Privacy policy
Last updated: October 26, 2026
Who we are
The Plant Ecologist ("we," "us," "our") is a small science-based business in Wilmington, North Carolina that makes enamel pins, keychains, and stickers featuring native species. This policy explains what personal information we collect when you visit www.theplantecologist.com (the "Site"), buy from us, or contact us, and how we use and share it.
By using the Site, you agree to the practices described here. If you don't agree, please don't use the Site.
We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we'll post the new version here and change the "Last updated" date above.
Information we collect
Information you give us directly
- Contact details: name, email, phone number, shipping and billing address
- Order details: what you bought, payment confirmation (we never see or store your full card number)
- Account details, if you create an account: username and password
- Messages you send us, such as customer support emails
- Product reviews you choose to post
Information collected automatically
When you browse the Site, we and our partners use cookies, pixels, and similar tools to collect:
- Device and browser type, operating system, and screen size
- IP address and approximate location (city or region)
- Pages you view, products you look at or add to your cart, and how you got to the Site (for example, a Google search or an Instagram link)
Information from third parties
We receive information from the companies that help us run the store, including Shopify (our e-commerce platform), our payment processors, and the analytics and advertising partners described in the next section.
Analytics and advertising
We use the tools below to understand how people use the Site and to show our products to people who might like them. These partners set their own cookies and may combine what they collect here with information from your accounts with them.
| Partner | What we use it for | What it collects |
|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics | Measuring visits, popular pages, and sales | Pages viewed, device and browser info, approximate location, purchases |
| Google signals (part of Google Analytics) | Understanding visitors across devices, plus age, gender, and interest reports | Links Site activity to Google accounts of signed-in users who have turned on Ads Personalization |
| Google user-provided data collection | More accurate measurement of purchases | Email or phone number you give us at checkout, scrambled (hashed) before it's sent to Google |
| Google Ads and Google Merchant Center | Showing our products in Google Shopping and ads, and measuring which ads lead to sales | Pages viewed, cart and purchase activity |
| Meta (Facebook and Instagram) | Showing ads on Facebook and Instagram and measuring results | Pages viewed, cart and purchase activity, hashed contact details |
| Showing ads on Pinterest and measuring results | Pages viewed, cart and purchase activity, hashed contact details | |
| TikTok | Showing ads on TikTok and measuring results | Pages viewed, cart and purchase activity, hashed contact details |
| Microsoft Advertising | Showing ads on Bing and Microsoft sites and measuring results | Pages viewed, cart and purchase activity |
We use Google Analytics features based on display advertising, including demographics and interests reporting, remarketing, and Google signals. To learn how Google uses information from sites that use its services, see How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services.
How to opt out
- Google ads personalization: My Ad Center
- Google Analytics on all websites: the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
- Meta ads: your Facebook ad preferences
- Pinterest ads: your Pinterest privacy and data settings
- TikTok ads: your TikTok ad settings (in the app under Settings and privacy, then Ads)
- Microsoft ads: Microsoft personalized ads settings
- Many ad networks at once: YourAdChoices and the NAI opt-out page
- Our cookie banner and "Your Privacy Choices" page on the Site (see Cookies and your choices below)
How we use and share your information
We use your information to:
- Process and ship your orders, handle returns, and send order updates
- Answer your questions and provide customer support
- Send marketing emails or texts, only if you sign up (you can unsubscribe anytime)
- Understand how the Site is used so we can improve it
- Show you ads for our products on other sites and apps
- Prevent fraud and keep the Site secure
We share information with:
- Service providers who help run the store, such as Shopify, payment processors, shipping carriers, and email tools
- Analytics and advertising partners listed in the section above
- Authorities, when required by law or to protect our rights
- A buyer or successor, if the business is ever sold or merged
We don't sell your information for money. Some state laws treat sharing data with advertising partners for targeted ads as a "sale" or "sharing." You can opt out of that anytime (see below).
Cookies and your choices
Cookies are small files saved by your browser. We use them to keep your cart working, remember your preferences, measure Site traffic, and support advertising. For the cookies Shopify uses, see Shopify's cookie policy.
Your options:
- Cookie banner: visitors in regions that require consent will see a banner where you can accept or decline analytics and marketing cookies.
- Your Privacy Choices: use the "Your Privacy Choices" link in the Site footer to opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information for targeted advertising.
- Global Privacy Control: if your browser sends a Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal, we treat it as a request to opt out of sale and sharing.
- Browser settings: you can block or delete cookies in your browser. Some parts of the Site, like the cart, may not work without them.
International visitors, children, and security
International visitors. We're based in the United States, and your information is stored and processed here. If you're in the European Economic Area, the UK, or Switzerland, we process your information to fulfill your order (contract), for our legitimate business interests (running and improving the store), and with your consent (analytics and marketing cookies). Transfers out of Europe rely on recognized safeguards such as the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses.
Children. The Site isn't directed to children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect their information. If you think a child has given us information, contact us and we'll delete it. We don't knowingly sell or share the personal information of anyone under 16.
Security and retention. We use reasonable safeguards, but no system is perfectly secure. We keep order records as long as needed for taxes, accounting, and legal requirements. Google Analytics data is kept for 14 months.
Your rights and how to reach us
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:
- Know what personal information we have about you and get a copy
- Correct information that's wrong
- Delete your information
- Opt out of the sale or sharing of your information and of targeted advertising
- Withdraw consent you've given
- Appeal if we turn down your request (reply to our response to start an appeal)
To make a request, email us. We may need to confirm your identity first, and you can have an authorized agent ask for you. We won't treat you differently for using these rights. If you're in Europe or the UK, you can also contact your local data protection authority.
Contact
The Plant Ecologist
Email: theplantecologist@gmail.com
Mail: 4007 Park Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403, United States