Privacy Policy

We collect only the information reasonably necessary to operate our apparel business, complete customer transactions, communicate with customers, and improve our website.

We may collect information that you voluntarily provide when you:

• Place an order through our website;
• Make a purchase through our Shopify point-of-sale system at an event or in person;
• Request an electronic receipt;
• Subscribe to our email mailing list;
• Complete a form on our website; or
• Contact us regarding an order, product, return, exchange, or other question.

This information may include:

• Your name;
• Email address;
• Telephone number, if provided;
• Billing or shipping address, when needed;
• Products purchased, returned, or exchanged;
• Order and transaction information;
• Email subscription preferences; and
• Information included in communications you send to us.

We do not collect personal information from someone merely because they visit our booth, attend an event, view our products, or speak with us. Information is collected only when a person voluntarily provides it, makes a purchase, requests an electronic receipt, subscribes to our mailing list, completes a form, or contacts us.

All online and in-person payments are processed through Shopify, Shopify POS, Shopify Payments, or another payment option made available through Shopify.

Melanated Princess does not separately collect or store complete credit-card or debit-card numbers, card security codes, or bank-account credentials.

Shopify and the applicable payment processor handle payment information according to their own privacy and security practices. We may receive limited transaction information through Shopify, such as the order amount, payment status, payment method type, transaction date, and limited or masked card information.

You can learn more about Shopify’s privacy practices by reviewing the Shopify Consumer Privacy Policy.

When you visit our website, Shopify and the technologies used to operate our store may automatically collect limited technical information, such as:

• Your IP address;
• Browser and device type;
• Pages or products viewed;
• Shopping-cart and checkout activity;
• Referring website; and
• Website cookies and similar identifiers.

This information helps Shopify and Melanated Princess operate the website, maintain shopping-cart and checkout functions, understand website activity, prevent fraud, and improve the customer experience.

We may use customer information to:

• Process and fulfill orders;
• Arrange shipping or delivery;
• Send order confirmations, receipts, and shipping updates;
• Process returns, exchanges, and refunds;
• Respond to customer-service questions;
• Maintain transaction and business records;
• Prevent fraud and protect our website;
• Improve our products and website;
• Send promotional emails to customers who have subscribed; and
• Comply with applicable legal, tax, and accounting requirements.

We do not automatically add event visitors or customers to our promotional mailing list merely because they visit our booth or make a purchase. Customers receive promotional emails when they voluntarily subscribe or when otherwise permitted by law.

If you subscribe to our mailing list, we may send you information about products, collections, promotions, events, and other Melanated Princess updates.

You may unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in our promotional emails. Unsubscribing from promotional emails will not prevent us from sending necessary communications about an order, transaction, return, exchange, or customer-service request.

We do not sell customer information for money.

We may share information only as reasonably necessary with:

• Shopify, which operates our website and point-of-sale system;
• Payment providers that process transactions;
• Shipping and delivery companies that fulfill orders;
• Email providers that distribute communications to subscribers;
• Website analytics or advertising services enabled through our Shopify store;
• Professional advisers, such as accountants or attorneys, when necessary; and
• Government authorities when required by law.

These providers receive only the information reasonably necessary to perform their services.

Certain advertising or analytics technologies may be considered “sharing” or “targeted advertising” under some state privacy laws, even when no money is exchanged. Where required by law, customers may use the privacy choices or cookie controls available on our website to manage those technologies.

Our Shopify website uses cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep items in your shopping cart;
• Support checkout and payment functions;
• Remember website preferences;
• Understand how visitors use our website;
• Prevent fraud and maintain security; and
• Measure website or advertising performance.

You may manage cookies through your browser settings and any cookie-preference options available on our website. Disabling certain cookies may prevent parts of the website or checkout process from working properly.

Melanated Princess sells apparel and accessories that may be intended for children, but our website and checkout services are intended for use by adults.

We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13. Parents and legal guardians may purchase products for children, but children under 13 should not place orders or subscribe to our mailing list.

If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information to us, please contact us so that we can review and delete the information when required.

Depending on where you live and applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we maintain about you;
• Request correction of inaccurate information;
• Request deletion of certain information;
• Unsubscribe from promotional emails; or
• Opt out of certain advertising or data-sharing activities.

Some information may need to be retained to complete transactions, maintain required tax or accounting records, prevent fraud, resolve disputes, or comply with legal obligations.

To submit a privacy request, contact us using the information below. We may need to verify your identity before completing the request.

We retain customer information only for as long as reasonably necessary to:

• Complete and document transactions;
• Provide customer service;
• Process returns, exchanges, refunds, or disputes;
• Maintain legally required tax and accounting records;
• Maintain email subscription and unsubscribe records; and
• Protect our legal rights.

When information is no longer reasonably necessary, it may be deleted, anonymized, or securely disposed of.

We use reasonable measures and Shopify’s systems to help protect customer information. However, no website, payment system, or method of electronic storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Customers should not send complete payment-card information, passwords, or other sensitive financial information through email, social-media messages, or other unsecured communication methods.

Our website may contain links to social-media platforms or other third-party websites. We do not control and are not responsible for the privacy practices of those third parties. Please review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

We may update this Privacy Policy when our business practices, Shopify services, or legal obligations change. The revised policy will be posted on our website with an updated “Last Updated” date.