Privacy Policy
 

At christmastreeworld.co.uk, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. 

This Privacy Policy explains how Christmas Tree World Ltd (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, and shares your personal information when you visit or make a purchase from www.christmastreeworld.co.uk (the “Site”).  Christmas Tree World Ltd is the data controller responsible for the processing of your personal data.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information in accordance with UK data protection laws, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Personal Information We Collect

We collect information about you in the following ways:

• Device Information (Automatically Collected)

When you visit the Site, we automatically collect certain information about your device, which we call “Device Information.” This information helps us to understand how you use our Site and to improve it. This Device Information includes:

• Web browser type and version
• IP address
• Time zone setting
• Information about cookies installed on your device.
• Web pages and products you view
• Websites or search terms that referred you to our Site
• Information about how you interact with the Site (e.g., clicks, browsing patterns).

We use the following technologies to collect Device Information:

• Cookies: These are small data files placed on your device and often include an anonymous unique identifier.
• Log files: These track actions occurring on the Site and collect data such as your IP address, browser type, Internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, and date/time stamps.
• Web beacons, tags, and pixels: These are electronic files used to record information about how you browse the Site.

Cookie Policy

This section explains how we use cookies and similar technologies on our website, www.christmastreeworld.co.uk (the “Site”).  By using our Site, you consent to the use of cookies as described in this policy.

What are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your browser or device by websites that you visit. They are widely used to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site. Cookies are useful because they allow a website to recognise a user’s device and remember information about your visit, such as your preferences or browsing history.

How we use Cookies

We use cookies for a variety of purposes on our Site, including:

• Essential Cookies (Strictly Necessary Cookies): These cookies are essential for the operation of our website. They enable you to navigate the Site and use its essential features, such as adding items to your shopping basket and completing the checkout process. Without these cookies, services you have asked for, like shopping baskets or e-billing, cannot be provided.  These cookies are typically set in response to actions made by you, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms.
• Performance/Analytics Cookies: These cookies collect information about how visitors use our website, for example, which pages visitors go to most often, and if they get error messages from web pages. These cookies help us to improve the way our website works.  For example, we use Google Analytics cookies to help us understand how customers arrive at our site, browse or use our site and highlight areas where we can improve areas such as navigation and shopping experience. The information collected by these cookies is usually aggregated and anonymous.   
• Functionality Cookies: These cookies allow our website to remember choices you make (such as your user name, language or the region you are in) and provide enhanced, more personal features.  For instance, they may be used to remember your preferences or settings for future visits. They may also be used to provide services you have asked for such as watching a video or commenting on a blog. The information these cookies collect may be anonymised and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites.   
• Targeting/Advertising Cookies:  These cookies are used to deliver advertisements more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement as well as help measure the effectiveness of the advertising campaign. They are usually placed by advertising networks with the website operator’s permission. They remember that you have visited a website and this information is shared with other organisations such as advertisers. Quite often targeting or advertising cookies will be linked to site functionality provided by the other organisation. 

Managing and controlling Cookies

You have the right to control whether or not to accept cookies. You can manage your cookie preferences in several ways:

• Browser Settings: Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can usually modify your browser settings to block all cookies, accept only first-party cookies, or delete cookies when you close your browser. To find out how to manage and delete cookies, visit http://www.allaboutcookies.org. Please note that blocking all cookies may impact your ability to use certain features of our Site and may affect your user experience.
• Cookie Consent Banner/Pop-up: When you first visit our Site, you should have been presented with a cookie consent banner or pop-up. This allows you to manage your cookie preferences directly with us. You will be provided the option to opt-in or opt-out of non essential Targeting/Advertising Cookies when you first visit our site.  
• Third-Party Opt-Out Tools: For some types of cookies, particularly advertising cookies, you may choose to opt-out directly through the providers of those tools.

Consequences of blocking Cookies

If you choose to block or disable cookies, some parts of our Site may not function properly, and your browsing experience may be affected. For example, you may not be able to add items to your shopping cart, proceed to checkout, or use certain personalised features of the Site. For more information about cookies in general, you can visit http://www.allaboutcookies.org

How we use your personal details
 

All personal details that you provide to us are stored securely. We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised or unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction or damage. These measures are regularly reviewed and updated to maintain a high level of security. 

We use Device Information and Order Information to:

• Screen our orders for potential risk or fraud (in particular, using IP addresses and order details to identify suspicious transactions).
• Help us ensure the security of our website and protect against unauthorised access.
• We have a legitimate interest in ensuring the security of our website and preventing fraudulent transactions.
• Improve and optimise our website.
• Provide relevant marketing communication to opted-in users.

Use and sharing of personal data
 

We will only use your personal data for specified and legitimate purposes, including:

• Processing and fulfilling your orders: This includes using your data to manage your purchase, arrange delivery, and handle returns.
• Providing customer service: To respond to your inquiries, provide support, and resolve any issues.
• Improving our website and services: Analysing website usage to enhance user experience and product offerings (this is usually based on anonymised or pseudonymised data where possible).
• Marketing communications (with your consent, where required): We may send you emails or other messages about our products, offers, and news. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
• Legal and regulatory obligations: We may need to process your data to comply with legal obligations, such as tax laws or responding to requests from law enforcement agencies.   
   

We will not sell or rent your personal data to third parties.  Our website is not intended for use by children and we do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under the age of 18.

Your rights regarding your personal data
 

Under data protection law, you have certain rights regarding your personal data, including:

• The right to access: You have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• The right to rectification: You have the right to ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• The right to erasure ("right to be forgotten"): In certain circumstances, you have the right to ask us to delete your personal data.
• The right to restriction of processing: In certain circumstances, you have the right to ask us to restrict the processing of your personal data.
• The right to data portability: You have the right to receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and to transmit that data to another controller.
• The right to object: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances, including for direct marketing purposes.
• The right to withdraw consent: If we are processing your personal data based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
• The right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority: You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection issues.  You can reach ICO at https://ico.org.uk/
• If you have any questions or concerns about our Privacy Statement or how we handle your personal data, or if you wish to exercise any of your rights, please contact us [email protected]

Limited Sharing with Service Providers
 

In order to operate our business and provide you with our services, we may need to share your personal data with trusted third-party service providers who act as data processors on our behalf. These may include:

• Payment processors: To securely process your payments (e.g., taking card details, processing transactions). Crucially, we do not directly store your full payment card details ourselves. Payment processing is handled by Stripe Payments, Paypal and Klarna and their privacy policies apply to your payment information.
• Delivery companies: To deliver your orders to you.
• IT support, analytics and website providers: To maintain our website and IT infrastructure and understand website usage.
• Marketing service providers (if applicable, e.g., email marketing platforms): To send you marketing communications if you have consented.

We have contracts in place with these service providers that ensure they process your personal data only in accordance with our instructions and data protection law, and that they have appropriate security measures in place.

Use of this Website
 

By accessing and using any part of this web site, the visitor/consumer ("you") agrees with ChristmasTreeWorld.co.uk ("We") to be bound by these terms. If you do not accept these terms, you may not use this web site or access or display any of the information made available to you at this website.

These terms for the sales of goods governs any contract for sale that christmastreeworld.co.uk enters into with you. Your statutory rights are not affected.

To be eligible to purchase products on the website and lawfully enter into and form contracts on the website under English law you must :

• Register by providing your real name, phone number, email address, payment details and other requested information.
• Stipulate a delivery address in the United Kingdom unless otherwise agreed with our sales team. Please note that PO box numbers are not acceptable.
• Possess a valid payment method such as credit or debit card to securely process your payments (e.g. taking card details, processing transactions). Crucially, we do not directly store your full payment card details ourselves. Payment processing is handled by Stripe, Paypal or Klarna Payments, and their privacy policies apply to your payment information. All transactions are encrypted. No payment information is stored by Christmas Tree World Ltd.