Privacy and Cookie Policy – Downton Home Furnishings Ltd

General Information

This privacy and cookie policy sets out how this website (hereafter referred to as "the Store") operated by Downton Home Furnishings Ltd uses and protects any information that you provide when using this website. Downton Home Furnishings Ltd is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected at all times. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this statement. Downton Home Furnishings Ltd may update this policy from time to time by amending this page. We encourage you to check this page regularly to ensure that you are happy with any changes.
“Cookies” are small pieces of data that we send when you visit our store. Cookies help us to get to know you better and personalise your browsing experience. They also play an important role in protecting you and other shoppers from fraud. Please set your browser to accept cookies so that you can buy items, save favourites, and receive personalised recommendations when visiting our store.

We may collect the following information:

• Name
  
• Contact information including email address and telephone number
  
• Demographic information such as postcode, preferences, and interests
  
• Purchase history and order information
  
• Other information relevant to customer surveys, offers, and competitions

Data Controller

Downton Home Furnishings Ltd is the Data Controller of your personal data. Once registered, our details will also be available with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) under our registration reference.
Our registered address:
Downton Home Furnishings Ltd
Trading As: Downton Home Furnishings / Downton Home
124 City Road
London
United Kingdom
EC1V 2NX
For all data protection matters, you can contact us at hello@downtonhome.com

Legal Basis for Processing Your Data

Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the lawful bases we rely on for processing your data include:

• Consent – when you have given clear permission for us to process your data for a specific purpose, such as marketing.
  
• Contractual necessity – when processing your data is necessary for us to fulfil a contract with you, for example, to deliver your order.
  
• Legal obligations – when we must process your data to comply with a legal requirement, for example, for tax or regulatory reasons.
  
• Legitimate interests – when processing your data is necessary for our business interests, such as fraud prevention, customer service improvements, and marketing, provided those interests do not override your rights.

What We Do with The Information We Gather

We require this information to understand your needs and to provide you with a better service. We may use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Internal record keeping and account management.
  
• To process and deliver your orders and returns.
  
• To improve our products, services, and website experience.
  
• Based on the products you view and purchase, we may market to you across digital channels, send personalised emails, and reach out via other relevant marketing channels.
  
• From time to time, we may also use your information to contact you for market research purposes, including surveys.
  
• We may contact you by email, telephone, SMS, or post, using the details you have provided.
  
• To customise and personalise the website according to your preferences.
  
• To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations.

Please note: We do not store credit card details, nor do we share customer financial details with any third parties.

Security

We are fully committed to ensuring that your information is kept secure. To prevent unauthorised access, misuse, or disclosure, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and protect the information we collect online.

How We Use Cookies

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit our website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, to provide personalised shopping experiences, and to give businesses information about how their websites are being used.
We use cookies for a variety of purposes including:

• Essential cookies – necessary for the operation of the website, such as enabling you to add items to your basket and checkout securely.
  
• Performance cookies – to help us understand how visitors use our website, for example, which pages are visited most often.
  
• Functionality cookies – to remember your choices and preferences such as location, language, or login details.
  
• Targeting and advertising cookies – to deliver adverts that are relevant to you and to measure the effectiveness of campaigns.

Cookies help us to analyse traffic data, improve the design and functionality of our website, and tailor our services to meet your needs. They also enable us to identify returning visitors and remember information that you previously provided.
You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers allow some control of cookies through their settings. Please note that blocking cookies may limit the functionality of our website.
For more information about managing cookies, visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org

List of Cookies We Collect

The following cookies may be collected and stored:

1. FORM_KEY – Stores randomly generated key used to prevent forged requests.
2. PHPSESSID – Your session ID on the server.
3. GUEST-VIEW – Allows guests to view and edit their orders.
4. PERSISTENT_SHOPPING_CART – A link to your cart and viewing history.
5. STF – Information on products you have emailed to friends.
6. STORE – The store view or language you have selected.
7. USER_ALLOWED_SAVE_COOKIE – Indicates whether a customer has allowed cookies.
8. SECTION-DATA-IDS – Facilitates caching of content on the browser to make pages load faster.
9. PRIVATE_CONTENT_VERSION – Facilitates caching of content on the browser to make pages load faster.

Shopify Cookies

Downton Home Furnishings Ltd uses the Shopify platform. The following cookies may be placed when using our site:

• _session_id – Unique token, sessional; allows Shopify to store information about your session.
  
• _shopify_visit – No data held; persistent for 30 minutes from the last visit.
  
• _shopify_uniq – No data held; expires at midnight of the next day; counts visits by a single customer.
  
• cart – Unique token, persistent for 2 weeks; stores information about the contents of your cart.
  
• _secure_session_id – Unique token, sessional.
  
• storefront_digest – Unique token, indefinite; used to determine if the visitor has access when the store is password-protected.
  For full details, please see Shopify’s Cookie Policy.

Links to Other Websites

Our website may contain links to other third-party websites of interest. However, once you leave our website, please note that we do not have any control over those websites. We cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information you provide whilst visiting such sites. You should review the privacy policies of any external websites you visit.

Controlling Your Personal Information

You may choose to restrict the collection or use of your personal data in the following ways:

• Whenever you are asked to fill in a form on the website, look for the option to indicate that you do not want your information to be used for direct marketing purposes.
  
• If you have previously agreed to us using your information for direct marketing, you may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us at hello@downtonhome.com.

We will never sell, distribute, or lease your personal information to third parties without your permission, unless required by law. We may use your details to send you promotional information about third parties if you have indicated that you wish for this to happen.
You may request details of personal data that we hold about you under the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR. If you would like a copy, please contact us.
If you believe that any information we hold is inaccurate or incomplete, please contact us as soon as possible and we will promptly correct it.

Loxa Ltd Insurance

To offer insurance services, we may share limited personal information such as your contact and order details with Loxa Ltd, an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No. 1018666). This is necessary for them to issue policy documentation, administer your policy, send renewal reminders, and process claims. Loxa Ltd will process your data in line with their own Privacy Policy and data protection laws.

TikTok

TikTok is a platform for creating and sharing short-form videos. Any personal data that you provide through TikTok in relation to Downton Home Furnishings Ltd will be processed in accordance with applicable law and TikTok’s own Privacy Policy.

Email Marketing Terms & Conditions

We use email marketing and targeted online advertising to provide you with updates about our products, services, promotions, and offers. These communications are based on the information we collect about you, including your email address, location, browsing history, and purchase history. You can opt out of email marketing at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in our emails or contacting us directly at hello@downtonhome.com.

Text Marketing Terms & Conditions

We use a text messaging platform subject to the following terms. By opting in to receive text marketing and notifications, you agree to these terms. By entering your phone number at checkout, subscribing via our form, or signing up via keyword, you consent to receiving text notifications (such as order updates and abandoned cart reminders) and marketing offers. Consent is not a condition of purchase.
Your details (phone number, name, purchase information) will be shared with our SMS provider, SMSBump Inc, located in Sofia, Bulgaria, EU. This data is used to send targeted SMS messages and is passed to operators for delivery.
To unsubscribe, reply STOP to any SMS we send or use the unsubscribe link provided in messages. Alternative methods of opting out will not be accepted. Standard messaging and data rates may apply.
For assistance, reply HELP to any message or contact us at hello@downtonhome.com.

Your Rights Under UK GDPR

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right of access – request details of the data we hold about you.
  
• Right to rectification – correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
  
• Right to erasure – request deletion in certain circumstances.
  
• Right to restrict processing – limit how your data is processed.
  
• Right to data portability – request your data in a portable format.
  
• Right to object – object to processing based on legitimate interests.
  
• Rights regarding automated decision-making and profiling.
  You can exercise these rights by contacting us at hello@downtonhome.com.

International Data Transfers

If any personal data is transferred outside of the UK or European Economic Area (EEA), appropriate safeguards will be implemented, such as Standard Contractual Clauses, to ensure compliance with UK GDPR.