INTRODUCTION:

TeresArt ("we," "our," or "us") operates from Nova Scotia, Canada, and provides original artwork and prints to customers globally. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website [www.teresart.ca] and make purchases.

By accessing or using our services, you acknowledge that your information will be handled in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you are visiting from outside Canada, please note that your data will be transferred to, stored, and processed in Canada.

INFORMATION WE COLLECT:

We collect personal information necessary to process your orders and provide our services, including:

• Personal Identification Information: Name, email address, and phone number.

• Payment Information: Details required to process payments via PayPal, Interac e-Transfer, Debit, Credit, Apple Wallet, or other specified payment methods. (Note: We do not directly store your sensitive credit card information; this is handled securely by our third-party payment processors).

• Shipping Information: Physical address for order delivery.

• Usage Data: Information about how you interact with our website, such as IP address, browser type, operating system, pages visited, and geographical region.

HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION:

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• Order Processing: To process and fulfill your purchases, including arranging international shipping and handling customs declarations where required.

• Payment Processing: To facilitate and verify secure transactions through PayPal, Debit, Credit, Interac e-Transfer, Apple Wallet, or payment methods otherwise specified.

• Communication: To contact you regarding your order status, respond to inquiries, or send updates related to your purchase.

• Marketing: With your explicit consent (in compliance with Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation, or CASL), to send you newsletters or promotional materials about new artwork. You may opt out at any time.

• Improvement of Services: To enhance website functionality and user experience, based on analytical data (including insights and metrics on usage).

SHARING AND TRANSFERRING YOUR INFORMATION:

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We only share your information with trusted service providers to operate our business:

• Service Providers: Payment processors (e.g., PayPal), website hosting platforms, and international shipping/courier partners (e.g., Canada Post, FedEx, Purolator, USPS, DHL, ChitChats) required to deliver your physical orders.

• Cross-Border Data Transfers: Because we are located in Canada, information collected from international visitors will be transferred outside your home country. Canada is recognized by the European Commission as providing an "adequate" level of data protection, meaning your data remains safe under Canadian law.

• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if legally required to do so to comply with applicable laws, international customs regulations, valid requests by public authorities, or to protect our legal rights.

LEGAL BASIS FOR PROCESSING (FOR EU/UK VISITORS):

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom, we process your personal data under the following legal bases:

• Performance of a Contract: To fulfill and ship your artwork orders.

• Consent: When you explicitly opt-in to receive our marketing emails or accept optional cookies.

• Legitimate Interests: To improve our website security, analyze site performance, and protect our business interests. 

DATA RETENTION:

We will retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, such as fulfilling orders, complying with our legal and tax obligations (e.g., Canadian tax law requires retaining transaction records), resolving disputes, and enforcing our agreements.

DATA SECURITY:

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, please be aware that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Please use at your own discretion.

YOUR GLOBAL PRIVACY RIGHTS:

Depending on where you reside (including Canada, the EU, UK, or certain US states), you may have the following rights regarding your data:

• Access & Portability: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you in a structured, machine-readable format.

• Correction: Request correction of any incomplete or inaccurate personal information.

• Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): Request the deletion of your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions (such as tax compliance).

• Object or Restrict Processing: Object to or ask us to restrict the processing of your data under certain circumstances.

• Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw consent to direct marketing or data collection at any time. Please note that withdrawing consent for necessary operational data (like shipping addresses) will result in the inability to process your order.

US State Privacy Disclosures (e.g., California CCPA/CPRA) We do not "sell" or "share" personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising as defined under US state privacy laws.

CHILDREN'S PRIVACY:

Our website and services are not directed to individuals under the age of 13 (or under 16 in the EEA). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn we have inadvertently collected personal data from a child without verifiable parental consent, we will take immediate steps to delete such information from our records.

COOKIES & TRACKING TECHNOLOGY:

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze site traffic. Site-related interaction and content data, (e.g., page views, scrolls, outbound clicks, site search, form interactions, video engagment, file downloads) may be collected for analytical purposes. You can choose to disable cookies through your internet browser settings; however, doing so may affect the functionality and performance of our website.

THIRD-PARTY LINKS:

Our website may contain links to external sites not operated by us. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any external or third-party sites or services. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY:

We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the updated Privacy Policy on this page with a revised "last updated" date. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.