Privacy policy

1. Who We Are (Data Controller)

Slow Knife Design is the “Data Controller” for personal data collected through this website and related communications.

Email: contact@slowknifedesign.com

2. What Personal Data We Collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

Information you provide to us

• Name.

• Email address.

• Phone number (if you provide it).

• Business name and role (if you provide it).

• Project details, messages, and attachments you send.

• Any other information you choose to share.

Technical and usage data

• IP address.

• Device type, operating system, browser type and version.

• Website interaction data (pages visited, time on page, clicks, referral source).

• Approximate location derived from IP address (not precise GPS location).

Marketing and communications data

• Your preferences about receiving marketing from us.

• Whether you open or click emails we send (where tracking is enabled and lawful).

We do not intentionally collect “special category data” (such as health, religion, or biometric data). Please do not send it to us.

3. How We Collect Your Data

We collect data when you:

• Fill in a form on our website.

• Contact us by email, phone, chat, or social platforms.

• Subscribe to updates, newsletters, or content.

• Interact with our website via cookies and similar technologies.

• Use features powered by third-party tools embedded on the website (for example, website chat).

4. Chat (Chatbase)

We use a third-party chat tool, Chatbase, to allow visitors to message us through the website.

If you use the chat, we may collect and process:

• Your name (if you provide it).

• Your email address (if you provide it).

• The content of your messages.

• Technical information needed to operate the chat (such as device and browser data).

Do not submit special category data (such as health information) or confidential information through chat. If you choose to share such information, you do so at your own risk.

We use chat messages to respond to enquiries, provide support, and improve our service. Chat data is processed under lawful bases such as consent, contractual necessity, and legitimate interests, depending on the context of your message.

Chatbase may process personal data on our behalf as a data processor. Where data is transferred outside the UK or EEA, we rely on appropriate safeguards as described in this Privacy Policy.

5. Why We Use Your Data (Purposes)

We use your personal data to:

• Respond to enquiries and communicate with you.

• Provide quotes, proposals, and project planning.

• Deliver services you request (design, branding, websites, marketing support, and related services).

• Manage our relationship with you, including admin and record keeping.

• Improve website performance, content, and user experience.

• Keep the website secure and prevent fraud or misuse.

• Send marketing communications where lawful and where you have opted in or where we have a legitimate basis.

We do not sell or trade personal data.

6. Lawful Bases for Processing (UK GDPR and EU GDPR)

We process your personal data only when we have a lawful basis to do so. These include:

Consent

• Newsletter sign-ups and marketing communications where required.

• Non-essential cookies (analytics, marketing) where required.

Contract

• Where processing is necessary to perform a contract with you or to take steps at your request before entering a contract (for example, responding to a request for a quote).

Legitimate Interests

• Running and improving our business and website.

• Responding to enquiries and maintaining business communication records.

• Securing the website and preventing abuse.
  We balance our legitimate interests against your rights and freedoms.

Legal Obligation

• Where we must process data to comply with legal requirements (for example, tax and accounting)

You can withdraw consent at any time. Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal.

7. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to:

• Make the website work properly.

• Understand how visitors use the website.

• Improve performance and user experience.

• Support marketing (only where enabled lawfully).

Essential cookies are required for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

Non-essential cookies (such as analytics and marketing cookies) are used only where lawful, typically with your consent via a cookie banner or preferences tool.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Blocking certain cookies may affect how the website functions.

Third-party providers may set their own cookies where their services are embedded or used. Their use of cookies is governed by their own policies.

8. Who We Share Your Data With

We may share your data with trusted service providers (processors) who help us operate our website and business, such as:

• Website hosting and infrastructure providers.

• Website analytics providers.

• Email and communications providers.

• Website chat provider (Chatbase).

• File storage and collaboration tools.

• Invoicing, accounting, and payment providers (where applicable).

We only share what is necessary. Service providers must protect personal data and process it only under our instructions.

We may also share data where required by law, regulation, court order, or to enforce our legal rights.

We do not sell your personal data.

9. International Data Transfers

Some of our service providers may process data outside the UK or European Economic Area (EEA).

Where personal data is transferred internationally, we use appropriate safeguards such as:

• UK International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA) or UK Addendum

• EU Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)

• adequacy decisions where applicable

You can request more information about safeguards by emailing contact@slowknifedesign.com.

10. How Long We Keep Your Data (Retention)

We keep personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes it was collected, including legal, accounting, and reporting requirements. Typical retention periods include:

• Enquiry data (no client relationship): generally up to 12 months.

• Client and project records: generally up to 6 years (to meet contractual and legal obligations).

• Accounting and tax records: typically 6 years (or longer where required by law).

• Marketing lists: until you unsubscribe or we remove inactive contacts, using reasonable periodic reviews.

• Analytics data: retained according to the settings and limits configured in the relevant tools.

We may retain data longer where needed for legal claims, disputes, or regulatory matters.

11. Data Security

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data, including access controls and secure systems.

No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure. You understand that sending information online carries some risk.

If you believe your personal data has been compromised, contact us immediately at contact@slowknifedesign.com.

12. Your Data Protection Rights

Under UK GDPR and, where applicable, EU GDPR, you may have the right to:

• Access your personal data.

• Correct inaccurate or incomplete data.

• Request deletion of your data (in certain circumstances).

• Restrict processing (in certain circumstances).

• Object to processing (especially where based on legitimate interests or direct marketing).

• Data portability (where processing is based on consent or contract and carried out by automated means).

• Withdraw consent at any time (where processing relies on consent).

To exercise your rights, email contact@slowknifedesign.com. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

13. Marketing Preferences

If you receive marketing from us, you can opt out at any time by:

• Using the unsubscribe link in an email (where provided), or emailing contact@slowknifedesign.com

We will not send you marketing where it is unlawful to do so.

14. Automated Decision-Making

We do not use your personal data for solely automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects.

15. Children’s Privacy

Our website and services are not intended for children. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided personal data, contact us and we will take appropriate steps to delete it.

16. Third-Party Links

The website may include links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. You should review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

17. Complaints

If you have concerns about how we handle your data, contact us first and we will do our best to resolve it.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK supervisory authority:

Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

If you are in the EU, you may also have the right to complain to your local data protection authority.

18. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date.

19. Contact Us

For privacy questions or requests, contact: contact@slowknifedesign.com