Privacy Policy

Introduction

Futuric Pulse operates as an independent bookshop at 42 Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Rise, London NW10 3JH, United Kingdom. This privacy policy explains how we handle information about individuals who interact with our business, whether through our physical shop, website, or services.

We take data protection seriously and aim to be transparent about what information we collect and why. This document sets out our approach in straightforward language.

Who We Are

Futuric Pulse is the data controller for personal information we collect. You can reach us at [email protected] or at our shop address listed above if you have questions about how we handle your data.

Information We Collect

The information we gather depends on how you interact with our business:

When You Purchase Books or Services

We collect your name, email address, delivery address if applicable, and payment information necessary to complete the transaction. Payment details are processed through secure third-party providers and we do not store complete card information on our systems.

When You Use Our Recommendation Services

To provide personalised book recommendations, we keep notes about your reading preferences, books you've purchased from us, and feedback you've shared about previous recommendations. This helps us improve the quality of future suggestions.

When You Subscribe to Our Services

Subscription services require your contact details, delivery address, and information about your reading preferences. We also track which books we've sent you to avoid repetition and to refine our understanding of your taste.

When You Join Reading Groups or Events

We collect your name and email address for event registration and to send relevant information about upcoming sessions. For reading groups, we may keep notes about which books you've discussed to ensure variety in future selections.

Website Usage

Like most websites, we collect technical information about how visitors use our site, including IP addresses, browser types, and pages viewed. This helps us understand which content proves useful and where we might improve the user experience.

How We Use This Information

We use collected information for specific, legitimate purposes:

Service Delivery

To fulfil book purchases, process subscriptions, organise events, and provide the reading consultation services you've requested.

Improving Recommendations

Information about your reading preferences allows us to make better book suggestions over time. We don't share this information with other organisations or use it for automated decision-making without your involvement.

Communication

To contact you about orders, subscriptions, events you've registered for, or to respond to enquiries you've sent us.

Business Operations

To maintain customer records, handle returns or exchanges, and manage subscriptions according to your instructions.

Legal Compliance

To meet our legal obligations, such as maintaining financial records for tax purposes.

Marketing Communications

We occasionally send information about new books, upcoming events, or changes to our services. You'll only receive these if you've indicated interest in hearing from us. Every marketing email includes a straightforward way to unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive these messages.

We do not sell or rent our mailing list to other organisations. Your interest in books is your business, not a commodity we trade.

Information Sharing

We share information only when necessary:

Service Providers

We work with carefully selected partners who help us run our business—payment processors, delivery services, and email platform providers. These organisations process data on our behalf under strict agreements that protect your information.

Legal Requirements

If required by law or to protect our legal rights, we may disclose information to authorities or legal representatives. This would only occur in response to valid legal processes.

Business Transfers

Should our business be sold or merged with another organisation, customer information would transfer as part of that transaction. Any new owner would be bound by the commitments made in this privacy policy.

Data Security

We protect your information through appropriate technical and organisational measures. Our systems include encryption for sensitive data, access controls that limit who can view customer information, and regular security assessments.

However, no system is completely secure. While we take reasonable steps to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You should also take care when sharing information online.

How Long We Keep Information

We retain information for as long as necessary to provide services and meet legal obligations:

• Purchase records are kept for seven years to meet tax and accounting requirements
• Reading preference information is retained while you're an active customer and for two years afterward, allowing us to serve you well if you return
• Marketing consent records are kept until you withdraw consent, plus three years to demonstrate compliance
• Event registration details are typically deleted six months after the event

If you ask us to delete your information, we'll do so promptly except where we're required by law to retain certain records.

Your Rights

You have several rights regarding your personal information:

Access

You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you. We'll provide this free of charge in most cases.

Correction

If information we hold is inaccurate or incomplete, you can ask us to correct it.

Deletion

You can request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions such as financial record retention requirements.

Restriction

You can ask us to limit how we use your information while we investigate concerns you've raised about accuracy or processing.

Objection

You can object to processing based on legitimate interests, and we'll stop unless we have compelling grounds to continue.

Portability

For information you've provided to us, you can request a copy in a commonly used electronic format to transfer elsewhere.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We'll respond within one month in most cases.

Children's Privacy

While we serve young readers through our children's book section and Young Readers Programme, we do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under thirteen. Services for young readers are arranged through parents or guardians who provide necessary information on their behalf.

International Transfers

We operate primarily within the United Kingdom. Some service providers we work with may process data outside the UK or European Economic Area. When this occurs, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place through standard contractual clauses or other approved mechanisms.

Changes to This Policy

We review this privacy policy periodically and update it as our practices or legal requirements change. Significant changes will be communicated through our website and, for registered customers, via email. The date at the top of this page indicates when it was last revised.

Questions and Complaints

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact us first at [email protected]. We'll investigate and respond to your concerns promptly.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office, the UK's data protection supervisory authority. Their website is ico.org.uk.

Contact Information

For privacy-related queries:
Email: [email protected]
Post: Futuric Pulse, 42 Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Rise, London NW10 3JH, United Kingdom