Privacy Policy for Flower Orders – Flowers Greenwich

Scope and Application of This Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Flowers Greenwich (referred to as “we”, “our”, or “us”) collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal data when you place orders with us from Greenwich and the surrounding districts. The policy applies to all customers ordering flowers directly through our services within this geographical area. By engaging with our services, you acknowledge and agree to the practices described in this policy.

What Data We Collect

When you place an order with Flowers Greenwich, we collect and process certain personal information necessary to provide and improve our services. The specific data we collect may include:

  • Contact Information: Your name, phone number, delivery address, and billing address.
  • Order Information: Details of your purchases, including recipient names and delivery instructions.
  • Payment Details: Payment transaction references (but not full card numbers, as payments are handled via secure payment processors).
  • Communications: Any correspondence you send us via forms provided on our website or during order placement.
  • Technical Data: Device information, browser type, IP address, and cookies (where applicable and with consent).

Lawful Basis for Processing

As required by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we process your data based upon one or more of the following lawful bases:

  • Contractual Necessity: To fulfill your order and deliver products or services as requested.
  • Legitimate Interests: To communicate with you about your orders, handle customer service inquiries, and improve our services. We ensure that our interests do not override your rights and freedoms.
  • Legal Obligations: To comply with regulatory or legal requirements, such as record-keeping for tax purposes.
  • Consent: Where required (such as for marketing communications or certain types of cookies), we seek your explicit consent, which you may withdraw at any time.

How We Use Your Data

Your personal data is used only for the purposes for which it was collected or, if reasonably necessary, for related purposes as permitted by law. Uses of your information include:

  • Processing and fulfilling your flower orders, including delivery.
  • Communicating with you about your order status, queries, or any issues that may arise.
  • Complying with record-keeping obligations and resolving disputes.
  • Improving our products and services through internal analytics (using anonymised or aggregated forms wherever possible).
  • Sending service-related and (with your consent) special offers or marketing updates.

Retention of Your Data

We retain your personal data only for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes it was collected for, including legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. The retention periods typically are as follows:

  • Order and Transaction Data: Retained for up to six years to comply with tax and accounting laws.
  • Contact and Communication Data: Retained for a period relevant to the original purpose of collection, unless you request earlier deletion (subject to legal obligations).
  • Cookie Data and Analytics: Retention periods are specified in our cookie policy, in accordance with your preferences.

When your data is no longer required, it is securely deleted or anonymised so it can no longer identify you.

Processors and Third Parties

Flowers Greenwich sometimes contracts with trusted third parties (“processors”) to assist in fulfilling specific business operations. These may include:

  • Payment Processors: Securely handle financial transactions on our behalf. We do not store your complete payment details.
  • Delivery Partners: Support prompt and accurate delivery of orders to recipients in Greenwich and surrounding districts.
  • IT and Web Hosting Providers: Store and manage our website, databases, and security infrastructure.

All third-party processors act on our instructions, have data processing agreements in place, and are required to implement appropriate protective measures. We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for marketing or unrelated purposes.

Your Data Rights under GDPR

As a customer residing in the UK or EU, you have certain rights under the GDPR regarding your personal data:

  • Right of access: You may request access to the personal information we hold about you.
  • Right to rectification: If you believe your data is inaccurate or incomplete, you may ask us to correct it.
  • Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten"): Subject to certain conditions, you can request deletion of your personal data.
  • Right to restrict processing: You may ask us to pause or limit our use of your data in certain circumstances.
  • Right to object: You may object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing purposes.
  • Right to data portability: You can request that we provide your data in a structured, commonly used format for transfer to another provider.
  • Right to withdraw consent: Where processing is based on your consent, you can withdraw it at any time without affecting prior processing.
  • Right to lodge a complaint: You have the right to contact your local data protection authority if you believe your rights are being infringed.

Data Security and Your Responsibilities

We take the security of your personal information seriously. Flowers Greenwich uses physical, electronic, and administrative safeguards to protect your data from loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, or alteration. Access to your data is given strictly as required to carry out the purposes outlined in this policy. However, transmission over the internet is never entirely secure – please ensure any data you share with us is sent in a secure manner and keep your personal details safe from unauthorized use.

Children’s Privacy

Flowers Greenwich does not knowingly collect or process personal data from children under the age of 16 without appropriate parental consent. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information without such consent, please contact us so that we can remove the relevant data promptly.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect relevant changes in the law or our business practices. Significant changes will be communicated to customers using appropriate means. We encourage you to review this policy regularly when placing orders to stay informed.

How to Exercise Your Rights

If you would like to exercise any of your data rights, have questions about this policy, or require further detail on how we protect your personal data, please use the contact channels available on our website or during your order process. We will respond to requests as promptly as possible and always within legally required timeframes.

This policy applies to all current and past Flowers Greenwich customers who have placed orders in Greenwich or surrounding districts. Thank you for trusting us with your personal information.