Privacy Policy: How We Handle Your Data
This policy explains what data hermesguidancelounge.com collects, how it is used, how long it is retained, and what rights you have under GDPR and applicable data protection law.
Hermes Guidance Lounge does not sell your data. It does not run advertising. It does not use affiliate tracking. Analytics data is collected to understand how the site is used and to improve content. Contact form submissions are stored only as long as necessary to respond. You have the right to access, correct, or delete your data at any time by contacting us through the Contact page.
Who We Are
Hermes Guidance Lounge operates the website at hermesguidancelounge.com (the “Site”). The Site is an independent editorial resource focused on Hermes color, design, and model comparison analysis. For data protection enquiries, use the Contact page.
What Data We Collect
Analytics Data
The Site uses analytics software to collect anonymised data about how visitors use the site. This data may include pages visited, time spent on pages, browser type, device type, and approximate geographic location (country or region level). This data is collected in aggregate and anonymised — it cannot be used to identify individual visitors. Analytics data is used solely to understand which content is most useful to readers and to improve the site's editorial coverage.
If the Site uses Google Analytics, data is processed in accordance with Google's privacy terms. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking across all websites using Google's opt-out browser add-on.
Contact Form Submissions
When you submit a message through the Contact page, the Site collects your name, email address, and the content of your message. This data is used solely to respond to your enquiry. Contact form submissions are not shared with third parties, used for marketing, or added to any mailing list without your explicit consent. Submission data is retained for as long as necessary to resolve your enquiry and then deleted.
Cookies
The Site uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — for the following purposes:
- Essential cookies: Required for the site to function correctly. These cannot be disabled without affecting site functionality. They do not collect personal data.
- Analytics cookies: Used to collect anonymised data about site usage as described above. These can be disabled through your browser settings or via a cookie consent tool if one is present on the site.
- Functionality cookies: Used to remember your preferences (such as cookie consent choices). These do not collect personal data beyond your stated preferences.
The Site does not use advertising cookies, tracking cookies for retargeting purposes, or any cookies that collect personally identifiable information beyond what is described above.
WordPress and Hosting Data
The Site is built on WordPress and hosted on a web hosting service. Standard server log data — including IP addresses, request timestamps, and page requests — is collected automatically by the hosting infrastructure for security and performance monitoring purposes. This data is retained in accordance with the hosting provider's data retention policies and is not accessed for editorial or marketing purposes.
The Site uses LiteSpeed Cache for performance optimisation. LiteSpeed Cache may store cached versions of pages on the server. No personal data is stored in these caches beyond standard server log data.
How We Use Your Data
- Analytics data is used to understand site usage patterns and improve editorial content. It is not used to identify individuals, build user profiles, or serve advertising.
- Contact form data is used solely to respond to the enquiry submitted. It is not used for marketing, not shared with third parties, and not retained beyond the period necessary to resolve the enquiry.
- Cookie data is used for site functionality and anonymised analytics as described above. No cookie data is used for advertising or profiling purposes.
- Server log data is used for security monitoring and performance management by the hosting provider. It is not accessed by the Site for editorial or marketing purposes.
Data Sharing
Hermes Guidance Lounge does not sell, rent, or trade personal data with any third party. Data may be shared with the following categories of third-party service providers solely to the extent necessary to operate the site:
- Web hosting provider: Server infrastructure and associated log data.
- Analytics provider (if applicable): Anonymised site usage data in accordance with the analytics provider's privacy terms.
- WordPress plugin providers: Plugins used to operate the site may process limited technical data as part of their function. No personal data from contact form submissions is shared with plugin providers.
No personal data is shared with advertising networks, data brokers, marketing platforms, or any commercial third party beyond the service providers listed above.
Data Retention
- Analytics data: Retained in accordance with the analytics provider's standard retention period. Anonymised aggregate data may be retained indefinitely for editorial reference purposes.
- Contact form submissions: Retained for as long as necessary to resolve the enquiry, then deleted. Enquiries involving factual corrections may be retained for longer as editorial reference.
- Server log data: Retained in accordance with the hosting provider's standard retention policy, typically 30 to 90 days.
- Cookies: Session cookies expire when you close your browser. Persistent cookies expire in accordance with the specific cookie's retention period, as set by the relevant service.
Your Rights Under GDPR
If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or another jurisdiction with applicable data protection law, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
You have the right to request a copy of any personal data we hold about you, including contact form submissions and any other data associated with your email address.
You have the right to request correction of any inaccurate personal data we hold about you.
You have the right to request deletion of your personal data. We will comply with erasure requests except where retention is required by law or for legitimate editorial purposes.
You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.
You have the right to receive your personal data in a structured, machine-readable format where technically feasible.
You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data where processing is based on legitimate interests. We do not process data for advertising or profiling purposes.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us through the Contact page. We will respond to verified data rights requests within 30 days in accordance with applicable law. If you are unsatisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your national data protection authority.
Third-Party Links
The Site contains links to third-party websites including resale platforms, authentication services, and external reference sources. Hermes Guidance Lounge is not responsible for the privacy practices of any third-party site. We recommend reading the privacy policy of any third-party site you visit through a link on this site.
Children's Privacy
Hermes Guidance Lounge is not directed at children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 16. If you believe a child under 16 has submitted personal data through the contact form, please contact us through the Contact page and we will delete the data promptly.
Changes to This Policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in how the site operates, changes in applicable law, or changes in the third-party services used. The date of the most recent update is noted in the metadata below. Continued use of the site after a policy update constitutes acceptance of the updated policy. For significant changes, a notice will be added to this page.