
- Running the Store: Managing accounts and improving our cosmic website.
- UK Law: Meeting our tax and legal obligations.
Sharing Your Information
We don't sell your data. We only share it with trusted partners who help us run Hawking Seeds:
- Payments & Delivery: Payment processors (like Stripe) and delivery couriers.
- Marketing Tools: Services that help us send you relevant updates.
- International Transfers: Some partners, such as Printful, operate outside the UK/EEA. We ensure these transfers are protected by UK-approved safeguards.
- Data Retention: We keep your data for as long as needed to manage your account or comply with legal requirements (typically 6-7 years).
Your Rights
Under UK data protection law, you have the right to access, correct, or delete your data. You can also object to us using your data or file a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). For any requests or queries regarding your privacy, please get in touch with our team at support@hawkingseeds.co.uk.