Last updated: 28 September 2026

This policy explains how Sparky & Mates collects and uses your personal information when you visit sparkyandmates.com, buy from us, or join our mailing list. We keep it short and use plain English. If anything is unclear, just ask.

Who we are

Sparky & Mates is run by Eugenio Carmo, a sole trader based in Dorset, England. Eugenio is the “controller” of your personal data, which means he decides how it is used and is responsible for looking after it.

Email: info@sparkyandmates.com Phone: +44 7846 704090. We don’t publish a postal address. If you need one, for example, to send a formal letter, email us and we’ll give it to you.

What we collect

Order details: your name, delivery address, email address, phone number (if you give it), what you ordered, and your order and subscription history.
Payment details: payments are handled by Stripe through our checkout provider, SureCart. Your full card details go straight to Stripe. We never see or store them. We only see limited details such as the payment status, card type and last four digits.
Account details: if you create an account, your login details and saved preferences.
Messages: anything you send us by email, phone or the contact form.
Website use: basic information about how the site is used, such as pages viewed, device and browser type, and approximate location (town or country level). This comes from analytics tools and cookies. See “Cookies” below.
Marketing: your email address and your consent record, but only if you choose to join our mailing list.

We don’t knowingly collect sensitive information, and we never ask for it.

How we use it, and our lawful bases

UK data protection law (the UK GDPR) says we need a lawful reason for each use of your data:

To take, deliver and support your order or subscription (processing payment, dispatching, emailing order and delivery updates, handling returns and questions). Lawful basis: contract, because we need this information to do what you’ve asked.
To keep records for tax and accounting. Lawful basis: legal obligation.
To run, protect and improve our website and prevent fraud. Lawful basis: legitimate interests. We have a genuine interest in a safe, working shop, and we keep the impact on you low.
To reply to your messages. Lawful basis: legitimate interests, or contract if your message is about an order.
To send offers and news by email. Lawful basis: consent. We only send these if you’ve signed up, and every email has an unsubscribe link. Service emails about your orders are not marketing and will still be sent.
Analytics and non-essential cookies. Lawful basis: consent, which you give through our cookie banner.

We don’t sell your data. We don’t make automated decisions about you that have legal or similarly significant effects.

Who we share it with

We only share what’s needed, with trusted providers who act on our instructions:

Hostinger: hosts our website.
SureCart: runs our shop, checkout, customer accounts and subscriptions.
Stripe: processes payments securely.
Our email service ([name, e.g. SureMails / your mailing-list tool]): sends order emails and, if you’ve agreed, our newsletter.
Royal Mail and other couriers: receive your name, address and sometimes your email or phone number so they can deliver your parcel and send tracking updates.
Analytics provider (e.g. Google Analytics via Google Site Kit; Independent Analytics): helps us understand how the site is used.
Professional advisers and authorities: for example, an accountant, or HMRC if the law requires it.

Some of these providers may process data outside the UK, for example in the USA or the EU. When they do, they use recognised safeguards such as UK adequacy regulations or the UK International Data Transfer Addendum.

How long we keep it

Order, payment and invoice records: 6 years after the end of the tax year they relate to, as HMRC requires.
Account details: until you close your account, or after 3 years with no activity.
Emails and messages: up to 2 years after the matter is sorted, or longer if they relate to an order.
Mailing list: until you unsubscribe. We then keep a short note of your unsubscribe so we don’t email you again.
Analytics data: as set in the analytics tool (usually 14 months or less).

Your rights

You have the right to:

ask for a copy of the personal data we hold about you
ask us to correct anything that’s wrong
ask us to delete your data (we may have to keep order records for tax)
ask us to restrict or object to how we use your data, including for direct marketing (you can object to marketing at any time)
ask for your data in a portable format
withdraw your consent at any time. This doesn’t affect anything we did before you withdrew it.

To use any of these rights, email info@sparkyandmates.com. We’ll reply within one month. There’s normally no charge.

If you’re unhappy with how we’ve handled your data, please tell us first so we can try to put it right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator: ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint or 0303 123 1113.

Cookies

Cookies are small files saved on your device. We use:

Essential cookies: needed for the cart, checkout, login and security. The shop won’t work without them, so they don’t need your consent.
Analytics cookies: help us see which pages are useful, for example, Google Analytics. We only set these if you agree through our cookie banner.

We don’t use advertising or tracking cookies for ads. [Remove or change this sentence if you add advertising tools.]

You can change your choice at any time through the cookie settings link at the bottom of the site, or by clearing cookies in your browser.

Security

Our site uses encryption (HTTPS), payments are handled by Stripe, and we limit who can access your data. No website can promise complete security, but we take sensible steps to protect your information.

Children

Our shop is for adults. We don’t knowingly collect data from children under 13. If you think a child has given us their details, contact us, and we’ll delete them.

Changes to this Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The “last updated” date at the top will always show the latest version. If we make important changes, we’ll tell customers by email or with a notice on the site.

Contact

Questions about your data? Email info@sparkyandmates.com. We’re happy to help.