At The Seed Story, we respect your privacy and take the protection of your personal information seriously.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we use it, who we may share it with and the rights you have in relation to your personal data.
 

1. Who We Are

The Seed Story is responsible for the personal information we collect and use through this website.

Business name: The Seed Story
Email: grow@theseedstory.co.uk

For data-protection purposes, The Seed Story is the data controller.
 

2. Information We Collect

Depending on how you use our website, we may collect:

• your name;

• billing and delivery address;

• email address;

• telephone number;

• details of products you order;

• order and transaction information;

• messages or enquiries you send us;

• newsletter and marketing preferences; and

• technical information such as your IP address, browser, device information and website usage data.

We do not receive or store your full credit or debit card details. Payments are handled securely by the payment providers available through our website checkout.
 

3. How We Collect Your Information

We collect personal information when you:

• place an order;

• contact us;

• subscribe to our newsletter;

• complete a form on our website; or

• interact with our website and permitted cookies or analytics technologies.

Some technical information may also be collected automatically when you visit the website.
 

4. How We Use Your Information

We only use personal information where we have a lawful reason to do so.

We may use your information to:

Process and deliver your order
This includes taking payment, preparing your order, arranging delivery and sending order updates.
Our lawful basis is the performance of our contract with you.

Provide customer service
We use your information to answer enquiries, resolve order issues and provide growing support.
Our lawful basis may be performance of our contract or our legitimate interests in providing good customer service.

Meet legal and accounting requirements
We retain certain order and transaction records where required for tax, accounting or other legal purposes.
Our lawful basis is compliance with a legal obligation.

Send marketing communications
If you have chosen to receive our newsletters or promotional emails, we may use your email address to send them to you.

You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in our emails or by contacting grow@theseedstory.co.uk.

Improve our website
We may use permitted analytics information to understand how visitors use the website and improve our products, content and customer experience.
 

5. Who We Share Information With

We do not sell or rent your personal information.

We may share information where necessary with trusted providers that help us operate The Seed Story, including:

• Wix, which hosts and supports our website and online store;

• payment providers used through our checkout;

• Royal Mail or other delivery providers used to fulfil orders;

• email or newsletter services we use;

• accounting or professional service providers; and

• technical, website or IT service providers where required.

We only provide the information reasonably necessary for those services.

We may also disclose information where required by law or a lawful authority.
 

6. International Data Transfers

Some of the technology and service providers we use may process or store personal information outside the UK.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate legal safeguards are in place, such as UK adequacy regulations or approved data-transfer safeguards.
 

7. How Long We Keep Your Information

We do not keep personal information for longer than reasonably necessary.

As a general guide:

• Order and financial records: normally retained for up to six years where required for tax, accounting or legal purposes.

• Customer enquiries: normally retained for up to two years where useful for customer service or ongoing support.

• Marketing information: retained until you unsubscribe or withdraw your consent, although we may retain a minimal suppression record so that we know not to contact you again.

Information may be retained for longer where we are legally required to do so or where necessary to establish, exercise or defend legal claims.
 

8. Your Data-Protection Rights

Depending on the circumstances, you may have the right to:

• ask what personal information we hold about you;

• receive a copy of your information;

• have inaccurate information corrected;

• ask us to delete information in certain circumstances;

• ask us to restrict how information is used;

• object to certain types of processing;

• receive certain information in a portable format; and

• withdraw consent where processing is based on your consent.

You also have the absolute right to object to your personal information being used for direct marketing.

To exercise your rights, contact: grow@theseedstory.co.uk

We will normally respond to valid requests within one month.
 

9. Cookies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies.

Some cookies are essential for the website and online shop to function, for example to operate the shopping basket or maintain website security.

Other cookies may be used for analytics, advertising or marketing purposes.

Where consent is required, these optional cookies will only be used after you have been given an appropriate choice through our cookie settings.

You can change your cookie preferences through the website's cookie settings where available.

For more information, please see our Cookie Policy or cookie settings.
 

10. Data-Protection Complaints

If you are concerned about how we have used your personal information, please contact us at: grow@theseedstory.co.uk

We will:

• provide a clear way for you to raise a data-protection complaint;

• acknowledge your complaint within 30 days;

• investigate the matter appropriately;

• keep you informed where necessary; and

• tell you the outcome without undue delay.

If you remain unhappy with how we have handled your information, you also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's data-protection regulator.
 

11. Security

We take reasonable organisational and technical measures to protect the personal information we hold against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration or disclosure.

However, no internet-based system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
 

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our business, website or legal requirements.

The latest version will always be published on this page.
 

13. Contact Us

For questions about this Privacy Policy, your personal information or a data-protection complaint, please contact:

The Seed Story
Email: grow@theseedstory.co.uk