Privacy Policy

Information we collect

We collect information you give us and information generated as you use GroomerConnect:

• Account information — your name, email, password, and optional profile details such as your location and the type of groomer you are.
• Purchases — courses, kits, and listing fees you buy. Payment card details are processed by our payment provider (Stripe) and are never stored on our servers.
• Content you create — course progress, certificates earned, marketplace listings, messages, reviews, and (for instructors) course materials.
• Usage data — pages viewed, actions taken, device and browser information, and approximate location derived from your IP address.
• Cookies — including a referral tracking cookie when you arrive via a member's referral link.

How we use your information

• Provide, maintain, and improve GroomerConnect and your account
• Process purchases, certifications, payouts, and referral credit
• Personalize course and content recommendations
• Send transactional email (receipts, certificates, account notices) and, where you've opted in, product updates
• Detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, and security issues
• Comply with legal obligations

How we share information

We do not sell your personal information. We share it only as needed to run the platform:

• Service providers — payment processing (Stripe), video hosting, email delivery, and analytics, under contracts that limit their use of your data.
• Instructors — aggregate, non-identifying enrollment and review data for their own courses.
• Other members — limited public profile details you choose to show, and contact through marketplace messages when you list or inquire about an item.
• Legal — when required by law, or to protect the rights, safety, and property of GroomerConnect and our members.

Cookies and tracking

We use cookies to keep you signed in, remember preferences, measure usage, and attribute referrals. The referral cookie lasts 30 days. You can control cookies through your browser settings, though some features may not work without them.

Data retention

We keep your information for as long as your account is active and as needed to provide the service, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. You can request deletion of your account at any time from your account settings.

Your rights and choices

• Access, correct, or update your information from your account settings
• Export your data (courses, certs, and purchase history) from your account settings
• Opt out of non-essential email from notification preferences
• Request deletion of your account and associated personal data

Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under laws such as the GDPR or CCPA. Contact us to exercise them.

Security

We use industry-standard safeguards to protect your information, including encryption in transit and access controls. No system is perfectly secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security, but we work to protect your data and will notify you of a breach where required by law.

Children's privacy

GroomerConnect is intended for professionals and is not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated version here and revise the “Last updated” date. Material changes will be communicated through the app or by email.

Contact

Questions about your privacy? Contact hello@groomerconnect.com.