Privacy policy
This policy explains what personal information strand collects when you use this website or buy from us, why, and what your rights are. We are the data controller for this information.
Who we are
strand is run by Evan Slowther, 38 Western Way, Gosport, PO12 2NQ. Email: info@strand3d.co.uk.
What we collect
- When you order: your name, delivery and billing address, email address, phone number (if you give it), what you ordered, and any order note or gift message you write.
- Gift cards: if you buy one for someone, the name and email address you give for them and your message, used only to send them the card.
- When you pay: payments are handled by Stripe. We never see or store your full card details. If you choose to pay with Klarna or Amazon Pay at checkout, they handle that payment too, under their own privacy notices (Klarna may check your credit before it lets you pay later).
- Files you upload: 3D model files and any artwork (logos or pictures) sent through the order page, with the options you chose, and any proof pictures we send you to approve. They are stored privately on our server, and only we (and you, through the link in your proof email) can open them.
- Photos for lithophanes: the photo you send for a piece made from it, how you framed it, and whether you’re happy for us to show the finished piece. It’s stored privately, used only to make your order, and seen only by us. We only show the finished piece on our website or social media if you ticked the box to say we may, and you should only tick it if everyone in the photo is happy to be shown.
- Quote requests and messages: your name, email address, phone number (if you give it) and what you write. Contact form messages are emailed to us and not stored on the website; quote requests are kept in the shop’s admin area.
- An account, if you create one: your email address, a password (stored only in scrambled form) and your order history.
- The strand list, if you join it: your email address and first name, when and how you joined (the box at checkout, or the form on the website) and what you agreed to, and when we last sent you an update.
- Security information: to protect the shop we record failed sign-ins and blocked requests, with your IP address stored only as a one-way scrambled code.
- Emailing you a price: if you ask the order page to email you the price of your file, we use your address only to send that one email. We don’t keep it or add it to any list.
- Counting visits: we count how many times each page is visited, so we know which pages are useful. It uses no cookies and stores nothing in your browser, and we don’t keep your IP address or anything else that could identify you: only the page, the name of the website you came from (such as Google), and whether it was a phone or a computer, added up by day. Searches of our designs are added up the same way: the words searched for and whether anything matched, so we know what to make next (words that look like an email address or a phone number aren’t kept). Browsers set not to be tracked aren’t counted.
- Cookies: see our cookie policy.
Why we use it
| What for | Lawful basis |
|---|---|
| Making and delivering your order, and keeping you updated about it | Contract |
| Keeping order and accounting records | Legal obligation |
| Answering your messages and quote requests | Legitimate interests (replying to you), or steps you’ve asked for before a contract |
| Keeping the website secure and preventing fraud | Legitimate interests |
| The strand list: our weekly email of new designs, ideas and offers | Consent, given by ticking the box at checkout, joining on the website and confirming from the email we send, or asking us. You can withdraw it any time with the Unsubscribe link in every email |
| Optional cookies, if we ever use any | Consent |
We don’t sell your information, and we don’t send marketing emails unless you’ve asked for them. Emails about an order you place (its confirmation, any questions about your file, its tracking number, and one email a week after it’s posted to ask how it went) aren’t marketing: they’re part of making, delivering and looking after it.
Who we share it with
- Webfort, who host this website in the UK.
- Stripe, to take payment, and Klarna or Amazon Pay if you choose to pay with them.
- Royal Mail, to deliver your order (your name, address and, if needed for delivery updates, email or phone).
- Webfort, who also handle our email, in the UK.
If you choose Accept on our cookie banner, we also use Jetpack Stats and WooCommerce Analytics, as our cookie policy explains. They receive the pages you look at, your IP address and details of your browser, and some are based outside the UK.
Stripe, and Automattic (who make Jetpack and WooCommerce Analytics, used only if you choose Accept), may handle some information in the United States. Both are certified under the UK-US data bridge, which the UK recognises as protecting it.
How long we keep it
- Orders and invoices: 6 years, as HMRC requires.
- Model files, artwork and photos: deleted automatically 2 days after upload if you don’t order, or 90 days after you order or ask for a quote. Proof pictures: deleted 90 days after we send them.
- Quote requests: 12 months, unless they become an order.
- Messages: 12 months in our email.
- Security records: 90 days.
- Accounts: until you ask us to close yours.
- The strand list: while you’re on it. If you unsubscribe, we keep only your email address and when you joined and left, so you’re never added again by mistake; ask us and we’ll delete that too.
Children
If you’re under 18, you need a parent’s or guardian’s permission to order, and if you’re under 13, a parent, guardian or teacher should order for you. We don’t knowingly collect information from children under 13, and if we find we have, we delete it.
Your rights
You can ask for a copy of the information we hold about you, ask us to correct or delete it, ask us to limit how we use it, object to how we use it, or ask for it in a portable format. Email info@strand3d.co.uk and we’ll reply within one month. Where we rely on your consent, you can withdraw it at any time.
If you’re unhappy with how we’ve handled your information, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113. We’d appreciate the chance to put things right first.
Changes
We’ll update this page if anything changes. Last updated: 25 October 2026.