THE SHOE COMPANY PRIVACY POLICY
Designer Brands Canada Inc., through its website www.theshoecompany.ca ("The Shoe Company”), collects personal information to facilitate and enhance your shopping experience and for other purposes. This privacy policy (“Policy”) describes how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard personal information and how to exercise any privacy rights you may have with respect to your information. This Policy applies to the personal information we collect at any of our stores, on the phone, through our websites that link to this Policy, and through other means. It does not apply to personal information we collect in an employment context, including information we collect from job applicants and independent contractors. References to theshoecompany.ca or “Sites” refer generally to all of The Shoe Company’s online services, including mobile applications. In this Policy, “we” and “our” mean The Shoe Company.
We understand the importance of privacy and are committed to protecting personal information in accordance with applicable Canadian laws, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
TYPES OF INFORMATION WE COLLECT
We collect three types of information:
- Personal Information: This includes information that can be used to identify you, such as your name, email address, postal address, and phone number.
- Sensitive Personal Information: This includes information that does not identify you, such as your ethnicity.
- Non-Personal Information: This includes information that does not identify you, such as your browsing activity, purchase history, and device information.
This information is only used to fulfil your specific request, unless you give us permission to use it in another manner, for example, to add you to one of our mailing lists. Where we ask you to provide personal information, you always have the choice of not providing the information. However, if you do so, we may not be able to provide you with the service or benefit which you are requesting.
If you join the Shoe Company VIP program, you consent to the collection and use of your personal information, including sensitive personal information, as described in this privacy policy and the Shoe Company VIP program terms and conditions.
In some cases, we may combine personal information with non-personal information. Where we do this, the combined information will be treated by us as if it were personal information for as long as it remains combined.
HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION
Personal and non-personal information that we collect from you is used for a number of purposes:
- To fulfil your requests, such as processing orders and sending communications.
- To improve our website and stores based on your preferences and behaviour.
- To personalize your experience with targeted marketing and communications (with your consent).
- To comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
We will not use or disclose your personal information for purposes other than those for which it was collected.
SOCIAL MEDIA
The Shoe Company utilizes social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to market its products and services. Certain social networks allow ad targeting of customers and the ability for customers to share likes and interests with their friends/contacts. When you click on a social media plug-in, you consent to receiving communications from us for all of the purposes described above. For more information about social media plug-in protocols and their impact on your privacy rights, please visit the appropriate social media website help centre (such as the Facebook Help Centre) to find out more.
COOKIE/TRACKING TECHNOLOGY AND INTEREST-BASED ADVERTISING
We and third parties use cookies (small text files placed on your computer to identify your computer and browser) and other automated tools to track your clicks and pass information as you navigate the Sites. We and third parties use the following types of cookies on the Sites:
- Strictly Necessary: These cookies are necessary for the Sites to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.
- Functional: These cookies enable the Sites to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then some or all of these services may not function properly.
- Performance: These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our Sites. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the Site. All information that cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies, we will not know when you have visited our Sites, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
- Advertising: These cookies allow us and third parties to learn more about you, including your use of our Sites and other websites, and to advertise products or services that might interest you.
We and third parties also use tools that enable us to track certain aspects of a user’s visit to our Sites. These tools help us better manage content on our Sites by informing us what content is effective, how consumers engage with our Sites, and how users arrive at and/or depart from our Sites. The software typically uses two methods to track user activity: (1) "tracking pixels" and (2) "clear gifs." Tracking pixels are pieces of executable code embedded in a web page that track usage activity including which pages are viewed, when they are viewed, and how long the pages are viewed. Clear gifs are tiny graphics with unique identifiers embedded in web pages and email messages that track whether a user has viewed a web page or email message. The software may also track user engagement with our Sites such as links and other content clicked on by the user. User activity information may be associated with additional information about a user’s session and personal information, if provided by the user.
If you arrive at our Sites by "clicking through" from another website, certain information about you that you provided to that other website, such as the terms you were searching on that led you to our Sites, may be transmitted to us and we may use it. You should review the privacy policy of any website from which you reached our Sites to determine what information that website collects and for what purpose(s) the website operators use that information. We may retain information about you provided to us by other websites and will use it in accordance with this Privacy Policy. Such information may be associated with other Usage Data or personal information.
To learn more, or to opt out of receiving online interest-based advertisements from our third-party advertising partners that participate in the Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada, visit the Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada at http://youradchoices.ca/choices.
Please note that even if you opt out of interest-based advertising by a third party, these tracking technologies may still collect data for other purposes including analytics, and you will still see ads from us. However, these ads will not be targeted based on behavioural information about you and may therefore be less relevant to you and your interests.
EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS
We will communicate with you mainly through email. By providing your email address to us, you consent to "opt in" to receive email communications from DSW and its affiliates, subject to the guidelines and limitations described below. The option to "opt out" or "unsubscribe" after you have "opted in" will always be available.
EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS SUBJECT TO IMPLIED CONSENT
In some instances, your consent to receive email communications from us will be implied. For example, when you provide your email address to us prior to or at the time of making a purchase on DSW’s website, your consent to receive emails related to the transaction—e.g., a purchase or shipping confirmation email—is implied. When your consent is implied, we will only send you email communications that directly apply to the business purpose of your original request, and your implied consent will automatically expire once the business purpose of your transaction has completed.
When you join the The Shoe Company VIP program by providing your email address in a The Shoe Company retail store, your consent is also considered implied to receive email communications about your The Shoe Company VIP membership. You will always have the option to "opt out" from receiving email communications.
EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS SUBJECT TO EXPRESS CONSENT
You must provide express consent if you wish to receive email communications regarding specific products and services, promotions, contests, and surveys that you may be interested in. You may provide your express consent to receive such marketing messages when you sign up for an account on The Shoe Company’s website, in-store on a digital keypad, or by responding to a direct communication request for consent. Your express consent will remain in effect and will not expire unless you specifically request to "opt out" or "unsubscribe".
UNSUBSCRIBING/WITHDRAWING YOUR CONSENT
We will always provide you with the opportunity to "opt out" or "unsubscribe" within each email communication we send to you. To unsubscribe from email communications, click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any of our emails.
The Shoe Company VIP members who complete their profiles on our website also have the ability to change or withdraw their consent from our promotional list at any time via our website. This can be done by logging into your account, clicking on "Update Personal Details," and adjusting your email preferences.
If you still have any concerns or questions regarding your email permission status, you can reach out to our customer service at 1.888.874.6326 during business hours or email us at service@theshoecompany.com.
FORWARDING OR SHARING EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS
If you choose to forward or share email communications that you've received from us, you assume the responsibility for the email communication and, therefore, The Shoe Company will not be held responsible for any liabilities incurred as a result of that email communication being sent to another party.
HOW INFORMATION IS STORED AND/OR SHARED
We use current security, administrative, and technical measures to protect against loss, misuse, and interception of your personal information. Authorized employees, agents, and contractors who are granted access to this information must agree to keep information secure and confidential.
We may share information with governmental agencies or other companies assisting us in fraud prevention or investigation. We may do so when: (1) permitted or required by law; (2) trying to protect against or prevent actual or potential fraud or unauthorized transactions; or (3) investigating fraud which has already taken place. The information is not provided to these companies for their own marketing purposes.
Personal information collected by The Shoe Company may be used, processed and/or stored outside of Canada and may be subject to access and/or disclosure in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction where the data is used, processed and/or stored.
It is important that you understand that we cannot protect personal information that is disclosed by you directly to third parties. Likewise, it is important that you take steps to prevent unauthorised access to your computer system, your The Shoe Company VIP account and related passwords. The Shoe Company will not be liable for any disclosure of your personal information in these circumstances. Although we do not take responsibility for any theft, misuse, unauthorised disclosure, loss, alteration or destruction of data, we do take reasonable precautions to prevent such occurrences.
POLICY REGARDING CHILDREN’S INFORMATION
Our websites are not designed for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If we are notified that we have collected personal information of a child under 13, subject to verification, we will delete this information.
RETENTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
We will retain your personal information only for as long as we continue to need it to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.
SUBMITTING PRIVACY RIGHTS
You have the right to access, correct and delete your personal information in our custody or control, subject to exceptions under applicable law.
To make a privacy request, consumers may use our privacy request form located here or call us at 1.888.874.6326.
You have certain rights regarding your personal information. This section outlines your rights and how to exercise them.
Right to Access
You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you. We will provide you with a copy of your information, except for sensitive personal information, which is protected by law.
Right to Correct
You may update your contact information and other personal information by logging into your theshoecompany.ca account.
If you are unable to correct certain personal information on your own, you may request that we correct information you believe to be inaccurate. When you make your request, please be sure to provide us the specific information that you believe is inaccurate and the correct information. We will only correct the information if we determine, based on the totality of the circumstances, that your correction is more likely than not accurate. We may also choose to delete the allegedly inaccurate information instead of correcting it.
Right to Delete
You have the right to request that we delete any personal information we collected about you. We may deny your request if an exemption applies such as if we need the information to complete a requested or reasonably anticipated transaction, prevent security incidents or fraud, enable internal uses that are reasonably aligned with your expectations, or comply with legal obligations.
Right to Withdraw Consent
You have the right to withdraw your consent to our collection, use, or disclosure of your personal information at any time. Please note that withdrawing consent may affect our ability to provide certain services or benefits.
Processing Your Requests
We prioritize fulfilling requests to correct, delete, and withdraw consent within 30 business days. Requests for access will be fulfilled within 30 calendar days. All requests and applicable timelines are subject to identity verification and any applicable exemptions or extensions permitted by law. We will confirm receipt of your request within 7 days and request additional information if needed to verify your identity.
CHANGES TO OUR PRIVACY POLICY
Since our business is constantly evolving, we may change our Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make a change to our Privacy Policy we will promptly post an updated Privacy Policy on our website. Your continued use of our website following an update to our Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?
If you have questions or concerns with respect to our Policy, please feel free to contact us.
Designer Brands
44 Kodiak Crescent
Toronto, ON M3J 3G5
Canada
This Policy was last updated on September 5, 2024. We may make changes to this Policy, and may apply any changes to information previously collected, as permitted by law. Please check here periodically for notice of updates to this Policy.
