Privacy Policy

Your Privacy Matters: At Carrie Barlatier Studio, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This policy explains what information we collect and how we use it.

Information We Collect

Personal Information You Provide

When you interact with our website, we may collect:

Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, mailing address
Account Information: Username, password (encrypted), preferences
Payment Information: Credit card details, billing address (processed securely through our payment providers)
Order Information: Purchase history, shipping preferences
Communication: Messages sent through contact forms, emails, or commission requests
Commission Details: Photos, descriptions, and preferences for custom artwork

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we automatically collect:

Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system
Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent, links clicked
Cookies: Small files stored on your device for site functionality and analytics
Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Process Orders: Fulfill purchases, arrange shipping, send confirmations

Communication: Respond to inquiries, provide customer support

Commissions: Create custom artwork based on your specifications

Improve Services: Enhance website functionality and user experience

Marketing: Send newsletters, promotions (with your consent)

Security: Prevent fraud, protect against security threats

Analytics: Understand how visitors use our site

Legal Compliance: Meet legal and regulatory requirements

How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information with:

Payment Processors: Stripe, PayPal, or other secure payment gateways to process transactions
Shipping Partners: USPS, UPS, FedEx to deliver your orders
Email Service: For sending order confirmations and newsletters (if you've subscribed)
Analytics Services: Google Analytics to understand website usage
Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government regulations
Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

All third-party service providers are required to maintain the confidentiality and security of your information and may only use it for the purposes we specify.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us provide better service. We use cookies to:

Remember your preferences and settings
Keep you logged in to your account
Track items in your shopping cart
Understand how you use our website
Provide personalized content and advertising

Types of Cookies We Use

Cookie Type	Purpose
Essential Cookies	Required for website functionality (shopping cart, login)
Performance Cookies	Help us understand site usage and improve performance
Functional Cookies	Remember your preferences and settings
Advertising Cookies	Deliver relevant ads and measure campaign effectiveness

Managing Cookies: You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

How We Protect Your Information

We implement various security measures to protect your personal information:

SSL Encryption: All data transmitted between your browser and our site is encrypted
Secure Payment Processing: Credit card information is never stored on our servers
Access Controls: Limited employee access to personal information
Regular Security Audits: Ongoing monitoring for vulnerabilities
Password Protection: Passwords are encrypted using industry-standard methods
Secure Hosting: Our website is hosted on secure servers with regular backups

Please Note: While we implement strong security measures, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access

Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you

Correction

Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information

Deletion

Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal requirements)

Opt-Out

Unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time

Data Portability

Request your data in a portable, machine-readable format

Restriction

Request limitations on how we process your information

To exercise your rights: Contact us at admin@carriebarlatier.com with your request. We'll respond within 30 days.

Email Communications

We may send you emails containing:

Transactional Emails: Order confirmations, shipping notifications (these are necessary and cannot be opted out of)
Marketing Emails: Newsletters, promotions, new artwork announcements (you can opt out at any time)
Service Updates: Important changes to our services or policies

Unsubscribe Anytime: Every marketing email includes an unsubscribe link. You can also manage your email preferences by contacting us directly.

Children's Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately at admin@carriebarlatier.com and we will promptly delete such information.

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (social media, payment processors, etc.). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these sites.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit. This Privacy Policy applies only to information collected through our website.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

Fulfill the purposes outlined in this privacy policy
Comply with legal, accounting, or reporting requirements
Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements
Maintain records of transactions for tax and business purposes

When information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons.

When we make changes:

We'll update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
Significant changes will be posted prominently on our website
For material changes, we may notify you by email

We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.