Cookie Policy

DesignerGiving Cookie Policy

1. Introduction

Designer Giving Limited ("we", "us" and "our") operates the website at www.designergiving.co.uk (the "Website"). This Cookie Policy explains how we use cookies and similar technologies on the Website, why we use them, and how you can control them.

When we say "cookies and similar technologies", we mean cookies, local storage, pixels, tags, scripts, device identifiers and any other technology that stores information on, or accesses information from, your device.

We use these technologies to run the Website, keep your shopping basket working, process payments securely, display the Website correctly and, where you consent, enable social sharing features on blog pages.

Where you consent via our cookie banner, we use Google Analytics, Google Ads conversion tracking and Meta Pixel as described in Section 4. We do not use our own behavioural advertising cookies.

This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy at www.designergiving.co.uk/privacy-policy, which explains how we collect, use and protect personal data more generally.

2. What Cookies Are

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They help websites work, remember choices, improve services and provide information to website owners.

• First-party cookies are set by us directly.
• Third-party cookies are set by another organisation whose service is used on the Website, such as Stripe or ShareThis.
• Session cookies are deleted automatically when you close your browser.
• Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period, or until you delete them.
• Local storage is browser storage that can work in a similar way to cookies. We use it for the shopping basket.

3. UK Cookie Rules and Consent

We are subject to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003, as amended (PECR).

PECR requires clear and comprehensive information about storage and access technologies. In many cases, consent is needed before non-essential technologies are used.

Consent is not required where an exception applies, for example where the technology is strictly necessary to provide a service you have requested, such as logging in, keeping items in your basket, running checkout or preventing payment fraud.

Some low-risk technologies may be allowed without consent only where the applicable legal conditions are met, including giving clear information and a simple way to object.

• Strictly necessary technologies help with login, account access, checkout, seller tools, basket operation and payment security. They do not require consent where they are essential for a service you request.
• Functional or preference technologies remember choices or improve the shopping experience. We will only use them where consent is given or another valid PECR exception applies.
• Social sharing technologies such as ShareThis are optional and will only load where you consent.
• Analytics and advertising technologies such as Google Analytics, Google Ads conversion tracking and Meta Pixel are optional and will only load where you consent.

4. Technologies We Use

4.1 First-party technologies

4.2 Stripe payment technologies

Stripe is our payment processor. When you enter checkout, Stripe may set cookies or use similar technologies to help process the payment, maintain payment form state, detect fraud and meet security obligations.

These technologies are used only where payment functionality is present, such as checkout and Stripe Connect seller onboarding or dashboard flows. We treat them as strictly necessary for payment services you initiate.

Stripe's privacy information is available at https://stripe.com/en-gb/privacy and its cookie information is available at https://stripe.com/gb/legal/cookies-policy.

4.3 ShareThis social sharing

ShareThis sharing buttons may appear on blog pages so visitors can share content on social media or messaging platforms. ShareThis is not required for the Website to work.

ShareThis may set cookies or similar identifiers to operate its sharing tools, measure sharing activity and support its own advertising or analytics services. We will only load ShareThis where you have given consent for this category.

ShareThis's privacy information is available at https://sharethis.com/privacy/ and its opt-out page is available at https://sharethis.com/opt-out/.

4.4 Google Fonts

We use the Rubik typeface from Google Fonts so the Website displays with the intended typography.

Google Fonts does not set cookies through the Fonts API. However, when fonts are loaded from Google, Google receives technical request information such as your IP address, requested URL and browser information so that it can serve the font files.

Google Fonts privacy information is available at https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq/privacy.

4.5 Google Analytics

Provider: Google LLC
Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our Website. Google Analytics uses cookies such as _ga and _ga_* to collect information about pages visited, time on site, and referral sources. This helps us improve the Website.

Google Analytics is loaded only after you click OK on our cookie banner. It is not strictly necessary and requires your consent.

4.6 Google Ads conversion tracking

Provider: Google LLC
Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

We use Google Ads conversion tracking to measure whether advertising leads to purchases on our Website. When you complete a checkout, a conversion event may be sent to Google. Google may set cookies such as _gcl_au for advertising measurement.

Google Ads conversion tracking is loaded only after you click OK on our cookie banner. It is not strictly necessary and requires your consent.

4.7 Meta Pixel

Provider: Meta Platforms, Inc.
Privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/

We use Meta Pixel to measure advertising on Facebook, Instagram and other Meta services, and to understand how visitors use our Website after seeing those advertisements. When you complete a checkout, a Purchase event may be sent to Meta. Meta may set cookies such as _fbp and _fbc.

Meta Pixel is loaded only after you click OK on our cookie banner. It is not strictly necessary and requires your consent.

5. What We Do Not Use

We do not currently use:

• Remarketing or behavioural advertising cookies of our own, beyond the Google Ads conversion tracking and Meta Pixel measurement described above.
• Advertising cookies set by us for profiling visitors across other websites, other than through those measurement technologies.

If we add analytics, advertising or other non-essential technologies in future, we will update this policy and ask for consent where required.

6. Managing Your Choices

6.1 Cookie banner and settings

When you first visit the Website, our cookie banner is displayed at the bottom of the page. Click OK to consent to non-essential cookies and technologies, including analytics, social sharing, and advertising measurement technologies described in this policy.

Where we ask for consent, we will not load the relevant non-essential technology until you consent. Your consent is stored in a first-party cookie (dg_cookie_consent) so the banner is not shown again on future visits. To withdraw consent, clear cookies from your browser or delete the dg_cookie_consent cookie. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of anything done before withdrawal.

6.2 Browser controls

You can also control cookies and local storage through your browser settings. Most browsers let you view, block or delete cookies and site data.

Blocking strictly necessary technologies may stop parts of the Website from working, including login, basket, checkout and seller tools.

6.3 Third-party controls

• ShareThis opt-out: https://sharethis.com/opt-out/.
• Stripe fraud prevention and payment security technologies are needed for checkout. If you do not want Stripe to process a payment, you should not continue with the Stripe checkout flow.
• Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
• Google Ads settings: https://adssettings.google.com/.
• Meta advert settings: https://www.facebook.com/settings/?tab=ads.
• Google Fonts does not provide a cookie opt-out because the Fonts API does not set cookies. You can block third-party requests in your browser, but this may affect how websites display.

7. Data Retention

The table above explains the usual lifetime of the cookies and similar technologies we know about. Some technologies may be deleted earlier if you clear your browser data, log out, complete checkout or withdraw consent.

Where a cookie or similar technology involves personal data, we process that data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and keep it only for as long as necessary for the relevant purpose.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the technologies we use, legal requirements or the way the Website operates.

The "Last updated" date at the top of this policy will be amended when we make changes. If the changes are material, we will take reasonable steps to bring them to your attention, for example through a Website notice or cookie banner update.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or how we handle personal data, please contact us:

Designer Giving Limited
Email: enquiries@designergiving.co.uk
Address: Heywood Hall, College Road, Denstone, ST14 5HR

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK data protection regulator. The ICO website is https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/.