Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 16th April 2026

 

1. Introduction

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Welcome to Soft Toy Sanctuary.

 

We care deeply about your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, how we keep it safe, and your rights in relation to your personal data when you visit our website or make a purchase from us.

 

Soft Toy Sanctuary is the data controller for the personal information collected through this website.

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2. Information We Collect

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To provide our services, we may collect the following information:

 

Personal Information

 

This may include:

 

• your name

• email address

• delivery address

• billing address

• phone number

• payment information

 

We collect this information when you place an order, contact us, or sign up for updates.

 

Please note that payment details are processed securely through Wix and/or our payment providers. We do not store full card details ourselves.

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Order and Transaction Information

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This includes:

 

• order history

• products purchased

• payment confirmations

• delivery and returns information

• customer service queries

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This helps us manage your orders and provide support.

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Technical Information

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When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain technical information, including:

 

• IP address

• browser type

• device type

• operating system

• pages visited

• time spent on the website

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This helps us improve the website and user experience.

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Marketing Preferences

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If you choose to receive emails from us, we store your communication preferences so we can send you relevant updates and offers.

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3. How We Use Your Information

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We use your personal information to:

 

• process and fulfil your orders

• arrange delivery of your adopted soft toys

• provide customer support

• communicate with you about your order

• improve our website and services

• send marketing communications where you have chosen to receive them

• comply with legal and accounting obligations

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4. Legal Basis for Processing

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Under UK GDPR, we rely on the following lawful bases for processing your information:

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Contract

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We process your data to fulfil our contract with you when you place an order, including payment processing and delivery.

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Consent

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Where you choose to sign up for newsletters or marketing emails, we rely on your consent.

 

You may withdraw your consent at any time.

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Legitimate Interests

 

We may use website usage data and customer communications to improve our website, products, and services.

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Legal Obligation

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We may retain certain information to comply with tax, accounting, and legal requirements.

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5. Sharing Your Information

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We never sell or rent your personal information.

 

We may share your information with trusted third parties where necessary, including:

 

• Wix (website hosting and website services)

• payment providers

• delivery and courier services

• professional advisers such as accountants

• legal or regulatory authorities where required by law

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These third parties are only permitted to use your information as necessary to provide their services.

 

6. Cookies and Website Tracking

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Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience and help us understand how visitors use the site.

 

Cookies may be used to:

 

• remember your preferences

• keep items in your basket

• recognise returning visitors

• analyse website traffic

• improve website performance

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You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings or our cookie banner.

 

Disabling cookies may affect how some parts of the website function.

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7. Keeping Your Information Safe

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Our website is hosted on Wix, which uses security measures such as encryption, secure servers, and access controls to help protect your personal information.

 

While we take reasonable steps to protect your data, no online transmission can ever be guaranteed to be completely secure.

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8. How Long We Keep Your Information

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We only keep your personal information for as long as necessary.

 

This may include:

 

• order and payment records for up to 6 years to comply with UK tax and accounting requirements

• customer service messages for as long as reasonably necessary

• marketing preferences until you unsubscribe

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9. Your Rights

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Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

 

• request access to your personal data

• request correction of inaccurate data

• request deletion of your data where applicable

• object to certain processing

• withdraw consent for marketing at any time

• request restriction of processing in certain circumstances

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To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at:

 

📧 softtoysanctuary@outlook.com

 

You also have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you believe your data has been handled incorrectly.

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10. Links to Other Websites

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Our website may contain links to third-party websites.

 

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites and recommend checking their privacy policies.

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11. Updates to This Policy

 

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

 

The latest version will always be available on our website with the updated effective date.

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12. Contact Us

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If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact us:

 

📧 softtoysanctuary@outlook.com

 

Thank you for supporting Soft Toy Sanctuary and helping rescued teddies find loving new homes. 💛