Privacy Policy

Heart & Hearth Pottery is a small, community-rooted studio in Topanga, California. We take your privacy seriously and collect only what we need to run the studio and serve you well. This policy explains what we collect, why, how it is used, and what rights you have under California law.

This policy applies to all visitors, students, members, workshop participants, and anyone who interacts with our website, interest forms, booking system, or in-studio activities.

 

1. Information We Collect

We collect only what is reasonably necessary to operate the studio, process bookings, and communicate with participants.

Information you provide directly:

• Name, email address, and phone number

• Responses to our interest or registration forms, including class preferences, availability, and household information (such as ages of children attending)

• Billing information — processed entirely by third-party providers (Wix Payments, Stripe). We do not store or have direct access to your card or banking details

• Communications you send us by email, text, or through booking or contact forms

• Emergency contact information provided at intake or during waiver signing

• Medical or physical limitation information shared voluntarily to help us accommodate you safely

Information collected automatically:

• Basic website usage data collected through Wix's built-in analytics (page views, general traffic). This does not include personally identifiable information

• Cookies used by Wix and third-party booking or payment tools to enable site functionality

We do not knowingly collect sensitive personal data beyond what is necessary for scheduling, safety, payment, and studio operations.

 

2. How We Use Your Information

Your information may be used to:

• Process class registrations, bookings, memberships, and payments

• Communicate about classes, events, scheduling changes, cancellations, and studio matters

• Respond to inquiries, questions, and administrative requests

• Maintain internal records related to participation, waivers, and studio operations

• Send class reminders, enrollment confirmations, and session updates

• Comply with legal, tax, or regulatory obligations

• Protect the safety, integrity, and operation of the studio and its community

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We do not send marketing or promotional communications without your consent. You may opt out of non-essential communications at any time by replying STOP to a text, clicking unsubscribe in an email, or contacting us in writing.

 

3. Children's Information

When a child participates in any Heart & Hearth program — including Kids Clay Club, Summer Camp, Teen Studio, or family sessions — we collect the child's name, age, and any relevant health or allergy information from the parent or guardian. This information is used solely to provide safe, appropriate instruction and is never shared for commercial purposes.

We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. All enrollment and communication for minors is handled through a parent or legal guardian.

Parents may request to review, correct, or delete their child's information at any time by contacting us in writing.

 

4. Monthly Billing & Automatic Renewal

Several Heart & Hearth programs are billed on a recurring monthly basis, including class series, Kids Clay Club, and Studio Memberships. Before enrolling in any recurring program, you will be presented with a clear disclosure of the automatic renewal terms, the amount to be charged, and the billing frequency.

You may cancel a recurring subscription by providing written notice at least 7 days before the next billing date. Cancellation requests may be sent to heartandhearthpottery@gmail.com. Continued enrollment beyond the notice window may result in one additional charge, which will not be refunded except where required by law.

This disclosure is required under California's Automatic Renewal Law (Business & Professions Code § 17600 et seq.).

 

5. Payment Processing

Payments are processed through Wix Payments or Stripe. Heart & Hearth Pottery does not store or have direct access to full credit card or banking details. Payment information is handled according to the privacy and security policies of those providers. We recommend reviewing their policies if you have questions about payment data security.

 

6. Sharing of Information

We share personal information only when necessary to:

• Process payments through our payment providers

• Operate our booking and scheduling systems

• Comply with legal obligations or respond to lawful requests from government authorities

• Protect the rights, safety, or property of the studio or its community in urgent situations

We do not share personal information for advertising, data resale, or any other commercial purpose. We do not sell personal information. Ever.

 

7. Photography, Video & Shared Spaces

Heart & Hearth Pottery is a shared creative environment. Photography or video may occur during classes, workshops, or events — by the studio, by instructors, or by other participants. Studio-captured images may be used on our website or social media to represent our work and community.

If you do not wish to be photographed or filmed in studio-controlled media, please notify us in writing before your first session. We will make reasonable efforts to honor your request for studio-controlled photography. We cannot control media captured or shared by other participants in a shared studio setting.

Enrollment and participation in studio activities constitutes acknowledgment that complete photographic privacy cannot be guaranteed in a shared group environment.

Any images of minors captured by the studio will not be published without explicit written consent from a parent or legal guardian.

 

8. Your California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to Know: You may request a summary of the personal information we have collected about you and how it has been used

• Right to Delete: You may request deletion of personal information we hold about you, subject to legal retention requirements

• Right to Correct: You may request that inaccurate personal information be corrected

• Right to Opt Out of Sale: We do not sell personal information. No opt-out is necessary, but you have this right

• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of these rights

To exercise any of these rights, submit a written request to heartandhearthpottery@gmail.com. We will respond within 45 days. We may ask you to verify your identity before processing a request. Certain information may be retained where required by law, tax records, or legitimate business interests.

Heart & Hearth Pottery is a small independent studio. While we may not meet the revenue or data volume thresholds that trigger mandatory CCPA compliance, we honor these rights as a matter of principle and community trust.

 

9. Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, maintain required business records, comply with legal or tax obligations, and resolve disputes or enforce agreements. Participation records, signed waivers, and payment records may be retained for up to 7 years in accordance with California tax and business record requirements. You may request deletion of non-essential records at any time.

 

10. Security

We take reasonable administrative and technical measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, misuse, or disclosure. Access to personal data is limited to the studio owner and trusted service providers as required for operations. No online system can be guaranteed completely secure. By using our website and services, you acknowledge this inherent limitation.

 

11. Cookies & Website Data

Our website is hosted on Wix and uses standard cookies and tracking tools to enable basic site functionality, process bookings, and understand general website traffic. These tools do not provide us with access to personally identifiable financial data. You may disable cookies through your browser settings at any time, though some site features may not function correctly without them.

We do not use advertising trackers, retargeting pixels, or third-party behavioral advertising tools on our website.

 

12. External Links

Our website may contain links to third-party platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Wix, Stripe, and booking tools. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

 

13. Policy Updates

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time. The version in effect at the time of your interaction governs your use of the studio's services. We will update the effective date at the top of this document when changes are made. Continued use of our website or services after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. Significant changes will be communicated by email to active members and enrolled students.

 

14. Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the State of California. Any disputes shall be resolved in the appropriate courts of Los Angeles County, California.

 

Contact

Questions, requests, or concerns about this Privacy Policy may be submitted in writing to:

Heart & Hearth Pottery

heartandhearthpottery@gmail.com

436 S Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga, CA 90290

We aim to respond to all written privacy inquiries within 10 business days.