HootStitchDesigns

HootStitchDesigns Etsy Privacy Policy
Effective 2 November 2026

1. Who is responsible
Tania Kunnemann trading as HootStitch is responsible for the personal information she receives and uses to run this Etsy shop. Contact us through Etsy Messages or at team@hootstitch.com. Postal address: 4 Steenbras Street, Tergniet, Grootbrakrivier, 6525, South Africa. Telephone: +27 74 335 1351.

This policy covers our handling of Etsy customer information. Etsy independently handles information under its own Privacy Policy at https://www.etsy.com/legal/privacy/. For Etsy account settings, platform cookies and payment processing, also consult Etsy’s notices. Our separate website policy is at https://hootstitch.com/privacy.html.

2. Information and purposes
Etsy may provide your name, username, email address, billing/address information, order details and payment status or references. We also receive messages and files you choose to send for support. We use only information needed to supply your digital purchase, answer questions, resolve problems, prevent misuse, keep accounting records and meet legal obligations. We do not ask for your password or full card details; payments are handled through Etsy and its payment providers. Please do not send unnecessary identity documents or sensitive information.

Our grounds for processing include fulfilling an order or your pre-contract request, legal obligations, and legitimate interests in providing support, securing our business and resolving disputes, balanced against your rights. Where consent is needed for an optional purpose, we obtain it separately. A purchase does not sign you up for marketing, and we do not use Etsy buyer information for unsolicited promotional messages.

3. Sharing and access
We share information with Etsy as necessary to fulfil orders, provide support and comply with its rules. Tania and authorised team members or support personnel may access information only for their duties. Necessary information may be handled by business email, hosting, backup and professional service providers, or disclosed to authorities when lawfully required. We do not sell customer personal information. This shop sells digital downloads, so no courier booking is required for an Etsy order.

4. International processing and security
We operate in South Africa. Etsy and service providers may process information in other countries. For transfers under our control, we use safeguards required by applicable law, including POPIA and, where applicable, GDPR protections such as an applicable adequacy decision or appropriate contractual safeguards. We do not claim that all records remain in South Africa. We limit access and use appropriate technical and organisational safeguards; no online service can guarantee absolute security. We assess incidents and notify individuals and regulators where legally required.

5. Retention
We keep information only for as long as needed for the order, support, accounting, legal and dispute purposes for which it was collected. The period depends on the record and applicable legal obligations; we do not retain information indefinitely for unrelated reuse. Necessary legal records and backups may remain after a deletion request. We will explain any lawful restriction on deletion and review records when their purpose ends.

6. Your choices and rights
Depending on applicable law, you may request access, correction, deletion, restriction or portability of your information, object to processing, or withdraw consent for future optional use. Withdrawal does not affect earlier lawful processing. Contact us through Etsy Messages or team@hootstitch.com. We may verify identity proportionately and explain any limits on a request. For information controlled by Etsy, contact Etsy directly.

You may complain to South Africa’s Information Regulator at https://inforegulator.org.za/ or, where applicable, your local data-protection authority, including an EU supervisory authority. Nothing in this policy limits mandatory privacy rights.

7. Updates
We will update this notice if our handling changes and communicate material changes where required. Contact us if you need clarification about your order information.