Introduction

Ink & Pixel Studios ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights under POPIA.

1. Information We Collect

Personal Information:

Full Name
Email Address
Phone Number (WhatsApp)
Delivery Address (Street, City, Province, Postal Code)

Order Information:

Product specifications (dimensions, materials, quantities)
Artwork files uploaded
Order notes and special instructions
Payment information (processed securely by Yoco)

Technical Information:

IP Address
Browser type and version
Device information
Pages visited and time spent (analytics)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information ONLY for:

Order Fulfillment: Processing your order, printing, and delivery
Communication: Sending order confirmations, production updates, and delivery notifications via email/WhatsApp
Invoicing: Generating invoices and receipts for accounting purposes
Customer Support: Responding to inquiries and resolving issues
Legal Compliance: Meeting tax, accounting, and legal requirements

Optional: With your explicit consent, we may send marketing emails about new products, design tips, and special offers. You can unsubscribe at any time.

3. Legal Basis for Processing (POPIA Compliance)

We process your personal information based on:

Contractual Necessity: To fulfill our agreement with you (your order)
Consent: You explicitly agreed to our POPIA consent at checkout
Legitimate Interest: For business operations, fraud prevention, and improving our services
Legal Obligation: Tax records, accounting, and compliance with South African law

4. Data Sharing & Third Parties

We do NOT sell your personal information. Period.

We share data ONLY with trusted service providers necessary for order fulfillment:

Yoco Payments

Secure payment processing. Your card details never touch our servers.

Courier Services

Delivery address shared for shipping only.

Email Service (Resend)

Transactional emails (order confirmations, tracking updates).

Cloud Hosting (Vercel/Supabase)

Secure data storage with encryption at rest and in transit.

All third-party providers are bound by strict confidentiality agreements and POPIA compliance requirements.

5. Data Security

We protect your data with:

256-bit SSL Encryption: All data transmitted between your browser and our servers
Database Encryption: Personal information encrypted at rest
Access Controls: Role-based access - only authorized personnel can view your data
Regular Backups: Automated daily backups stored securely
No Card Storage: Payment card details handled exclusively by Yoco (PCI-DSS compliant)

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for:

Order Data: 7 years (South African tax law requirement)
Artwork Files: 30 days after delivery (for reprint requests), then automatically deleted
Marketing Consent: Until you unsubscribe or request deletion
Website Analytics: 26 months (anonymized)

After retention periods expire, data is securely deleted or anonymized.

7. Your Rights Under POPIA

You have the right to:

✓Access: Request a copy of all personal information we hold about you
✓Correction: Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete data
✓Deletion: Request deletion of your data (subject to legal retention requirements)
✓Object: Object to processing for marketing purposes (opt-out of emails)
✓Portability: Request your data in a portable format (CSV/JSON)
✓Complain: Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa

To exercise your rights, contact us at:

Email: privacy@inkpixelstudios.co.za
We will respond within 30 days as required by POPIA.

8. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies for:

Essential Cookies: Shopping cart, session management (required for site functionality)
Analytics: Google Analytics or similar (anonymized) to understand site usage
Preferences: Remembering your language/theme preferences

You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but some site features may not work correctly.

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a minor, please contact us immediately.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The "Last Updated" date at the top will indicate the most recent revision. We will notify you of significant changes via email or a prominent notice on our website.

Contact Us

For privacy-related questions, data access requests, or to exercise your POPIA rights:

Ink & Pixel Studios

Privacy Officer

Email: privacy@inkpixelstudios.co.za

WhatsApp: 076 418 5902

Information Regulator (South Africa):
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may lodge a complaint with:
www.justice.gov.za/inforeg

By using our website and services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.