PRIVACY POLICY

Effective Date: 2nd September 2024 (Last Updated: October 2026)

www.builduptochristmas.com (the "Site") is owned and operated by Build up to Christmas. Build up to Christmas is the data controller for the personal information collected on this Site and can be contacted at builduptochristmas@gmail.com.

1. Purpose

The purpose of this privacy policy (this "Privacy Policy") is to inform users of our Site of the following:

The personal data we collect;
How we use collected data;
Who has access to the data;
International data transfers and customs processing;
The legal rights of Site users; and
The Site's cookie policy.

2. GDPR & International Compliance

For users in the United Kingdom and the European Union, we adhere to the UK GDPR (Data Protection Act 2018) and the EU GDPR. For international customers located in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong, we process personal data in accordance with applicable local privacy laws (including the Australian Privacy Act 1988 and the Japanese Act on the Protection of Personal Information).

We have not appointed a Data Protection Officer, as our processing activities do not meet the criteria requiring one under Article 37 of the GDPR.

3. Consent

By using our Site, users consent to the conditions set out in this Privacy Policy. You may withdraw your consent at any time by emailing us at builduptochristmas@gmail.com.

4. Personal Data We Collect

We only collect personal data that helps us fulfill orders, provide customer service, handle logistics, and ensure the proper functioning of our Site.

A. Data Collected Automatically

When you visit and browse our Site, we may automatically collect:

IP address
General geographical location
Pages and content viewed

B. Data Collected Non-Automatically

We collect personal data provided directly by you when you perform specific functions on our Site (such as completing checkout or making an inquiry):

First and last name
Email address
Delivery and billing address
Contact telephone number (used for shipping, delivery notifications, and postal tracking updates)
Payment details (processed securely via Wix Payments and third-party payment gateways)

5. How We Use Personal Data

Data collected on our Site is used strictly for the following purposes:

Automatically Collected Data: Used for website security, troubleshooting, and site analytics.
Non-Automatically Collected Data: Used to process and fulfill orders, handle postage and international dispatch, process secure payments, send transactional updates (such as order and shipping tracking details), generate required customs documentation, and respond to customer inquiries.

6. Sharing Data with Third Parties & Customs

We will not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to third parties. We share data only with essential service providers necessary to operate our business and fulfill domestic and international orders:

E-Commerce & Payment Platform: We use Wix to power our online store and process payments securely. You can read Wix’s Privacy Policy at wix.com/about/privacy.
Fulfillment & Logistics Partners: Recipient names, delivery addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses are shared with our logistics software management platforms and third-party postal or courier service providers (including local and international postal networks and commercial couriers) solely to generate shipping labels, transmit tracking information, and complete parcel delivery.
Customs Authorities: For orders shipped outside the UK, delivery recipient details and parcel description/value information are transmitted electronically and displayed on physical declarations as required by international border and customs authorities.
Website Analytics: We may share anonymised analytics data with providers (such as Google Analytics) to help us understand site performance and user experience.
Legal Requirements: We may disclose user data if required by law, for legal proceedings, or to defend our legal rights.

7. International Data Transfers

We protect your information during these transfers by using secure SSL encryption, trusted platforms (Wix and Shippo), and established international shipping and postal networks.When you place an order on our Site from outside the United Kingdom (including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong), your personal data is transferred to and processed in the UK, where our fulfillment and business operations are located.

8. Data Retention

We store personal data only as long as necessary to achieve the purpose for which it was collected (for example, to fulfill your order, complete return windows, maintain accounting records, or comply with statutory legal requirements).

9. Security

We use industry-standard browser encryption (SSL/TLS) and secure host servers via Wix to protect user data. While we take every reasonable physical, technical, and organizational precaution, please note that no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure.

10. Your Legal Rights

Depending on your location, you have statutory rights regarding your personal data:

UK & EU Residents (UK/EU GDPR):
- Right to be informed: Clear information about how your data is used.
- Right of access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Right to rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Right to erasure ("Right to be forgotten"): Request deletion of your personal data where applicable.
- Right to restrict or object to processing: Request that we limit or stop using your data.
Australian Residents: Rights under the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Principles) to access and request correction of your personal information.
Japanese Residents: Rights under the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) regarding data access, correction, and deletion.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at builduptochristmas@gmail.com.

11. Children's Privacy

We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal data from children under 16 years of age. If we become aware that we have collected personal data from a child under 16 without verified parental consent, we will delete that information immediately.

12. Cookie Policy

Our Site uses functional, analytical, and performance cookies to enable core website functionality (such as keeping items in your shopping cart), analyze traffic, and improve user experience. You can choose to disable or block cookies through your web browser settings, though doing so may impact site functionality and the checkout process.

13. Contact & Complaints

If you have questions, concerns, or wish to make a complaint regarding how your data is handled, please contact us first at builduptochristmas@gmail.com.

If you remain unsatisfied with our response, UK residents have the right to lodge a complaint directly with the UK data protection authority:

Information Commissioner's Office (ICO): ico.org.uk | Helpline: 0303 123 1113