At Creative Hobbies & Crafts, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your data when you visit our website or engage with our services.

1. Information We Collect

Personal Information

We may collect the following personal information when you:

• Create an account or make a purchase
• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Contact us through our website or social media
• Participate in surveys or promotions

This information may include:

• Name and contact details (email, phone, address)
• Payment information (processed securely through third-party providers)
• Order history and preferences
• Communication records

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we automatically collect:

• IP address and browser information
• Device type and operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on our site
• Referring website information

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

• Process and fulfill your orders for creative hobbies supplies and home handmade decor art materials
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Send newsletters and promotional materials about Japanese crafts and DIY projects
• Improve our website functionality and user experience
• Comply with legal obligations and prevent fraud
• Analyze website usage to enhance our creative hobbies offerings

3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and login information
• Analyze website traffic and user behavior
• Provide personalized content and recommendations
• Enable social media features and advertising

4. Third-Party Services and Analytics

We use third-party services to enhance your experience:

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our website. This helps us improve our content about Japanese crafts and creative hobbies. Google Analytics collects information anonymously and reports website trends without identifying individual visitors.

Social Media Integration

Our website includes links to our social media profiles on Instagram (@ibis.japan.handmade) and Facebook. These platforms have their own privacy policies that govern how they handle your data.

Payment Processors

We use secure third-party payment processors to handle transactions. We do not store your complete payment information on our servers.

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

• With service providers who help us operate our business (shipping, payment processing, email services)
• When required by law or to protect our legal rights
• In the event of a business merger or acquisition (with prior notice)
• With your explicit consent

6. Your Rights Under GDPR

If you are located in the European Union, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against:

• Unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure
• Accidental loss or destruction
• Malicious attacks and data breaches

Our security measures include encrypted data transmission, secure servers, regular security audits, and staff training on data protection practices.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Typically, we retain customer data for 7 years after the last interaction, unless a longer retention period is required by law.

9. International Data Transfers

As we are based in Japan, your personal information may be transferred to and processed in Japan. We ensure that any international transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and implement appropriate safeguards to protect your information.

10. Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not directed to children under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 16, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on our website and updating the "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

12. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: