Cookie Policy
Last updated: [INSERT DATE]
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your computer, smartphone, or other device when you visit a website. They allow the website to recognise your device on return visits, remember your preferences, and collect information about how you use the site.
We also use similar technologies such as pixel tags and web beacons, which work alongside cookies to help us understand how visitors interact with our site.
2. Who We Are
[YOUR BUSINESS NAME] operates this website at [YOUR WEBSITE URL]. We are the data controller for the purposes of UK GDPR. If you have any questions about our use of cookies, please contact us at [YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS].
3. Categories of Cookies We Use
We use the following categories of cookies on our website:
Essential cookies
These are necessary for the website to function correctly and cannot be switched off. They are set in response to actions you take, such as filling in a contact form or setting your cookie preferences. Essential cookies do not require your consent.
Performance and analytics cookies
These help us understand how visitors use our website — for example, which pages are visited most often. This information is used in aggregate to help us improve our site. These cookies require your consent.
Advertising and targeting cookies (include only if you use the Meta Pixel or similar)
These are used to track visitors to our website so that we can show them relevant advertising on other platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. These cookies require your consent.
4. Cookies We Use
The table below sets out the specific cookies currently used on our website. (remove any rows that do not apply to your site).
Cookie
Set by
Category
Purpose
More information
ss_cid, ss_cvr, ss_cvisit, ss_cpvisit
Squarespace
Essential
Identifies unique visitors and tracks visit sessions
squarespace-announcement-bar, squarespace-popup-overlay
Squarespace
Functional
Remembers whether you have dismissed banners or popups
crumb
Squarespace
Essential
Security cookie that helps protect against cross-site request forgery
_ga, _ga_*, _gid
Google Analytics (remove if you don’t use this)
Performance & analytics
Tracks website usage and visitor behaviour to help us improve the site. Data is anonymised and aggregated.
_fbp, fr
Meta / Facebook (remove if you don’t use this)
Advertising & targeting
Facebook Pixel: tracks visitors to enable remarketing and measure ad effectiveness on Facebook and Instagram.
facebook.com/privacy/explanation
[Add any other cookies here]
[Provider]
[Category]
[Purpose]
[Link to privacy policy]
5. Your Consent and Choices
When you first visit our website, a cookie banner will appear asking for your consent to non-essential cookies. You can choose to:
• Accept all cookies: consent to all categories of cookies being set.
• Reject non-essential cookies: only essential cookies will be used.
You can change your preferences at any time by clearing your cookies in your browser settings and revisiting our website, at which point the consent banner will reappear.
6. Managing Cookies Through Your Browser
Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can usually set your browser to refuse all cookies, accept only certain types, or notify you when a cookie is being sent. Please consult your browser’s help documentation for instructions.
Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of this and many other websites.
You can also opt out of Google Analytics tracking across all websites by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
(If you use the Meta Pixel, add: You can opt out of Meta advertising cookies at facebook.com/ads/preferences.)
7. Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies on our site are set by third parties. We do not control these cookies once they are set. Each third-party provider listed in Section 4 has its own privacy policy, which we link to in the table above. When you consent to analytics or advertising cookies, you are also consenting to those third parties processing data about your visit in accordance with their own policies.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. We encourage you to review this page periodically, particularly if you have previously given or withheld consent.
9. Contact Us
If you have any questions about our use of cookies, please contact us at [YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS]. For more information about how we handle your personal data more generally, please see our [link to your Privacy Policy].
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This template was prepared by The Interior Designers Hub Ltd as a starting point only. It does not constitute legal advice. Please have this document reviewed by a qualified solicitor before publishing it on your website. The Interior Designers Hub accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this template.
Privacy Policy
Last updated: [INSERT DATE]
1. Who We Are
[YOUR BUSINESS NAME] is a UK-based interior design practice owned and operated by [YOUR FULL NAME].
(If you are a limited company, add: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME] is a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number [COMPANY NUMBER], with its registered office at [REGISTERED ADDRESS].)
In this policy, references to “we”, “us”, or “our” refer to [YOUR BUSINESS NAME]. We are the data controller for the personal data described in this policy, as defined by the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
You can contact us at:
• Email: [YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS]
• Website: [YOUR WEBSITE URL]
• Phone: [YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
• Post: [YOUR BUSINESS ADDRESS]
2. What This Policy Covers
This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect personal data in connection with our website [YOUR WEBSITE URL] (the “Site”). It applies to all visitors to the Site.
We are committed to handling your personal data responsibly and in accordance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
3. What Data We Collect and Why
We collect personal data in the following ways:
3.1 Data you give us directly
If you contact us through our website contact form or by email, we will collect your name, email address, and any other information you choose to share with us in your message. We use this information solely to respond to your enquiry.
Lawful basis: legitimate interests (responding to enquiries from prospective clients).
3.2 Data collected automatically
When you visit our Site, certain technical information is collected automatically by our website platform (Squarespace) and analytics tools. This includes your IP address, browser type and version, operating system, the pages you visit, and how long you spend on each page. This information is used in aggregate to help us understand how the Site is being used and to improve it.
Lawful basis: legitimate interests (understanding and improving our website), subject to your cookie consent where applicable.
(If you use a mailing list or newsletter, add: 3.3 Mailing list — If you sign up to our mailing list, we collect your name and email address in order to send you updates and news about our work. We will only do this with your consent. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email we send you. Lawful basis: consent.)
4. How We Store Your Data
Our website is hosted by Squarespace, Inc., which stores data on servers located in the United States. Squarespace is certified under the UK-US Data Bridge, which means transfers of your data to the US are made under an approved safeguard. For more information, see Squarespace’s privacy policy at squarespace.com/privacy.
We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure. However, no internet transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee the security of data you send to us electronically.
5. Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services on our website. Each processes personal data on our behalf in accordance with their own privacy policies:
Squarespace — website hosting and contact form processing. Data processed: IP address, browser data, form submissions. Privacy policy: squarespace.com/privacy
Google Analytics (if you use this) — website analytics. Data processed: IP address, device and browser data, pages visited, time on site. This data is anonymised and aggregated. Privacy policy: policies.google.com/privacy
Meta Pixel (Facebook) (if you use this) — advertising and remarketing. Data processed: IP address, browser data, pages visited. Privacy policy: facebook.com/privacy/explanation
(Add any other services you use here, for example a mailing list provider such as Mailchimp or Flodesk, a booking tool, or an accounting tool that holds client data.)
We do not sell your personal data to any third party.
6. Cookies
Our website uses cookies. For full details of the cookies we use and how to manage your preferences, please see our [link to your Cookie Policy].
7. How Long We Keep Your Data
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary:
• Enquiry and contact data: we keep emails and contact form submissions for [e.g. 2 years] from the date of last contact, or longer if the enquiry leads to a client relationship.
• Website analytics data: retained for 26 months in line with Google Analytics default settings (adjust if you have changed this setting).
• Mailing list data: retained until you unsubscribe, after which your details will be suppressed rather than deleted.
8. Your Rights
Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights in relation to your personal data:
• Right of access: request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to rectification: ask us to correct inaccurate data.
• Right to erasure: ask us to delete your personal data.
• Right to restriction: ask us to restrict how we process your data.
• Right to object: object to processing based on legitimate interests.
• Right to withdraw consent: where processing is based on consent, withdraw it at any time.
• Right to complain: lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS].
9. Links to Other Websites
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing any personal data.
10. Children
Our website is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a child, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact us:
• Email: [YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS]
• Phone: [YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
• Post: [YOUR BUSINESS ADDRESS]
You also have the right to complain to the ICO at ico.org.uk or by calling 0303 123 1113.
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This template was prepared by The Interior Designers Hub Ltd as a starting point only. It does not constitute legal advice. Please have this document reviewed by a qualified solicitor before publishing it on your website. The Interior Designers Hub accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this template.