Hey there!
I’m Stephanie Kirkland of Stephanie Kirkland Art, LLC. I run the business that owns this website, stephaniekirklandart.com. 🙋🏻♀️
👆That’s me waving at you from Northport, Alabama. If you ever need to contact me, you can find my contact information at the bottom of this page.
I probably don’t have to tell you that the internet is a wonderful and crazy place. It allows me to connect with folks like you from all across the globe while I sit here on my couch in my PJs, but it also opens up a can of worms for all kinds of concerns like privacy. So much so that us website owners are required to have things like privacy policies posted to our websites. My privacy policy is what you’re reading right now.
Privacy policies govern the data that we collect on our websites, as well as how we use it. Their purpose is to arm you, the visitor, with as much information as possible so you know exactly how someone is using your data and why. (And, so you know not to use their website or services if you don’t agree with their policies.)
Privacy policies also equip you with information about your rights as the owner of your personal data, and they give you instructions about how to request that websites stop processing your data if you choose to exercise that right.
Problem is, most privacy policies are a mess of legalese that you wouldn’t know what to do with if you wanted to.
I’m a champion of transparency, and I’ve never been one to follow templates. (Plus lawyers tell me that the format of this policy doesn’t matter as long as it’s clear and includes the necessary information.) So let’s just do this the old-fashioned way, shall we?
Important note: It is actually important that you read these things. When you use and continue to use a website, you are agreeing to its privacy policy whether you have read it or not. So if you’re at all worried about what a website or company is doing with your data, then definitely read the fine print. It will tell you.
OK, let’s do this!
What information do you collect and why? How do you use it?
Well, that depends. (Mainly on your computer’s specific settings and the features of my website that you choose to use.)
If you are a customer (i.e., you commission or otherwise buy artwork from me), I collect your name, email address, and mailing address. I collect this information because you willingly give it to me, and because I need it to communicate with you about your order and to fulfill your order. If you’ve requested a commission (a custom-made work of art), I share your name and email address with HelloSign, the third-party provider I use to send and sign contracts; your name and email address with PayPal, the third-party provider I use to send invoices and collect payment; and your name and mailing address with the third-party provider I use to ship your order (usually UPS or USPS).
If you buy artwork directly from my website (using the “cart” and “checkout” process in Squarespace), I never see or process your financial information, which is collected directly through my secure payment processor, Stripe. If you live in the European Union and would like to purchase my artwork, I will arrange payment through Stripe.
If you are an email subscriber (i.e., you willingly opt-in to receive my email newsletter), I collect your name and email address. I collect this information because you willingly give it to me, and because I need it to fulfill your request to send you emails. When you subscribe, your name and email address are automatically shared with Flodesk, the third-party provider I use to send my email newsletter.
If you are a visitor or user of my website, my website provider (Squarespace) automatically collects your IP address—a string of numbers and letters connected to your specific phone or computer. Knowing your IP address helps me to anonymously differentiate you from anyone else visiting my website, which helps me to accurately count the number of people who visit my website, and to see what “path” visitors follow as they’re browsing content (i.e., what pages you visit most often, for how long, and in what order).
Basically, I collect your IP address because it allows me to know which parts of my website are most popular, which allows me to create more content that visitors like you actually want to see, so I’m able to create a better experience for you.
Otherwise, I do not collect personal information about you unless you willingly share it with me for a specific purpose. For instance, I may collect your name, email address, and if applicable your website URL if/when you post a comment. While your name, email address, and website URL are not required for you to post a comment, this information helps me and other website users to differentiate your comments from other users’ comments, and this information helps me to quickly identify commenters who repeatedly post spam. I collect this information only if you willingly give it to me, and because I need it to monitor and approve comments efficiently and effectively.
Note that the comments feature of our website may make your personal information (including your name, email address, website URL, and comments) available for viewing by other users/viewers of our website. When you make your information available in this way, it may be seen, collected, and used by other users/viewers with or without your permission. I am not responsible for any unauthorized or improper use of such information that you voluntarily share on my website. I am also not responsible for the republishing of my content or users’ comments on other websites or media without my permission.
By providing us with this information, you grant us permission to use and store it for these purposes, and to communicate with you about these features as we deem necessary. We have a no-spam policy, and you are able to opt-out of our communications at any time and for any reason by selecting the unsubscribe link at the footer of our emails. We do not share your personal information with third parties other than for those purposes listed above or as required by law.
Does your website use cookies?
Yes, my website uses cookies, which are small pieces of data associated with your device. Cookies improve your browsing experience by helping my website to remember your preferences and to understand how you use different features.
Personally, I use both functional and required cookies (such as cookies that assist with the shopping cart and checkout process) and analytics and performance cookies (which track your IP address and your individual browsing activity on my website as described above). You enable and accept these cookies when you affirm your acceptance via the pop-up banner that you see when you visit my website.
You can disable cookies at any time by changing your individual browser settings on your phone, tablet, or computer.
How long do you store my information?
I keep your information indefinitely unless you request that I delete it, which I will do promptly unless I am required by law to keep your information (for tax purposes, for example).
How do you protect my information?
I protect your information by taking reasonable security measures and by working only with reputable third-party providers I trust. Those third-party providers include:
FedEx (shipping provider)
Flodesk (email provider)
Google Analytics (website analytics provider)
Gmail (email provider)
HelloSign (contract provider)
PayPal (payment processor)
Stripe (payment processor)
Squarespace (website provider)
UPS (shipping provider)
USPS (shipping provider)
Zapier (workflow automation provider)
What rights do I have?
You have the right to access, correct, change, and/or delete your information at any time. Additionally, you have the right to request that we cease processing your data at any time. Email hello@stephaniekirklandart.com with your request, and we will respond within a reasonable amount of time. We will comply with your request unless we are otherwise required by law. You have the right to file a complaint with a supervising authority if you believe that we have misused your data.
Can this privacy policy change?
Yes. We reserve the right to change this privacy policy on our website at any time without notice. Thus, you should review this privacy policy periodically. If you continue to use our website or its content following any change in this privacy policy, then you consent to the revised privacy policy.
What if I disagree with this privacy policy?
If you disagree with this privacy policy, then do not use our website or its content.
I still have additional questions. May I contact you?
Yes! If you have any questions about our privacy policy, contact us by email at hello@stephaniekirklandart.com.
Last updated July 11, 2023