Hushpuppied Privacy Policy

At Hushpuppied, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose, and protect your information when you visit our website (www.hushpuppied.com), purchase our products, or interact with our customer service. By using our services, you agree to the practices outlined in this policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information to provide you with a personalized, efficient shopping experience and to improve our services. The information we gather falls into two categories: Personal Information (data that identifies you) and Non-Personal Information (anonymous data that does not identify you).

1.1 Personal Information

We may collect Personal Information when you:

  • Place an order (e.g., name, email address, phone number, shipping/billing address, payment details).
  • Create an account on our website (e.g., username, password, saved shipping/billing information).
  • Contact our customer service (e.g., inquiries, feedback, or support requests that include your name and contact details).
  • Subscribe to our newsletter or marketing communications (e.g., email address).
  • Participate in surveys, contests, or promotions (e.g., name, email, and preferences you share).

1.2 Non-Personal Information

We automatically collect Non-Personal Information to analyze website performance and user behavior, including:

  • Browser type, device model, and operating system.
  • IP address (to determine your general location, e.g., country/region).
  • Website pages visited, time spent on pages, and links clicked.
  • Referral source (e.g., how you found our website—search engine, social media, or other sites).

This data is aggregated and cannot be linked to individual users.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information solely to provide, improve, and secure our services, and to communicate with you (where you have given consent). Specific uses include:

2.1 Fulfilling Orders & Providing Services

  • Process and ship your orders.
  • Send order updates (e.g., confirmation emails, shipping notifications, delivery status).
  • Assist with order modifications, returns, or exchanges (via customer service).
  • Manage your account (e.g., update preferences, track order history).

2.2 Improving Our Services

  • Analyze user behavior (via Non-Personal Information) to optimize our website layout, product selection, and user experience.
  • Use feedback from surveys or customer service to enhance product quality and service standards.

2.3 Marketing Communications (With Consent)

  • Send newsletters, promotional offers, new product announcements, or personalized recommendations—only if you have opted in (e.g., by checking a box during account creation or newsletter signup).
  • You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time (see Section 5 for details).

2.4 Security & Compliance

  • Protect our website and users from fraud, unauthorized access, or other security threats (e.g., verifying payment details, monitoring for suspicious activity).
  • Comply with applicable laws, regulations, or legal requests (e.g., responding to subpoenas or government inquiries).

3. How We Share Your Information

We never sell, rent, or trade your Personal Information to third parties for marketing purposes without your explicit consent. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

3.1 Service Providers

We partner with trusted third-party service providers to help us operate our business. These providers have access to your Personal Information only to perform specific tasks on our behalf and are required to protect your data:

  • Payment Processors: (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) to securely process credit card or other payment transactions (we do not store full payment card details—this is handled by our PCI-DSS compliant payment partners).
  • Shipping Carriers: (e.g., UPS, USPS) to deliver your orders and provide tracking information.
  • Marketing Platforms: (e.g., Mailchimp) to send newsletters or promotional emails (only if you have opted in).
  • Analytics Tools: (e.g., Google Analytics) to collect Non-Personal Information about website usage.

3.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or to protect our rights, property, or the safety of our users or employees.

3.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or part of our business, your information may be transferred to the new owner—we will notify you via email or website notice prior to such a transfer.

4. How We Protect Your Information

We implement industry-standard security measures to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction of your Personal Information:

  • Secure Storage: Personal Information is stored on encrypted servers with restricted access (only authorized employees can access data for business purposes).
  • Secure Transactions: Our website uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption to protect data transmitted during order placement or account creation (look for the “https://” and padlock icon in your browser).
  • Payment Security: We do not store full credit card numbers—payment details are processed by PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliant providers, which meet global security standards.
  • Regular Audits: We conduct periodic security reviews to update our measures and address potential vulnerabilities.

While we take all reasonable steps to protect your data, no online service is 100% secure. You are responsible for keeping your account password confidential—if you suspect unauthorized access to your account, contact us immediately.

5. Your Rights & Choices

You have the right to control your Personal Information and how we use it. You can:

5.1 Access, Update, or Delete Your Information

  • Log into your website account to view or edit your personal details (e.g., name, address, email).
  • Request a copy of all Personal Information we hold about you by emailing [email protected].
  • Ask us to delete your Personal Information (subject to legal obligations, e.g., retaining order records for tax purposes). We will confirm deletion within 30 days of your request.

5.2 Opt Out of Marketing Communications

  • To unsubscribe from marketing emails, click the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any promotional email we send. You will be removed from our marketing list within 5 business days.
  • Opting out of marketing emails does not affect transactional communications (e.g., order confirmations or support responses).

5.3 Disable Cookies (Non-Personal Information)

Our website uses cookies (small text files stored on your device) to collect Non-Personal Information and improve your browsing experience (e.g., remembering your account login). You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but this may limit some website features (e.g., saving your shopping cart).

6. Children’s Privacy

Our services are not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from children under 13. If we learn that 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 at [email protected] to request deletion.

7. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., social media platforms or partner sites). This Privacy Policy does not apply to these third parties—we are not responsible for their privacy practices. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

8. Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will:

  • Post the revised policy on our website with a new “Effective Date.”
  • Notify you via email (if you have an account with us) or a prominent notice on our homepage, at least 7 days before the changes take effect.

Your continued use of our services after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

9. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or your Personal Information, please contact us at:

We will respond to your inquiry within 24 business hours (Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM EST).