Privacy Policy

Thenorthfane Privacy Policy

At Thenorthfane, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us when browsing our website (thenorthfane.com), purchasing our outdoor performance clothing and gear, or interacting with our customer service team. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use, store, and protect it, and your rights regarding your personal data. By using our website or services, you agree to the practices outlined in this policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect personal information to provide you with a seamless shopping experience, fulfill orders, offer customer support, and improve our products and services. The information we collect falls into two categories: information you provide voluntarily and information we collect automatically.

1.1 Voluntarily Provided Information

This includes data you actively share with us, such as:
  • Personal Identification Information: Name, email address (e.g., [email protected] for communications), phone number, shipping and billing addresses, and date of birth (if needed for age-verified purchases, though rare for our hiking gear).
  • Payment Information: Credit/debit card details, PayPal or other payment method information (note: we do not store full payment card details—this is handled by our secure third-party payment processors, such as Stripe or PayPal, which comply with industry standards like PCI DSS).
  • Account Information: Username, password (encrypted), and preferences (e.g., favorite hiking gear categories, size preferences) when you create an account on our website.
  • Communication Data: Content of emails, chat messages, or voicemails you send to our customer service team (e.g., questions about orders, product feedback) and any information you share when participating in our community (e.g., trail stories, photos shared with permission for our blog).

1.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit or use our website, we may collect certain data automatically through cookies, web beacons, and server logs. This includes:
  • Device and Browser Information: Type of device (e.g., smartphone, laptop), operating system, browser type, and unique device identifiers (e.g., IP address).
  • Browsing Activity: Pages you visit on our website, time spent on each page, links you click, search queries (e.g., “waterproof hiking jackets”), and the source that directed you to our site (e.g., a social media link or search engine).
  • Purchase History: Details of the products you buy (e.g., item name, size, quantity) to track orders, process returns, and personalize future recommendations (e.g., suggesting complementary gear like hiking pants to match a jacket you purchased).

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information only for legitimate purposes that align with our business and your needs as a customer. Key uses include:
  • Fulfilling Orders: Processing payments, arranging shipping, and sending order confirmations and tracking updates.
  • Providing Customer Support: Responding to your questions, resolving issues (e.g., returns, warranty claims), and assisting with product recommendations or sizing help.
  • Personalizing Your Experience: Tailoring website content, product suggestions, and marketing communications to your interests (e.g., sharing new hiking backpacks if you previously bought a hiking jacket).
  • Improving Our Website and Products: Analyzing browsing and purchase data to identify trends (e.g., popular gear for winter hiking), fix website issues, and develop new products that meet customer needs.
  • Sending Marketing Communications: Sharing updates about new products, seasonal sales (e.g., “Summer Hiking Gear Sale”), trail tips, or community events—only if you have opted in to receive such communications. You can unsubscribe at any time using the “unsubscribe” link in our emails.
  • Complying with Legal Obligations: Ensuring we meet tax, shipping, and consumer protection laws (e.g., retaining order records for legal compliance).

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share your data only with trusted partners who help us operate our business, and these partners are required to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify. Examples include:
  • Third-Party Payment Processors: Companies like Stripe or PayPal that handle payment transactions (they receive only the information needed to process payments, such as your name, billing address, and payment details).
  • Shipping and Fulfillment Providers: Courier services (e.g., UPS, FedEx) that deliver your orders (they receive your shipping address and order details to complete delivery).
  • Customer Service and Communication Tools: Platforms that help us manage emails, chat support, or voicemails (e.g., Zendesk) — these tools store communication data only to facilitate support.
  • Analytics Providers: Services like Google Analytics that help us understand website traffic and user behavior (this data is often anonymized to protect your identity).
  • Legal Authorities: We may share information if required by law (e.g., a court order) or to protect our rights, safety, or the safety of our customers (e.g., investigating fraudulent orders).

4. How We Protect Your Information

We take the security of your personal information seriously and use industry-standard measures to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:
  • Encryption: Using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption to protect data transmitted between your browser and our website (you’ll see a padlock icon in your browser’s address bar when this is active).
  • Secure Storage: Storing sensitive data (e.g., account passwords) using strong encryption methods, and limiting access to this data to only authorized team members.
  • Third-Party Security: Requiring our partners (e.g., payment processors, shipping providers) to comply with strict security standards (e.g., PCI DSS for payment handling).
  • Regular Audits: Conducting periodic reviews of our security practices to identify and fix potential vulnerabilities.
While we take all reasonable steps to protect your information, no online service is completely immune to risks. We encourage you to take precautions too, such as using a strong, unique password for your Thenorthfane account and not sharing your login details with others.

5. Your Rights Regarding Your Information

Under privacy laws (e.g., GDPR in the EU, CCPA in California), you have certain rights regarding your personal information. These rights may include:
  • Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
  • Correction: Ask to update or correct inaccurate information (e.g., a wrong shipping address).
  • Deletion: Request that we delete your personal information (though we may need to retain some data for legal or business purposes, such as order records).
  • Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time (use the “unsubscribe” link in emails or contact us at [email protected]).
  • Data Portability: Request a copy of your information in a format that can be transferred to another service (e.g., your order history).
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected] with your name, email address linked to your account, and a clear description of your request. We will respond within 30 days (or as required by applicable law) and may ask for additional information to verify your identity.

6. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website uses cookies—small text files stored on your device—to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies help us remember your preferences (e.g., language, size filters), keep you logged into your account, and track website usage. We use two types of cookies:
  • Necessary Cookies: These are essential for the website to function (e.g., cookies that allow you to add items to your cart or complete a purchase). You cannot disable these cookies.
  • Non-Necessary Cookies: These improve your experience or help us with analytics (e.g., cookies that track which products you view to make recommendations). You can disable these cookies through your browser settings (note: disabling them may limit some features of our website).
When you first visit our website, we will ask for your consent to use non-necessary cookies. You can change your consent preferences at any time by adjusting your browser settings or contacting us.

7. Children’s Privacy

Our website and products are intended for adults (18 years and older). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will delete it immediately. If you believe a child has shared information with us, please contact us at [email protected].

8. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy and post the new version on our website. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

9. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us at: