Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Ernie the Wawa ("we," "our," or "us"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website at erniethewawa.com (the "Site"). Please read this privacy policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access the Site.

Important: This Privacy Policy applies only to data collected on erniethewawa.com. When you make a purchase, you will be redirected to our Shopify store at shop.erniethewawa.com, which is governed by Shopify's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Please review their policies before making a purchase.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information that you provide directly to us and information that is automatically collected when you visit our Site.

Information You Provide to Us

• Email Addresses: When you subscribe to our newsletter or email list, we collect your email address.
• Contact Information: If you contact us directly, we may collect your name, email address, and any other information you choose to provide.

Information Automatically Collected

Usage Data: We use Google Analytics to collect information about how you interact with our Site, including:

• Pages visited
• Time spent on pages
• Clicked links
• Browser type and version
• Device information
• IP address (anonymized)
• Referral sources

Cookies: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our Site and store certain information. See Section 5 for more details.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Send Marketing Communications: Send you newsletters, product updates, promotional offers, and other marketing communications (with your consent)
• Improve Our Site: Analyze usage patterns to improve website functionality and user experience
• Respond to Inquiries: Respond to your questions, comments, and requests
• Comply with Legal Obligations: Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes

4. Email Marketing

If you subscribe to our newsletter or email list:

• Consent: By providing your email address, you consent to receive marketing emails from us
• Unsubscribe: You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any email we send, or by contacting us at support@erniethewawa.com
• Email Service Provider: Your email address is stored and processed by Shopify Email, which has its own privacy policy
• Email Types: You may receive emails about:
  • New product launches
  • Special promotions and discounts
  • Blog posts and updates
  • Ernie the Wawa news and announcements

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our Site and hold certain information.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Analytics Cookies: We use Google Analytics cookies to understand how visitors use our Site. These cookies collect information anonymously and help us improve our website.
• Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the Site to function properly (if applicable).

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google LLC ("Google"). Google Analytics uses cookies to help us analyze how users use the Site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the Site (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google.

• IP Anonymization: We have enabled IP anonymization, which means your IP address will be truncated before being sent to Google
• Data Retention: Analytics data is retained for 14 months
• Opt-Out: You can opt-out of Google Analytics by:
  • Installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
  • Adjusting your browser settings to refuse cookies

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of the Site.

6. Third-Party Services

We may share your information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf:

• Google Analytics: For website analytics (see Section 5)
• Email Service Provider: For sending marketing emails (see Section 4)
• Shopify: When you click to purchase products, you will be redirected to shop.erniethewawa.com, which is operated by Shopify and governed by Shopify's Privacy Policy

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties.

7. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

• Email Addresses: We retain your email address until you unsubscribe or request deletion
• Analytics Data: Google Analytics retains data for 14 months
• Contact Information: We retain contact information for as long as necessary to respond to your inquiry

8. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: You can request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Deletion: You can request that we delete your personal information
• Opt-Out: You can opt-out of marketing emails at any time
• Analytics Opt-Out: You can opt-out of Google Analytics tracking (see Section 5)
• Cookie Preferences: You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings

To exercise these rights, please contact us at support@erniethewawa.com.

9. Children's Privacy

Our Site is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

10. Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

11. Links to Other Websites

Our Site may contain links to other websites, including our Shopify store (shop.erniethewawa.com). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

12. International Data Transfers

If you are visiting our Site from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States. By using our Site, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: support@erniethewawa.com

Website: erniethewawa.com

15. Additional Rights for California Residents (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to Know: You can request information about what personal information we collect, use, and disclose
• Right to Delete: You can request deletion of your personal information
• Right to Opt-Out: You can opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
• Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights

To exercise these rights, please contact us at support@erniethewawa.com.

16. Additional Rights for EU Residents (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right of Access: You can request access to your personal data
• Right to Rectification: You can request correction of inaccurate data
• Right to Erasure: You can request deletion of your personal data
• Right to Restrict Processing: You can request restriction of processing
• Right to Data Portability: You can request transfer of your data
• Right to Object: You can object to processing of your personal data

To exercise these rights, please contact us at support@erniethewawa.com.