Privacy Policy

Types of Information Collected:

At Musing Baker, we collect the following types of information from our website visitors and customers:

Personal Information: When visitors subscribe to updates on our website, they provide their names, email addresses, and phone numbers. This information allows us to keep them informed about the latest news and offerings from Musing Baker.
Payment Information: While we do not currently offer online payment options, we may collect payment information during the checkout process for orders placed via other channels. The specific payment information collected may vary depending on the payment methods available at the time of purchase.
Browsing Information: Our website may automatically collect certain browsing information, such as IP addresses and device information, when visitors interact with our site. While we utilize Wix as our website platform, we are not certain about the specific browsing information collected through this platform.

We are committed to ensuring the privacy and security of all information collected from our visitors and customers. Should you have any concerns about the collection or use of your data, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Purpose of Data Collection

At Musing Baker, we collect information from our website visitors and customers for the following purposes:

Processing Orders: The personal information provided by customers allows us to process orders efficiently and accurately. This includes fulfilling orders for our French-inspired gluten-free pastries and arranging for delivery or pickup.
Improving the Website: Understanding how visitors interact with our website helps us identify areas for improvement and enhance the overall user experience. Browsing information, such as page views and session duration, may be used for analytical purposes to optimize our website's performance and functionality.
Marketing Purposes: With consent from subscribers, we use the contact information collected to provide updates, promotions, and other relevant information about Musing Baker. This allows us to engage with our audience and share news about our products, events, and special offers.

By collecting this information, we aim to better serve our customers, tailor our offerings to their preferences, and ensure a seamless experience when engaging with Musing Baker. We are committed to handling all data with the utmost care and respect for privacy.

Third-Party Services:

At Musing Baker, we utilize several third-party services to enhance the functionality and performance of our website. These services include:

Website Platform: Our website is built and hosted using Wix, a third-party website building platform. Wix provides the tools and infrastructure necessary for creating and maintaining our online presence.
Analytics Services: We may use analytics services, such as Google Analytics, to gather information about website traffic, user behavior, and other relevant metrics. This helps us analyze trends, optimize our content, and improve the overall user experience.
Email Marketing: For email marketing purposes, we may utilize third-party email service providers, such as Mailchimp or Constant Contact. These platforms help us manage our subscriber lists, create and send email campaigns, and track engagement metrics.
Payment Processors: While we do not currently offer online payment options directly through our website, we may utilize third-party payment processors, such as PayPal or Stripe, for processing payments for orders placed via other channels. These processors handle payment transactions securely and efficiently.
Advertising Networks: We may partner with advertising networks, such as Google Ads or Facebook Ads, to promote our products and reach potential customers. These networks may use cookies and other tracking technologies to display targeted advertisements based on user interests and behavior.

We ensure that any third-party services we use adhere to industry standards for data protection and privacy. While these services may collect certain information from website visitors, we do not have control over their data practices. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of these third-party services for more information about how they collect, use, and protect data.

Data Retention

At Musing Baker, we are committed to maintaining the privacy and security of our customers' data. We adhere to a specific data retention policy to ensure that personal information is retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in our Privacy Policy and to comply with legal obligations.

The retention periods for customer data may vary depending on the type of information collected and the purpose for which it was obtained. As a general guideline:

Subscriber Information: Personal information collected from subscribers, such as names, email addresses, and phone numbers, is retained for as long as the subscriber remains actively engaged with Musing Baker or until they choose to unsubscribe from our communications. Upon unsubscribing, their information will be promptly removed from our subscriber list.
Order Information: Information related to customer orders, including contact details and purchase history, is retained for a period necessary to process orders, handle returns or refunds, and provide customer support. Once orders are fulfilled and any associated transactions are completed, we may retain order information for a reasonable period to facilitate record-keeping and business operations.
Analytics Data: Browsing information collected for analytical purposes, such as IP addresses and device information, may be retained for a limited period to analyze website performance, track trends, and improve the user experience. However, this data is typically anonymized or aggregated to protect user privacy.

We regularly review our data retention practices to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations and to minimize the risk of unauthorized access or misuse of customer data. Any data that is no longer necessary for the purposes outlined in our Privacy Policy will be securely deleted or anonymized to prevent identification of individuals.

By implementing a structured data retention policy, we strive to strike a balance between maintaining operational efficiency and respecting the privacy rights of our customers.

Data Security:

At Musing Baker, safeguarding the security and integrity of customer data is a top priority. While we operate as a small business with limited resources, we take proactive measures to ensure the protection of customer information. Here are some of the steps we take:

Utilization of Wix Security Features: Our website is built and hosted on the Wix platform, which provides built-in security features to help protect against unauthorized access, data breaches, and other security threats. Wix employs industry-standard security protocols, including encryption and secure socket layer (SSL) technology, to encrypt data transmission and safeguard sensitive information.
Limited Access to Data: As a small business owner with a small team, access to customer data is restricted to authorized personnel only. We have implemented internal policies and procedures to limit access to sensitive information and ensure that it is handled with care and discretion.
Regular Updates and Maintenance: We stay informed about security updates and patches provided by Wix and promptly apply them to our website to mitigate vulnerabilities and strengthen security defenses. By keeping our website and systems up-to-date, we reduce the risk of exploitation by malicious actors.
Employee Training and Awareness: While we operate with a small team, all employees, including ourselves and any collaborators, are educated about the importance of data security and privacy. We emphasize best practices for handling customer data responsibly and provide ongoing training to raise awareness about potential security risks and how to mitigate them.
Monitoring and Response: We continuously monitor our website and systems for any suspicious activity or security incidents. In the event of a breach or unauthorized access, we have protocols in place to promptly investigate the incident, mitigate any potential damage, and notify affected parties as required by law.

While we may not have dedicated IT staff or resources for extensive security measures, we are committed to implementing reasonable safeguards to protect customer data and uphold their trust in Musing Baker.

Data Sharing:

At Musing Baker, we prioritize the privacy and confidentiality of customer data and are committed to maintaining the trust of our customers. We do not share customer data with any third parties except in the following circumstances:

Third-Party Service Providers: We may engage trusted third-party service providers to assist us in conducting business operations and providing services to our customers. These service providers may include payment processors, shipping companies, and email service providers. When necessary, we may share limited customer data with these providers solely for the purpose of fulfilling orders, processing payments, or delivering communications on our behalf. We ensure that any third-party service providers we engage adhere to strict data protection standards and only use customer data in accordance with our instructions.
Legal Compliance and Protection: In certain situations, we may be required to disclose customer data in response to lawful requests by public authorities, such as government agencies or law enforcement agencies, to comply with legal obligations or protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of others. This may include responding to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal processes.
Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, customer data may be transferred or disclosed as part of the transaction. In such cases, we will ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect the privacy and security of customer data and that any successor entity continues to uphold the commitments outlined in this Privacy Policy.

We do not engage in the sale or rental of customer data for marketing or advertising purposes, nor do we share customer data with unrelated third parties without explicit consent, except as described above. We take measures to ensure that any sharing of customer data is conducted in a secure and responsible manner and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Customer Rights:

At Musing Baker, we recognize the importance of respecting and upholding the rights of our customers with regard to their personal data. We are committed to ensuring that customers have control over their information and the ability to exercise their rights as outlined below:

Right to Access: Customers have the right to request access to their personal information that we have collected and stored. Upon request, we will provide customers with details about the types of data we hold, the purposes for which it is being used, and any third parties with whom it has been shared. We strive to respond to access requests in a timely manner and provide the information in a clear and understandable format.
Right to Correct: Customers have the right to request correction of any inaccuracies or errors in their personal information. If a customer believes that their data is incomplete, outdated, or incorrect, they can contact us to request that it be updated or amended accordingly. We will take reasonable steps to verify the identity of the customer making the request and promptly address any inaccuracies in their data.
Right to Delete: Customers have the right to request the deletion of their personal information from our records under certain circumstances. This includes situations where the data is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, where the customer withdraws their consent for processing, or where the data has been unlawfully processed. Upon receiving a valid deletion request, we will promptly delete or anonymize the relevant data, unless we have a legitimate reason or legal obligation to retain it.
Right to Object: Customers have the right to object to the processing of their personal information for certain purposes, such as direct marketing or profiling. If a customer objects to the processing of their data, we will cease processing it for the specified purposes, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing that override the interests, rights, and freedoms of the customer.
Right to Data Portability: Customers have the right to request the transfer of their personal data to another controller in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. Upon request, we will provide customers with their data in a portable format, where technically feasible.

We are committed to facilitating the exercise of these rights and ensuring that customers can easily submit requests and receive timely responses. Customers can contact us using the information provided in this Privacy Policy to exercise any of the rights outlined above.

Location of Data Storage:

At Musing Baker, customer data is primarily stored on servers provided by Wix, our website hosting and management platform. Wix offers secure cloud storage services that comply with industry standards for data protection and privacy.

As a small business owner, we rely on the infrastructure and capabilities provided by Wix to store and manage customer data effectively. Wix operates data centers in multiple locations around the world, which may include the United States, Europe, and other regions, to ensure reliable performance and availability of our website and associated services.

We do not independently select or configure specific locations for storing customer data, as this is managed by Wix as part of their platform offering. However, we trust in Wix's commitment to data security and compliance with relevant regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for customers located in the European Union.

Should there be any changes to the storage location of customer data or the adoption of additional cloud storage services in the future, we will update this Privacy Policy accordingly to provide transparency and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies:

At Musing Baker, we use cookies and other tracking technologies on our website to enhance the browsing experience and gather information about how visitors interact with our site. Cookies are small text files that are stored on the user's device (such as a computer or mobile device) when they visit our website. These technologies help us improve the functionality and performance of our website, as well as provide personalized content and advertisements. Here's how we use cookies and tracking technologies:

Essential Cookies: We use essential cookies that are necessary for the operation of our website. These cookies enable basic functions such as page navigation, access to secure areas of the website, and ensuring the proper functioning of features such as shopping carts and checkout processes.
Analytics Cookies: We use analytics cookies, such as those provided by Google Analytics, to collect information about how visitors interact with our website. This includes data such as the number of visitors, the pages they visit, the duration of their visit, and the actions they take on the site. We use this information to analyze trends, track user behavior, and improve the overall user experience.
Preference Cookies: Preference cookies allow us to remember user preferences and settings, such as language preferences or font size preferences. These cookies enhance the user experience by personalizing content and providing a more tailored browsing experience.
Marketing Cookies: We may use marketing cookies to track user activity across our website and other third-party websites, such as social media platforms or advertising networks. This allows us to deliver targeted advertisements and promotional messages based on user interests and behavior, as well as measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns.

By using our website, visitors consent to the use of cookies and other tracking technologies as described above. Users have the option to manage their cookie preferences and settings through their web browser or device settings. However, please note that disabling certain cookies may impact the functionality and performance of the website or limit access to certain features.

We are committed to transparently informing users about our use of cookies and respecting their preferences regarding data privacy and consent. For more information about how we use cookies and how to manage your cookie preferences, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

Legal Compliance:

As a business based in Illinois, USA, Musing Baker is subject to various laws and regulations governing data protection and privacy. While the specific requirements may vary depending on factors such as the location of our customers and the nature of our data processing activities, there are several key laws and regulations that we need to consider:

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): While the GDPR is a European Union regulation, it may still apply to businesses outside the EU if they process personal data of individuals located in the EU. The GDPR imposes strict requirements on the collection, processing, and protection of personal data, including provisions for transparency, consent, data minimization, and data subject rights. Therefore, if Musing Baker collects personal data from individuals in the EU, we would need to ensure compliance with the GDPR's requirements.
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): The CCPA is a California state law that grants California residents certain rights regarding their personal information, such as the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to opt out of the sale of their personal information, and the right to request deletion of their personal information. Even though Musing Baker is not located in California, we may still need to comply with the CCPA if we meet certain criteria, such as doing business in California or collecting personal information of California residents.
Illinois Privacy Laws: Additionally, Illinois has its own privacy laws and regulations that may apply to businesses operating within the state. For example, the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) imposes requirements on businesses that collect, use, and disclose personal information of Illinois residents, including provisions for data security, breach notification, and consumer rights.

As a responsible business, Musing Baker is committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations regarding data protection and privacy. We regularly review our data processing practices and update our policies and procedures as necessary to ensure compliance with evolving legal requirements. Our Privacy Policy is designed to provide transparency about how we collect, use, and protect customer data, and to inform individuals about their rights and options regarding their personal information.

Contact Information:

If customers have any questions, concerns, or inquiries regarding their privacy or data practices at Musing Baker, they can reach out to us using the following contact information:

Telephone: Customers can contact us by phone at (847) 602-6920. Our customer support team is available during regular business hours to assist with any queries or issues related to privacy or data protection.
Email: Customers can also reach us via email at deb.keiser@musingbaker.com. Our email support team is available to respond to inquiries and address concerns regarding privacy policies, data practices, or any other related matters.

We value the privacy and security of our customers' information and are committed to addressing any concerns promptly and effectively. Customers can trust that their inquiries will be handled with care and discretion by our knowledgeable support staff.

In addition to direct contact options, customers may also find helpful information and resources related to privacy and data practices on our website's Privacy Policy page.