Portlandleathergoods Privacy Policy

At Portlandleathergoods, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us when browsing our website, purchasing our Handmade Tote Bags, Purses, Leather Journals, or Backpacks, or contacting our customer service team. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, how we keep it secure, and your rights regarding your data. We adhere to applicable data protection laws (including the California Consumer Privacy Act, CCPA, and the General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR, for EU residents) to ensure your information is handled responsibly.

1. Information We Collect

We only collect information necessary to provide you with a seamless shopping experience, fulfill your orders, and support our services. The types of information we may gather include:

a. Personal Information You Provide Voluntarily

  • Order & Account Details: When you place an order or create an account, we collect your full name, email address (e.g., the one you use to contact us at [email protected]), shipping/billing address, phone number, and payment information (e.g., credit card details—note: we do not store full payment information; this is processed securely by our third-party payment partners like Stripe or PayPal).
  • Communication Data: If you reach out to our customer service team (via email, form submissions, or workshop inquiries), we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message to respond to your questions (e.g., about leather care, order status, or returns).
  • Workshop & Mailing List Sign-Ups: If you register for our Portland-based leather workshops or subscribe to our newsletter (to receive updates on new products, sales, or care tips), we collect your name and email address. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time via the “unsubscribe” link in our emails.

b. Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may collect non-personal information automatically through cookies, web beacons, and server logs. This includes:

  • Device details (e.g., type of device, operating system, browser version).
  • Browsing data (e.g., pages you visit, time spent on the site, links you click, referral source that brought you to our site).
  • Location data (only approximate, based on your IP address, to optimize shipping options and localize content like workshop details).

Cookies help us improve your browsing experience (e.g., remembering your cart items or account preferences). You can disable non-essential cookies through your browser settings, though this may limit some site features (e.g., saving your shipping address for future orders).

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for specific, transparent purposes, and never sell or rent it to third parties. Your data may be used to:

  • Fulfill Orders: Process your purchases, arrange shipping, send order confirmations and tracking updates, and handle returns or exchanges.
  • Provide Customer Support: Respond to your inquiries (e.g., about leather care for your Journal, defect claims for your Backpack, or order changes) and resolve issues efficiently.
  • Improve Our Services: Analyze browsing and purchase data to enhance our website (e.g., making it easier to find Tote Bags or Purses), develop new products that match customer needs, and optimize our workshop offerings.
  • Send Relevant Updates: If you subscribe to our newsletter, send you occasional emails about new collections, exclusive discounts, or leather care tips. You can opt out at any time.
  • Ensure Security: Detect and prevent fraud (e.g., unauthorized payment attempts) and protect our website and customers from security risks.
  • Comply with Legal Obligations: Fulfill tax, shipping, and record-keeping requirements (e.g., retaining order details for accounting purposes).

3. Who We Share Your Information With

We only share your personal information with trusted third parties who assist us in providing our services, and these parties are contractually required to protect your data. This includes:

  • Payment Processors: Partners like Stripe or PayPal, who securely process your payment information (we never share full credit card details with them beyond what’s needed for transaction approval).
  • Shipping Providers: Carriers like USPS, UPS, or FedEx, who need your shipping address to deliver your order.
  • Customer Service Tools: Platforms that help us manage emails and support tickets (e.g., Zendesk), ensuring we respond to your inquiries promptly.
  • Analytics Partners: Services like Google Analytics, which help us understand website usage (this data is anonymized where possible).

We may also share your information if required by law (e.g., to comply with a court order) or to protect our rights, property, or the safety of our customers or team.

4. How We Protect Your Information

We take extensive measures to keep your personal information secure and prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse:

  • Secure Storage: Personal data (like your name and email) is stored on encrypted servers with restricted access (only authorized team members can access it for work-related purposes).
  • Payment Security: Payment information is processed through PCI DSS-compliant partners, meaning it meets industry standards for secure financial transactions.
  • Data Minimization: We only retain your information for as long as needed to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy (e.g., order details are kept for 7 years for tax compliance; newsletter subscriber data is kept until you unsubscribe).
  • Regular Audits: We review our security practices regularly to address new risks and ensure compliance with data protection laws.

5. Your Rights Regarding Your Information

You have control over your personal information, and we make it easy to exercise your rights:

  • Access Your Data: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you (e.g., your order history, account details) by emailing [email protected].
  • Correct Inaccuracies: Ask us to update or correct any incorrect information (e.g., a wrong shipping address or phone number).
  • Delete Your Data: Request the deletion of your personal information (where legally allowed—we may need to retain some data for legal or accounting purposes).
  • Opt Out of Marketing: Unsubscribe from our newsletter by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in any newsletter email, or email us to request removal from our marketing lists.
  • Withdraw Consent: If you previously gave consent for a specific use (e.g., sharing your email with a workshop partner), you can withdraw it by contacting us.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at [email protected] with your full name, contact information, and a clear description of your request. We will respond within 30 days (or 45 days for complex requests) and keep you updated on the progress.

6. Children’s Privacy

Our website and products are not intended for children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn we have collected data from a child under 13, we will delete it immediately. Parents or guardians who believe their child has shared information with us can contact us to request removal.

7. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy occasionally to reflect changes in our practices, laws, or website features. When we make updates, we will revise the “last updated” date at the top of this page and post the new policy on our website. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

8. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us at:

Email: [email protected]

Our Portland-based team is here to assist you and ensure your privacy is respected.

— The Portlandleathergoods Team