PRIVACY POLICY
At The Retail Toolkit, we understand that trust is at the heart of any successful partnership. As a small business, we're deeply committed to protecting your privacy, whether you're a new online visitor or a valued client. We believe that being open and honest about how we handle your information is not just a legal obligation, but a way to show our respect for you and your business.
We collect and use your information only to provide the services you've requested and to ensure we can work together effectively. We handle all data with the utmost care, in strict adherence to the Australian Privacy Principles, and we want to make sure you have a clear understanding of our practices.
Please take a moment to read our full privacy policy below, which explains how we protect you.
1. Introduction
This website and all associated digital platforms, social media accounts, mobile applications (together, the Website), contents, products, materials, and services (together, the Services) are licensed and operated by Kathryn Rose Pty Ltd ABN 90607397311 (The Retail Toolkit, we, us, our). The terms you or Client refer to any user or browser of the Website, purchasers, or consumers of our Services.
We are committed to being open, honest, and transparent about the personal and business information we collect, use, and handle. We agree only to use this information for the purposes we outline, and for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of our Services. We are committed to keeping your information secure and accept the responsibility of handling it with care.
This Privacy Policy sets out how we collect, use, and protect your information. We comply with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) as set out in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
2. What Information Do We Collect?
We collect different types of information depending on our relationship with you:
From Clients and Potential Clients: We collect personal information such as your name, phone number, email address, business address, and payment information to provide our services and manage our business relationship with you.
From Business Clients: In the course of providing our consulting and mystery shopping services, we collect business-specific information, including details about your business operations, financial data, employee information (names, roles, performance metrics), demographic information, and other data relevant to our work. This may also include photographs of your business premises, products, or staff for the purpose of recording observations and providing requested consulting services.
From Mystery Shoppers: We may collect personal information from individuals who provide mystery shopping services on our behalf. This may include names, contact details, and banking information for payment purposes, as well as information collected during their assignments. This may also include photographic evidence taken to support the observations recorded.
Website and Digital Information: When you use our Website, we automatically collect certain information, such as your IP address, browser type, and usage data, through cookies and analytics tools like Google Analytics.
3. How Do We Collect This Information?
We collect information in several ways:
Directly from You: This includes information you provide to us through forms on our website, email correspondence, phone calls, or in-person meetings.
From Third Parties: We may receive information from third-party services, such as payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) or other business partners.
Through Mystery Shopping Activities: Information and reports are collected as part of our mystery shopping visits and services.
Automatically from our Website: We collect data automatically through your use of the website, which helps us understand how our site is being used.
4. Why Do We Collect and Use This Information?
We collect, hold, and use your information for the following purposes:
To provide our consulting and mystery shopping services.
To manage, undertake, and report on our mystery shopping service and other services that we provide.
To communicate with you and respond to your inquiries.
To send you marketing communications (you have the right to opt out at any time).
For legal, financial, and regulatory compliance, including invoicing and tax purposes.
5. How Do We Use and Disclose This Information?
Personal Information: Your personal information is used for communication, service delivery, and payment processing.
Business Information: Business information collected from you (our client), including photographic observations, may be shared with our team or trusted contractors to provide the requested consulting services.
Mystery Shopping Data: Information and reports compiled during mystery shopping assignments are used to provide feedback to you (the business client). We take reasonable steps to ensure that personal information of the mystery shopper is not included in the reports provided to business clients. If the identity of a shopper is required to be disclosed for any reason, it will only be done with their express consent.
Disclosure to Third Parties: We may disclose your information to third-party service providers who assist us in our operations, such as cloud storage providers (e.g., Microsoft, Google), website hosting platforms (Squarespace), and email marketing services (e.g., Mailchimp). These service providers are bound by their own privacy policies.
6. Data Retention and Destruction
We will retain your personal and business information only for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected or to comply with our legal and accounting obligations. When we no longer need the information for a permitted purpose, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify it securely.
7.Cross-Border Data Disclosure
Some of the third-party services we use, such as Microsoft, Google, Squarespace, and Mailchimp, are based overseas. By providing your information to us, you consent to your data being transferred and stored on servers located outside of Australia.
8. Security of Your Information
The security of your information is a priority. We are committed to protecting the information you provide us from misuse, loss, and unauthorised access. We have put in place appropriate physical and managerial procedures to safeguard the information we collect. We use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption when collecting or transferring sensitive data. While we take strong security measures, we cannot guarantee that your information will always be secure due to technology or security breaches. If we become aware of a high-risk data breach, we will notify you and the appropriate authority within seventy-two (72) hours.
9. Children's Privacy
Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 18 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information as soon as possible.
10. Accessing and Correcting Your Information
You have the right to request access to the personal data we hold about you and to ensure it is correct and up to date. You can also request a copy of your personal data or ask us to restrict its processing or delete it. To exercise these rights or to ask for a correction, please contact us at kath@theretailtoolkit.com.au .
11. Complaints and Concerns
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or believe we have breached your privacy, please contact us at kath@theretailtoolkit.com.au. We will review and investigate your complaint and get back to you. You also have the right to submit a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
12. Policy Updates
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The most current version will always be posted on this page.
Your Consent: By using our Website, you consent to this Privacy Policy.
Effective Date: August 2025