Privacy Policy

Who we are

Maker's Nook operates an online marketplace where independent makers can create shops, list their work and sell products to customers.

Throughout this policy, "Maker's Nook", "we", "us" and "our" refer to Maker's Nook.

"Makers" refers to the independent sellers who operate shops through the Maker's Nook marketplace.

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, you can contact us through the Maker's Nook contact page.

Information we collect

The information we collect depends on how you use Maker's Nook.

When you create or use a customer account

This may include information such as:

• Your name
• Email address
• Account and login information
• Telephone number
• Delivery and billing information
• Order history
• Information you provide when contacting us

When you place an order

We also process the information needed to complete, fulfil and support that purchase. This can include:

• Products purchased
• Order number and order details
• Delivery recipient information
• Delivery address
• Contact information
• Delivery or tracking information
• Payment-related transaction information

We may also collect technical information generated when you use the website, such as IP address, browser or device information and information collected through cookies or similar technologies.

Information about Makers

If you apply to become a Maker or operate a shop on Maker's Nook, we need additional information to review your application and operate your shop.

This may include:

• Your name and contact information
• Your account information
• Shop or business information
• Information about your craft and products
• Product and shop photographs
• Your Maker biography
• Address or location information
• Payout or banking information
• Information submitted as part of your Maker application
• Information relating to orders, fulfilment and payouts

Some Maker information is intended to be public. For example, your shop name, biography, product information, photographs and other information you choose to display in your shop may be visible to customers and visitors to Maker's Nook.

Information such as login credentials, private account information and payout details is not intended to be displayed publicly.

How we use your information

We use personal information where it is reasonably necessary to operate Maker's Nook and provide the services requested through the marketplace.

This may include using information to:

• Create and manage accounts
• Review Maker applications
• Operate Maker shops
• Process and manage orders
• Arrange and support fulfilment and delivery
• Provide order and tracking information
• Process or administer payments and Maker payouts
• Provide Nook Notes
• Respond to questions, enquiries and support requests
• Communicate important information about an account or order
• Prevent misuse, fraud or security problems
• Maintain and improve the operation of the marketplace
• Meet our legal, accounting and regulatory obligations

Customers and independent Makers

Maker's Nook is a marketplace.

Depending on the order, this may include:

• Your name
• Recipient name
• Delivery address
• Relevant contact information
• Products ordered
• Order and fulfilment information
• Information reasonably necessary to prepare and deliver your order

Makers may only use customer information for legitimate purposes connected with the order, fulfilment, delivery or customer service.

Customer information must not be used by Makers for unrelated marketing, sold to another party, or used for purposes unrelated to the Maker's Nook transaction.

If one checkout contains products from more than one Maker, relevant information may be made available separately to each Maker responsible for fulfilling their part of the order.

Payments

When you make a purchase through Maker's Nook, information necessary to process and record the transaction is handled as part of the payment process.

Payment services may be provided using third-party payment service providers. Those providers may process information necessary to authorise, complete or administer the transaction.

Maker's Nook may retain transaction and order records needed for marketplace administration, customer service, payouts, accounting, fraud prevention and legal or regulatory requirements.

Payments on Maker's Nook are processed through PayFast. PayFast may process the information necessary to authorise, complete and administer your payment. Payment information handled directly by PayFast is also subject to PayFast's own privacy practices.

Nook Notes

Nook Notes allow customers to add a personal digital message or memory to a gift purchased through Maker's Nook.

Depending on the type of Nook Note you create, the information you provide may include:

• Written messages
• Photographs or images
• Video or other uploaded media
• Information connecting the Nook Note to an order
• Information connecting the Nook Note to its QR code

Nook Note content is provided by the customer for the purpose of creating the requested gift experience.

Maker's Nook may review Nook Note submissions as part of operating and moderating the service.

We do not claim ownership of your personal Nook Note content simply because you use Maker's Nook to create it.

Nook Note content remains available for 30 days after the QR code is first scanned. After this period, the personal content associated with the Nook Note may be permanently deleted from Maker's Nook systems.

Communications and enquiries

When you contact Maker's Nook, we may collect the information you provide so that we can respond to you and keep an appropriate record of the enquiry.

When you use a feature that allows you to contact a Maker about their work, the information necessary for that enquiry may be sent to the relevant Maker.

Account, order, application, security and service-related communications may also be sent where necessary to operate the marketplace.

Where we send optional marketing communications, you should be able to unsubscribe from those communications.

Cookies and website information

Maker's Nook may use cookies and similar technologies that are necessary for the website and marketplace to operate.

These may be used for functions such as:

• Keeping you signed in
• Remembering account or session information
• Maintaining your shopping cart
• Supporting checkout
• Remembering certain preferences
• Protecting the website and accounts
• Understanding how the website is used

Where cookies or similar technologies are used for purposes that require your consent, we will provide the appropriate choice where required.

More information can be provided in our Cookie Policy.

Who we may share information with

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share or make information available where reasonably necessary to operate Maker's Nook. This may include:

• The independent Maker fulfilling your order
• Payment service providers
• Delivery or logistics providers where applicable
• Website, hosting or technology service providers
• Professional advisers where necessary
• Authorities or regulators where disclosure is legally required

We expect service providers processing personal information on our behalf to handle that information appropriately and only for the purposes for which it is provided.

We may also disclose information where reasonably necessary to protect Maker's Nook, our customers, our Makers, or others against fraud, unlawful activity or security threats.

How long we keep information

We do not intend to keep personal information for longer than reasonably necessary.

How long particular information needs to be retained can depend on why it was collected and whether we need it for purposes such as:

• Maintaining an account
• Fulfilling or supporting an order
• Resolving disputes or enquiries
• Processing payments or payouts
• Maintaining accounting or transaction records
• Preventing fraud or misuse
• Meeting legal or regulatory obligations

Different types of information may therefore be retained for different periods.

Where information is no longer reasonably required, it should be deleted, destroyed or de-identified where appropriate.

Specific retention periods should be documented internally and reflected here where necessary.

How we protect personal information

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration or destruction.

Access to personal information should be limited to people and service providers who reasonably need it for the operation of Maker's Nook.

No online service can guarantee absolute security.

Customers and Makers are also responsible for keeping their account credentials confidential and should contact us if they believe their account has been accessed without permission.

Your rights

Subject to applicable law, including POPIA, you may have the right to:

• Ask whether we hold personal information about you
• Request access to personal information we hold about you
• Ask us to correct or update inaccurate information
• Request deletion or destruction of information where applicable
• Object to certain processing of your personal information
• Withdraw consent where processing depends on consent
• Raise a concern about how your personal information has been handled

Some information may need to be retained even after a deletion request where we have a legal, regulatory, accounting, fraud-prevention or other lawful reason to retain it.

To make a privacy request, contact Maker's Nook using the contact details provided on the website.

Children's personal information

Maker's Nook is not intended to knowingly collect children's personal information without the appropriate authority or consent where required by law.

If you believe that personal information relating to a child has been provided to Maker's Nook inappropriately, please contact us so that the matter can be reviewed.

Third-party services and links

Maker's Nook may contain links to other websites or use third-party services necessary to provide parts of the marketplace.

Those organisations may have their own privacy practices and policies.

Where you leave Maker's Nook or interact directly with an independent third-party service, their handling of personal information may be governed by their own privacy policy.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

Maker's Nook may update this Privacy Policy when the marketplace, our services, our legal obligations or the way we handle information changes.

When we make changes, the updated version will be published on this page and the "Last updated" date will be changed.

Where a change materially affects how personal information is handled, we will take reasonable steps to communicate it where appropriate.

Contact and POPIA

Questions about your personal information or this Privacy Policy can be sent to Maker's Nook.

You may also contact us if you would like to request access, correction or deletion of personal information, object to certain processing, or raise a privacy concern.

Contact Maker's Nook

Privacy & POPIA enquiries

Maker's Nook Information Officer

Email: privacy@makersnook.co.za

If you believe your personal information has not been handled appropriately, you may also have the right to lodge a complaint with South Africa's Information Regulator.