Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY 

We ask that you read this privacy notice carefully as it contains important information on who we are, how and why we collect, store, use and share personal information, your rights in relation to your personal information and on how to contact us and supervisory authorities in the event you have a complaint. 

WHO WE ARE 
Merrick Scottish Blackface Knitwear is a social enterprise operated by Biosphere Enterprises Limited, a company registered in Scotland SC775419.  100% of all profits are reinvested into the local area, through projects led by the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership, a Registered Scottish Charity SC044137. 

THE PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT AND USE 
We may collect the following personal information about you: 

• Your name, address, telephone number, email address and other contact information when you purchase products from us, register on our website, or contact us in some other way. 

• Where you visit our website, we may automatically collect technical information including IP address, and login information, information regarding your visit such as URL data and products you viewed or searched for. 

• Information may also be collected through automated monitoring of our websites and computer networks and through email and instant messaging systems. 

WEB BROWSER COOKIES 
Our website may use “cookies” to enhance User experience. Your web browser places cookies on their hard drive for record-keeping purposes and sometimes to track information about them. In general, cookies are used to retain user preferences, store information for things like forms, and provide anonymised tracking data to third party applications like Google Analytics. You may choose to set your web browser to refuse cookies, or to alert you when cookies are being sent (consult the Help section of your browser or take a look at the About Cookies website which offers guidance for all modern browsers). Please note that some parts of the website may not function properly with cookies disabled. 

HOW WE USE COLLECTED INFORMATION 
Biosphere Enterprises Limited may collect and use Customers personal information for the following purposes: 

To improve customer service 
Information you provide helps us respond to your customer service requests and support needs more efficiently. 

To personalise the user experience 
We may use information in the aggregate to understand how you use the services and resources provided on our website. 

To send periodic emails 
We may use your email address to send information and updates about our products and about the Biosphere. It may also be used to respond to enquiries, questions, and/or other requests.  

Mailing List 
If you decide to opt-in to our mailing list, you may receive emails that include news, updates, related product, or service information, etc. If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails, we include detailed unsubscribe instructions at the bottom of each email or you may contact us via our website. 

For fundraising and fundraising research purposes 
We may use your information to create a profile about you, your interests, and preferences.  This helps us to tailor appropriate communications to you as well as helping to improve the quality of your experience with us.    

We may combine information you have given us with other information about you when it is available (for example, from public records or social media). 

We will only process your personal data where we have a lawful basis for doing so (as specified under Article 6 of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)). In most cases, the lawful basis is that processing such data is necessary for the legitimate interests of the organisation. 

We may communicate with you about fundraising initiatives, projects, and campaigns. 

HOW WE PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION 

• We adopt appropriate data collection, storage and processing practices and security measures to protect against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure or destruction of your personal information, username, password, transaction information and data stored on our website.   

• We will not keep your personal data for longer than we need it.   

• We periodically review the data we hold and erase or anonymise it when we no longer need it. 

SHARING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION 

• We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal identification information to others.  

• We may share generic aggregated demographic information not linked to any personal identification information regarding visitors and users with our business partners, trusted affiliates and advertisers for the purposes outlined above.   

• We may use third party service providers to help us operate our business and the website or administer activities on our behalf, such as sending out newsletters or surveys, promote fundraising, collecting data and collecting funds. We may share your information with these third parties for those limited purposes if you have given us your permission.  

• We will share personal information with law enforcement or other authorities if required by applicable law. 
   

THIRD PARTY WEBSITES 

• You may find advertising or other content on our website that links to the websites and services of our partners, suppliers, advertisers, sponsors, licensors and other third parties.  

• We do not control the content or links that appear on these websites and are not responsible for the practices employed by websites linked to or from our website.  

• In addition, these websites, or services, including their content and links, may be constantly changing. These websites and services may have their own privacy policies and customer service policies.  

• Browsing and interaction on any other website, including websites which have a link to our website, is subject to that website’s own terms and policies. 

YOUR RIGHTS 
You have the right to access and receive a copy of your personal information by making a Subject Access Request (“SAR”) either verbally or in writing (including via social media).  This includes the right to have your personal data erased or any incorrect personal data rectified.  We will respond without delay and within one month of receipt of the request.  If you would like to exercise any of those rights, let us know the information to which your request relates and email us at hello@merrickscotland.com. 

CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY NOTICE 

• This privacy notice was published in September 2024. 

• We may change this privacy notice from time to time. 

YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS 

• By using this website, you signify your acceptance of this policy.  

• If you do not agree to this policy, please do not use our website.  

• Your continued use of the website following the posting of changes to this policy will be deemed your acceptance of those changes. 

CONTACTING US 

If you have any questions or complaints about this Privacy Policy, the practices of this website, or your dealings with this website, please write to us at the address below or email us at hello@merrickscotland.com. 

Biosphere Enterprises Limited 
c/o Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership 
37 Queen Street 
Newton Stewart 
DG8 6JR 

Alternatively, you have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office at https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/ 

Biosphere Enterprises Limited is a registered company SC775419. 
Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership is a Scottish Charity registered with OSCR Reg. No: SC044137. 
Biosphere Enterprises Limited is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.