Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 31, 2026

Your privacy matters to me. Ruth Bleakley is a small, independently operated business offering handmade books and journals. I respect your personal information and aim to collect only what is needed to operate my shop, fulfill orders, and communicate with you.

This website, shop.ruthbleakley.com, is powered by Shopify, which provides the technology for secure shopping and checkout.

Information I Collect

When you place an order, contact me, or subscribe to email updates, I may collect:

• Your name, email address, and shipping and billing addresses.

• Your phone number, if you choose to provide one.

• Information about your purchases and order history.

• Messages you send through my contact form or email.

• Your email marketing preferences.

Shopify and its service providers may also automatically collect technical information, such as your IP address, browser, device information, and website activity, using cookies and similar technologies.

Payment information is processed securely through Shopify and its payment providers. I do not receive or store your complete credit card details.

How Your Information Is Used

I use your information to:

• Process payments and fulfill and ship your orders.

• Send order confirmations, shipping updates, and other necessary purchase-related messages.

• Answer questions and provide customer service.

• Send occasional emails about new handmade journals and sales, only if you choose to subscribe.

• Maintain the security and operation of the website.

• Meet applicable legal, tax, and recordkeeping requirements.

You do not need to create a customer account or subscribe to marketing emails to make a purchase.

Email Updates

If you subscribe, you may receive occasional emails about newly available handmade journals, shop news, and special offers.

Signing up is entirely optional, and the subscription checkbox is not preselected at checkout.

You can unsubscribe at any time using the link included in marketing emails. Unsubscribing will not affect important messages about orders you have placed.

I do not send SMS or WhatsApp marketing messages.

How Your Information Is Shared

I do not sell customer mailing lists or independently share customer information with advertisers for targeted marketing.

Information may be shared with trusted service providers only as needed to operate the shop, including:

• Shopify, which hosts the store and processes shopping and checkout information.

• Payment providers, which securely process transactions.

• Shipping carriers, which need delivery information to deliver purchases.

• Email service providers, when needed to send order notifications or emails you have requested.

• Other service providers, when necessary for website operation, security, or legal compliance.

Shopify Network Intelligence is disabled for this store. I have chosen not to participate in Shopify's optional network-wide customer data sharing for advertising and personalization.

Shopify may still process customer information as necessary to provide its standard ecommerce services. You can learn more in the Shopify Consumer Privacy Policy.

Cookies and Website Technology

Like most online stores, this website uses cookies and similar technologies to keep the shopping cart working, support checkout, remember certain preferences, protect against fraud, and understand website performance.

Some of these technologies are provided by Shopify and its service providers.

Your browser may allow you to block or delete cookies, although doing so may affect certain shopping features.

Protecting and Keeping Your Information

I take reasonable steps to protect customer information and rely on Shopify and other established service providers for secure website and payment processing.

No online system can guarantee absolute security.

Information is kept only as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill orders, maintain business records, meet legal obligations, resolve disputes, or provide services you have requested.

Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

• Request access to personal information held about you.

• Ask for inaccurate information to be corrected.

• Request deletion of personal information, subject to applicable legal and recordkeeping requirements.

• Request a copy of your information.

• Opt out of certain uses or disclosures of your information, where applicable.

You can contact me at hello@ruthbleakley.com with privacy questions or requests.

You can also use the store's Data Sharing Opt-Out Page or visit the Shopify Privacy Portal for rights relating to information processed by Shopify.

I will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights. Identity verification may be required before certain requests can be completed.

Children's Privacy

This shop is not intended for children, and I do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age required by applicable law. If you believe a child has provided personal information, please contact me so I can address the request.

Other Websites

This website may link to other websites, including my blog or social media pages. Those websites may have their own privacy practices, which are governed by their respective policies.

International Visitors

Shopify and other service providers may process or store information outside your country of residence. Where required, appropriate legal safeguards are used for international transfers of personal information.

Changes to This Policy

I may update this policy occasionally to reflect changes in the shop, its services, or applicable laws. The latest version will always be available on this page with an updated date.

Contact

If you have questions about this policy or how your information is handled, please contact:

Ruth Bleakley
Email: hello@ruthbleakley.com
Website: shop.ruthbleakley.com