Privacy & Cookies Policy
Effective date: 1st February 2026
1. Introduction
Welcome to Essex- Honey. I respect your privacy and am committed to protecting the personal data I collect when you visit www.essex-honey.co.uk, place orders, or otherwise interact with me. This policy explains what information I collect, how I use it, and your rights under UK data‑protection law.
2. What Personal Data I Collect
Category Examples Why I Collect It
Account / Contact information Name, email address, telephone number, shipping/billing address To create and manage your account, process orders, and keep you informed about order status.
Payment details Credit/debit card number, PayPal ID (handled by third‑party payment providers) To complete transactions securely.
Technical / Usage data IP address, browser type, device, operating system, pages visited, referral URL To improve site performance, diagnose issues, and analyse traffic.
Cookies & similar technologies Session IDs, analytics identifiers, preference settings To remember your preferences, keep you logged in, and gather aggregate usage statistics.
I only collect data that is necessary for the purposes described below.
3. How I Use Your Data
Order fulfilment: Process, ship, and deliver purchases; issue invoices and receipts.
Customer service: Respond to enquiries, resolve disputes, and provide support.
Marketing : Send newsletters, promotional offers, or product updates only if you have opted‑in. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link in each email.
Analytics & improvements: Track aggregate site usage (e.g., Google Analytics) to understand how visitors use the site and to enhance functionality.
Legal compliance: Meet tax, customs, fraud‑prevention, and other regulatory obligations.
4. Sharing & Disclosure
I do not sell your personal data. I may share it with:
Payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) solely to complete transactions.
Shipping carriers (e.g., Royal Mail, DPD, UPS) for delivery purposes.
Service providers (e.g., email‑marketing platforms, analytics tools) who act on our behalf under strict confidentiality agreements.
Legal authorities when required by law, court order, or to protect our rights and safety.
All third parties are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we specify.
5. Cookies
5.1 What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help websites remember information about your visit.
5.2 Types I Use
Cookie type Purpose Duration
Essential / strictly necessary Session management, cart contents, security Session or until you log out
Preferences Remember language, currency, or layout choices Up to 1 year
Analytics Collect aggregated usage data (e.g., Google Analytics) Up to 2 years
Marketing Show personalised ads or track campaign performance (only if you consent) Up to 1 year
5.3 Managing Cookies
You can control cookies through your browser settings (e.g., block, delete, or receive a warning before a cookie is set). Disabling essential cookies may prevent parts of the site—such as the shopping cart—from working correctly.
6. Data Retention
I retain personal data only as long as necessary:
Order‑related data: Typically 7 years for accounting/tax purposes (HMRC requirements).
Marketing data: Until you unsubscribe or request deletion.
Analytics data: Aggregated and anonymised after 12 months.
7. Your Rights (UK GDPR & Data Protection Act 2018)
Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, you have the right to:
Access the personal data we hold about you.
Rectify any inaccurate or incomplete data.
Erase your data (the “right to be forgotten”) where applicable.
Restrict or object to processing of your data.
Data portability – receive a copy of your data in a commonly used electronic format.
Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 9. We will respond within one month, as required by law.
8. Security
We employ industry‑standard security measures—including TLS encryption for data in transit and secure storage practices—to protect your information. While we strive to safeguard your data, no method is 100 % fool‑proof; we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Contact Me
If you have questions, concerns, or wish to exercise any of your data‑subject rights, please get in touch:
Essex-Honey
Email: beekeeper@essex-honey.co.uk
Address: 116 School Road Copford Essex CO61BX
You may also lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you feel your data protection rights have been breached: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time to reflect legal, technical, or operational changes. The “Effective date” at the top will indicate the latest revision. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.