Privacy Policy

At Velvet Grounds, we recognize that your privacy is important. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services. We are committed to protecting your personal data and handling it responsibly.

Please read this privacy policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please discontinue use of our website.

Information We Collect

Personal Information You Provide

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

Fill out contact forms or inquiry requests
Subscribe to our newsletters or communications
Register for our services or consultations
Participate in our events or workshops
Communicate with us via email or other channels

This information may include your name, email address, preferences regarding coffee, event details, and any other information you choose to share with us.

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing behavior, including:

IP address and geographic location
Browser type and version
Pages visited and time spent on pages
Referring website addresses
Device information and operating system

This information is collected through cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to help us understand how visitors interact with our website.

Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third-party services such as analytics providers, advertising networks, and social media platforms. This helps us better understand our audience and improve our services.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

Providing Services: To deliver the coffee experiences, consultations, and events you request from us
Communication: To respond to your inquiries, send confirmations, and provide customer support
Personalization: To tailor our recommendations and content to your preferences and interests
Marketing: To send you information about new offerings, upcoming events, and special promotions (with your consent)
Website Improvement: To analyze usage patterns and enhance our website's functionality and user experience
Security: To protect against fraud, unauthorized access, and other security threats
Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes
Business Operations: To maintain records, process payments, and manage our business relationships

Legal Basis for Processing Your Data

We process your personal data based on one or more of the following legal grounds:

Consent: You have given clear consent for us to process your personal data for specific purposes, such as receiving marketing communications.

Contract: Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract with you, such as when you purchase our services.

Legitimate Interests: Processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests, such as improving our services, provided these interests don't override your rights.

Legal Obligation: Processing is necessary to comply with legal requirements and regulations.

How We Share Your Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us with website hosting, email delivery, payment processing, analytics, and customer relationship management. These providers only have access to information necessary to perform their functions.

Business Partners

We may share information with coffee producers, event venues, and other partners who help us deliver our services, always ensuring they adhere to appropriate privacy standards.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or governmental authority, or when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.

Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or control.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this privacy policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

Specific retention periods depend on the nature of the information and the purpose for which it was collected:

Contact form submissions: Retained for up to three years for customer service purposes
Marketing communications preferences: Retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion
Service records: Retained for the duration of our business relationship plus applicable legal retention periods
Website analytics data: Typically retained for 26 months

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

Encryption of data in transit and at rest
Regular security assessments and updates
Access controls and authentication procedures
Employee training on data protection practices
Secure backup and recovery systems

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

Right to Access

You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.

Right to Rectification

You can request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information.

Right to Erasure

You can request that we delete your personal information under certain circumstances.

Right to Restrict Processing

You can request that we limit how we use your personal information.

Right to Data Portability

You can request to receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used format.

Right to Object

You can object to our processing of your personal information for direct marketing or other purposes.

Right to Withdraw Consent

Where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us through the information provided below. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable law.

Your Rights and Opt-Out Instructions

You are not required to provide any personal information when using this website. If you prefer not to share your data, you may:

Avoid filling out contact forms, account registrations, or any data-submitting features
Disable cookies through your browser settings (see our Cookie Policy for more details)
Contact us directly to request the deletion of any previously shared personal data

We respect your privacy choices. If you would like us to delete your data, please reach out to us through our contact form. We will process your request promptly in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not operated by us. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit. This Privacy Policy applies only to information collected through our website.

Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to delete such information.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your jurisdiction.

When we transfer your information internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as standard contractual clauses approved by relevant authorities, to protect your personal data in accordance with this privacy policy.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy.

We encourage you to review this privacy policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information. Your continued use of our website after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated policy.