Look, we get it - nobody actually enjoys reading privacy policies. But since we're asking you to trust us with your info, we figured we'd be straight with you about what we do (and don't do) with it.
The Basics
At Glimmer Forge Architecture, we're way more interested in designing brilliant spaces than collecting your data. Seriously. We only grab what we actually need to work with you, and we definitely don't sell it to anyone. That's just not how we roll.
We're based in Vancouver, BC, and we follow Canadian privacy laws - specifically PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act). If you're not familiar with it, it's basically Canada's way of making sure businesses treat your personal info with respect.
What We Actually Collect
When you reach out to us or work with us, here's what we might ask for:
- Contact stuff - your name, email, phone number, mailing address. Pretty standard.
- Project details - what you're looking to build, your budget range, timeline, property info. Y'know, the things we need to actually help you.
- Technical bits - when you visit our site, we collect some basic browser info, IP address, and how you navigate around. This helps us keep the site running smoothly.
- Payment information - if you're a client, we'll need billing details. But we use secure payment processors, so we're not storing your credit card info on our servers.
That's really it. We're not tracking your shopping habits or building some weird profile about you.
How We Use Your Info
Here's the deal - we use what you give us to:
Get back to you - seems obvious, but if you contact us, we need your info to respond.
Work on your project - designing buildings requires a lot of back-and-forth, documentation, permits, and coordination.
Send occasional updates - if you've signed up for our newsletter, we'll share project highlights, sustainability tips, maybe some local architecture events. No spam though, promise.
Improve our services - we look at website analytics to see what people are actually interested in and where we can do better.
Legal stuff - sometimes we're required to keep records for regulatory or legal reasons. It's just part of running a professional practice.
Who We Share With (Spoiler: Not Many People)
We don't sell your information. Period. But there are a few situations where we might need to share it:
- Project partners - engineers, contractors, consultants who are working on your build. They need relevant info to do their jobs.
- Service providers - like our email platform, cloud storage, or accounting software. They're bound by their own privacy agreements.
- Legal requirements - if the law says we gotta hand something over, or if it's necessary to protect someone's safety, we will.
Everyone we work with is vetted and required to keep your info confidential. We're picky about who we partner with.
Cookies & Tracking
Yeah, we use cookies - but not the delicious kind. These are small files that help our website remember your preferences and understand how people use the site. Most are pretty harmless:
- Essential cookies - needed for the site to actually work
- Analytics cookies - help us see what's popular and what needs work
- Preference cookies - remember your settings
You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but it might make some features wonky. Your call though.
Keeping Your Stuff Safe
We take security seriously. Our data is encrypted, our systems are regularly updated, and we limit who on our team can access sensitive information. We use secure servers, SSL certificates, and all that technical stuff that keeps the bad guys out.
That said, no system is 100% bulletproof. We do our absolute best, but if you're sending something super sensitive, maybe give us a call instead of emailing it.
Your Rights
This is your information, so you've got rights. Under Canadian law, you can:
Access your data - ask us what we have on file about you
Correct it - if something's wrong, we'll fix it
Delete it - request that we remove your info (with some legal exceptions)
Object to processing - tell us to stop using your data for certain purposes
Withdraw consent - like unsubscribing from our newsletter
Just shoot us an email at studio@glimmerforge.info and we'll sort it out. Usually takes us a few days to process these requests.
How Long We Keep Things
We don't hoard data forever. Once we don't need it anymore, we get rid of it. That said, some records we're legally required to keep for a certain number of years - like financial documents (7 years) or project files (varies depending on the project type).
If you've just inquired but didn't move forward with a project, we'll typically keep your initial contact info for about 2 years, then it gets purged.
Third-Party Links
Sometimes we link to other websites - maybe a supplier we love, or a sustainability organization we're involved with. Just heads up: once you click through to another site, their privacy policy takes over, not ours. We try to only link to reputable places, but we can't control what they do.
Changes to This Policy
Things change - laws get updated, we might add new services, whatever. If we make any significant changes to this privacy policy, we'll post the updated version here and change the date at the top. For major changes, we might send out an email notification too.
Questions? Just Ask.
Honestly, if something in here is confusing or you've got concerns about your privacy, don't hesitate to reach out. We're real people, not some faceless corporation, and we're happy to chat about this stuff.