PRIVACY POLICY
Succulents and Sunshine Privacy Policy
Succulents and Sunshine (“S&S”) is a website devoted to providing education and information regarding the growth and care of succulent plants. S&S is committed to protecting your privacy and providing a safe online experience for all of our users and subscribers. Because we gather certain types of information about and from users and subscribers so we can provide you with the best content, information, courses, and products you should fully understand the terms and conditions surrounding the collection and use of this information. This privacy policy discloses what information we gather, how we use it, how to correct or change it, and what steps we take to safeguard personal information provided to us both online and offline. Because you will find links on our website to third parties, we encourage you always to check the privacy policy on each website you visit to be sure you understand the privacy policy governing that site. Your use of this site constitutes agreement with these terms. We urge you to read the complete policy below and contact us if you have any questions, but offer this short summary to highlight key points.
- We collect personal and non-personal information from you to provide information and services, to understand your interests, and to conduct our business, and may combine it with information we receive from third parties.
- We may share personal and non-personal information about you with third parties in the circumstances described in this policy.
- We use cookies, web beacons, and other technologies to provide personalized content and certain functionalities, and better understand the features our visitors prefer.
- We reserve the right to share information to satisfy a legal request, protect people or property, and in connection with a sale or transfer of our business.
- We employ reasonable procedures to protect the personal information you send to us. If we are requesting sensitive information, we will take steps to ensure it is encrypted during transmission to and from our sites. However, we provide no guarantees that your data will always be secure.
S&S may offer links to or from websites operated by third parties. We offer links to third party sites so that you can conveniently visit our vendors and advertisers or locate other content likely to be of interest. We are not responsible for the content, practices, or policies of sites operated by third parties and urge you to inquire about them before providing any personally identifiable information.
This policy applies to information we collect in e-mail, text, and other electronic messages between you and websites we control. By accessing or using our website, you agree to this Privacy Policy.
Children.
We offer information, products and services that may be appropriate for minors, but if you are under the age of 18 (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction) you may use our websites only with the consent of a parent or guardian. We take minors’ privacy seriously, and ask minors (people under the age of 18 or under the age of majority in their jurisdictions) not to send any personally identifiable information without the consent of their parents or guardians. S&S encourages all parents and guardians to instruct their children in the safe and responsible use of personal information on the Internet. Our website does not market directly to or knowingly collect information from children under the age of 13. We will not knowingly collect, use, or disclose to third parties any personal information collected from children and use confirmed industry practices to ensure compliance with this Privacy Policy, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA), and other applicable laws.
Information We Collect About You.
Generally, you can visit our website, read articles and other materials, and check on offerings without giving us any “personal information” (defined below). So that we can provide our users with the most efficient and enhanced personalized service, we request information about you in certain circumstances, and collect certain information automatically.
Personal Information
By “Personal Information” we mean information that identifies you individually, such as names, mailing addresses, and/or email addresses. This term does not include other kinds of electronic information, which theoretically could be used to identify you, such as the IP address of your computer (which, if combined with the time of access and information from your internet service provider, could be used to identify you by name). Such other electronic information also includes browser type, domain name, the referring website address, etc. We use this automatically collected electronic information to facilitate your online experience at our website.
We collect from you personal information when you subscribe to one of our newsletters, enroll in an online course, or make a purchase on our website. Website visitors may register to receive our email services, respond to a survey, or enter online contests and sweepstakes as they are made available.
Sometimes registration can be accomplished by connecting through a social media account you already have, but some of our offerings require submission of additional information. The information we collect may include your email address, name, address, and similar demographic information or information related to your interests. Our online registration forms will indicate what information is required and what information (if any) is optional. Of course, you may decline to provide even “required” information, but will then be unable to participate in those website activities.
Other Information
Sometimes we conduct market research in an effort to improve our websites. This information is included in our database. That helps us, for example, minimize multiple mailings and emailings, and provide information tailored to your interests.
How Do We Use Cookies?
S&S may use “cookies” in connection with operation of its websites. Cookies are small pieces of information that are stored on your computer by the S&S website server(s). Cookies are used for record-keeping purposes so the stored information can be retrieved by the S&S website server(s) when you return to the website.
Cookies allow us to personalize or regulate the use of our website, and also permit us to automate the access and data-entry functions of the site (e.g., sign up information) and tailor the appearance or presentation of the site to your preferences or interests. In general, we do not use cookies to track the navigational habits of identified users without the user’s consent.
The use of cookies is common in the industry, and they are used on most major websites. Cookies will not be used to pass any information from your computer except the specific information placed into the cookie from a participating S&S web page when the cookie is retrieved by another participating S&S web page.
The Help portion of the toolbar on most browsers will tell you how to prevent your browser from accepting new cookies, how to have the browser notify you when you receive a new cookie, or how to disable cookies altogether. Additionally, you can disable or delete similar data used by browser add-ons by changing the add-on’s settings or visiting the website of its manufacturer. However, if you elect not to accept cookies, some parts of the website may not function properly or permit access. For more information on cookies, see http://www.cookiecentral.com/faq.htm.
How Do We Use Analytics and Web Beacons?
We use analytics and web beacon technologies throughout our sites to assess traffic patterns, determine the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns, determine unique visitor counts, and create an improved user experience throughout our sites. Web beacons are tiny graphics with a unique identifier, similar in function to cookies, which are commonly used in the industry and on many major websites. We also may include web beacons in promotional email messages or electronic newsletters to determine the effectiveness of those campaigns.
When a user accesses a page or email containing a web beacon, a notice of that access is generated and sent to us. Because web beacons work in conjunction with cookies, users who do not want this information considered in association with anonymous cookie information should set their browsers to turn off cookies. (When users turn off cookies, analytics and web beacon technologies may still detect users visits anonymously, but this information cannot be associated with other user information and is disregarded).
What About Third Party Advertisers?
Most of the banner ads displayed on our websites are provided by outside companies. These ads may use cookies and/or web beacons. Unlike cookies and web beacons used by S&S in content it controls, cookies or web beacons received with banner ads are collected by our advertisers and we do not have access to this information. We use reputable third parties to serve some or all of the advertisements that are placed within our sites and they may use information about your visits to our sites and other sites to assist in serving advertisements to you. They may share information with their clients such as date/time of the banner ad shown, the specific ad shown, the IP address, etc. If you have questions or concerns, you will need to contact the advertiser directly. Our advertising partners include Amazon, Google Ads, and AdThrive.
What Do We Do With Your Information?
We use information you provide to fulfill your requests, improve our website and newsletters, curate products and services we think you may enjoy, and operate our business. For example, we use personal information so that we may display or send custom, personalized content to our website visitors, provide e-courses, and to send newsletters, emails, features, promotional material, surveys and other updates, information or offers to our users and subscribers. We also use collected information to evaluate and administer our products and services, respond to any problems that may arise (e.g., difficulties in navigating our sites or accessing certain features), gauge user trends to determine what products and services are most popular with users, and to put you in touch with trusted fulfillment partners who can provide services that we cannot.
On some parts of our websites we allow users to send or share articles or links by email or through social media to other parties who may be interested in them. We do not retain any email addresses of either the sender or recipient of such articles or links after they are sent, and do not share “send a friend” email addresses with third parties.
We may produce reports for advertisers, sponsors and vendors containing anonymous, aggregate information about our users and subscribers, such as demographic, age and online usage information. This allows us to provide content and offers that are most relevant to our users, and to work more closely with advertisers.
How Do We Share Personal Information?
Personal information is available to S&S, including its brands and affiliates, and its or their technical and fulfillment agents and consultants who make this website and our services available to you. Anonymous information is available to our advertisers, sponsors and promotional and business partners. We share your personal information with third parties only as described below.
S&S and Its Agents. S&S may use both anonymous, aggregate demographic data, and any personal information you provide for internal marketing or other business purposes, including sending you notices of new websites, publications, services or products we offer likely to be of interest. There are many companies who may be required to assist S&S in making its services and website available to you. Web host firms, technical and database consultants, advertising agencies, online payment processors, and fulfillment firms, including firms assisting us in offering e-courses or online promotions, may have access to personally identifiable information in the course of making our products and services available. All companies working with S&S must comply with our information collection, use and disclosure policies, and are not permitted to sell your information to third parties or to use it except as authorized by us and you, or as permitted or required by law.
Participating Vendors. Our website may offer opportunities to make purchases online from special participating vendors. Any time you order from a participating vendor, that vendor will automatically have all the information related to the order. Participating vendors may use that information to advise you directly of other products and offerings that they provide. S&S is not responsible for their privacy policies, and urges you to inquire about their information practices. In addition, vendors may receive the same anonymous, aggregate data that our advertisers do. One of our participating vendors is Amazon.
Credit Card Companies. As in any transaction, your credit card company will have all relevant information about the name of the vendor, item(s) purchased, and date and total cost. On those websites where you are required to enter your credit card information to complete a transaction, S&S will not otherwise provide any personal data to your credit card company.
Advertisers, Sponsors, and Promotional and Business Partners. Periodically we may share anonymous, aggregate demographic information (such as gender, age, income, hobbies, interests, etc.), and anonymous information obtained from cookies and similar technologies, with our advertisers, sponsors, promotional and business partners, and with participating vendors at sites offering online sales opportunities. No personally identifiable information is disclosed to any of these third parties in providing these reports. If collected, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and passwords are not shared with advertisers, sponsors or promotional partners, and are only shared with specific vendors with whom you place an online order.
Offline and online contact information is handled differently. Offline contact information (i.e., your name and mailing address) is shared with third parties who require that information to fulfill their obligation to send you printed materials, prize winnings, communicate with you about a product or service you have purchased, or communicate with you about a product or service may have won in a sweepstakes, contest, or other promotion on our website. If you opt-out of our sharing this information, the third party will be unable to communicate with you.
User Postings. The websites may contain interactive features that allow you to post, submit, publish, display, or transmit to other users content or materials. Any content or materials you share are posted on and transmitted to others at your own risk. We cannot control the actions of other users. We reserve the right, in our sole and absolute discretion, to review, edit, or refuse anything you choose to post. We reserve the right to remove any user post after it is live, for any reason or no reason, in our sole and absolute discretion to ensure all content is aligned with our mission and values. Therefore, we cannot and do not guarantee that any user generated content will be seen by any specific intended viewers. All user generate content must comply with our Terms of Service.
Important Note. We reserve the right to use or disclose any information without notice or consent as compelled by applicable law, regulation or legal requirement; to conduct investigations of complaints or possible breaches of law; to protect the integrity of our site and our property and assure adherence to our terms of use; to protect the safety of our visitors or others; and to fulfill your requests.
Updating Your Information.
In our communications, we include detailed unsubscribe/opt-out instructions as appropriate. It is much more efficient if you utilize the ‘unsubscribe’ link in the communication. However, if you need further assistance with unsubscribing or opting-out of any communications, email S&S at [[email protected]] for assistance. Upon request, and to the extent practicable, we will make reasonable efforts to remove your information from our databases. However, be aware we may be unable to remove your information from the records of any third party who has received your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
At our discretion, we may determine that your lack of engagement indicates your desire to opt-out of receiving our communications. For example, you may be removed from our email list if you have not opened an email from us for a certain period of time. You may opt-in again at any time.
If you delete any user generate content or materials which you provided, copies of such content or materials may remain viewable in cached and archived pages, or might have been copied or stored by other users of the websites. Proper access and use of information provided on the website, including any user generated content or material, is governed by our Terms of Service.
California Residents.
Under California Law SB 27, California residents are afforded expanded rights to information about shared personal information, or are required to have the free ability to opt-in or opt-out of such sharing. This privacy policy fully affords you the rights not to have your personal information shared by us. If you have any questions about your ability to opt-out of information sharing by us, please use the methods described in this Privacy Policy.
Data Security.
Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure. Although we do our best to protect your Personal Information, we cannot guarantee the security of your Personal Information transmitted to our website. Any transmission of Personal Information is at your own risk.
Changes in Corporate Structure.
In developing our business, we might sell certain assets, or the company, or parts of it, may be sold, merged or otherwise transferred. In such transactions, user information, whether personally identifiable or otherwise, may be one of the transferred assets.
Visitors and Subscribers Outside the United States.
Our website and associated computers are located in the United States. We use hosting services that may use servers located outside the United States. Regardless of where any servers may be located, all matters relating to this website are governed by the laws of the State of Wyoming in the United States. By visiting our sites and submitting information, you unambiguously consent to the collection, processing, transfer or use of your personal data, as described in this privacy policy. If you do not consent to any collection, processing, transfer or use of such information, please discontinue use of these websites.
Contact Information.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please send us communication through our Contact form or by sending an email to: [email protected].
Changes to Our Privacy Policy.
We will occasionally update this Privacy Policy. We recommend that you check the policy when you visit our site to be sure you are aware of and understand our current policy. When feasible, we will post specific summary of material changes in our policy. Your continued use of our websites will constitute your agreement to any changes in the privacy policy.
Our current Privacy Policy was last updated May 4, 2018.