Privacy Policy

SmikieJapan ("we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of our customers. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal information when you use our website at www.smikiejapan.com and related services.

By using our website or placing an order, you agree to the collection and use of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our services.

This Privacy Policy covers:

• What personal information we collect and why
• How we use cookies and tracking technologies
• When and with whom we share your information
• How we protect your data
• Your rights and how to exercise them
• How we handle minors' information

We process your personal information on the following legal bases:

• Contract performance — to fulfill orders you place with us
• Legitimate interests — to prevent fraud, ensure security, and improve our services
• Consent — for marketing communications (you can withdraw at any time)
• Legal obligation — where required by applicable law or regulation

We may receive information about you from third parties such as payment processors (PayPal, Stripe), social media platforms (if you use social login), and logistics providers. We only use such information for the purposes described in this policy and require third parties to comply with applicable privacy laws.

Cookies are small data files placed on your device when you visit our website. They help us remember your preferences, keep you logged in, and understand how you use our site.

In addition to cookies, we may use web beacons, pixel tags, and similar technologies to understand how you interact with our website and emails — for example, whether you opened a promotional email or clicked a link.

You can manage or delete cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse new cookies, be notified when a cookie is set, or delete existing cookies. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality, including keeping you logged in or saving your cart.

• Logistics & couriers (FedEx, DHL) — your name, address, and order details to fulfill delivery
• Payment processors (PayPal, Stripe, GrabPay, etc.) — payment information to process transactions securely
• Customer service platforms (Shopify Inbox, email) — communication history to assist you
• Marketing platforms (Klaviyo) — email address and purchase history for email campaigns (with your consent)
• Analytics providers (Google Analytics) — anonymized browsing data to improve our website
• Customs authorities — when required by law for international shipping documentation

• When required by law, court order, or governmental authority
• To protect the safety, rights, or property of SmikieJapan, our customers, or the public
• In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets — in which case we will notify you
• With your explicit prior consent

As SmikieJapan operates from Japan and ships internationally, your personal information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. We take appropriate measures — including contractual safeguards — to ensure your data receives an equivalent level of protection wherever it is processed.

SmikieJapan implements industry-standard technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

• SSL/TLS encryption — all data transmitted between your browser and our website is encrypted
• Encrypted storage — sensitive data (passwords, payment tokens) is stored in encrypted form
• Access controls — only authorized personnel can access customer personal data, on a need-to-know basis
• Fraud detection — we monitor transactions for unusual activity to prevent unauthorized use

• Regular staff training on data privacy and security best practices
• Data minimization — we only collect information that is necessary for the stated purpose
• Data retention limits — we retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active, or as needed to fulfill orders and resolve disputes. When you close your account, we will delete or anonymize your data unless retention is required by law (e.g. tax and accounting records, which we may retain for up to 7 years).

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

You can manage most of your personal information directly from your SmikieJapan account settings. To exercise any of the above rights or for requests we cannot fulfill via the website, please contact us at support@smikiejapan.com. We will respond within 7 business days.

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by clicking the "Unsubscribe" link in any of our emails, or by contacting us directly. You may still receive transactional emails (order confirmations, shipping updates) even after unsubscribing from marketing.

SmikieJapan's services are intended for users who are 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 without verifiable parental consent.

If a minor under 18 wishes to use our services, they may only do so under the supervision and with the explicit consent of a parent or legal guardian. The parent or guardian is responsible for the minor's use of our website and any orders placed.

If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a minor under 18 without appropriate consent, we will promptly delete that information. If you believe this has occurred, please contact us immediately at support@smikiejapan.com.

Personal information of minors collected with parental consent will only be used for the purposes for which consent was given, and will not be shared beyond what is necessary to provide the relevant service.

This Privacy Policy applies to all personal information collected through the SmikieJapan website (www.smikiejapan.com), mobile applications (if applicable), and any related services, including customer support communications.

This policy does not apply to:

• Third-party websites linked from our site — these have their own privacy policies which we encourage you to review
• Information collected offline (e.g. at physical events) unless explicitly stated

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or applicable law. When we make significant changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, for material changes, notify registered customers by email where feasible.

Your continued use of our website after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal information, please contact us:

• Email: support@smikiejapan.com
• Contact form: www.smikiejapan.com/pages/contact
• Response time: We aim to respond to all privacy-related requests within 7 business days
• Business: SmikieJapan — operated from Japan 🇯🇵