Cookie policy

This Cookie Policy explains how Little Starts Gift Cards Ltd (“we”, “us”, “our”) uses cookies and similar technologies (collectively referred to as “cookies”) on our website [www.littlestartsgiftcards.com](https://www.littlestartsgiftcards.com). It should be read together with our Privacy Policy.

1. Who We Are

Little Starts Gift Cards Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales (Company No. 15960758), with its operating office at Oculis House, Eddystone Road, Southampton, SO40 3SA.

We are the data controller for the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).

You can contact us regarding this policy or any data privacy matter by email at [email protected]

2. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, tablet, or smartphone when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, as well as to provide information to website owners.

Cookies can be:

Session cookies – which expire when you close your browser; or
Persistent cookies – which remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them.

Cookies may also be:

First-party cookies – set by our website; or
Third-party cookies – set by other websites or services (e.g., Google, Stripe, Mailchimp)

Under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR), as amended by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA), prior consent is not always required for certain low-risk cookies.

3. How We Use Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

Ensure our website functions correctly.
Remember your preferences (e.g., consent or opt-out choices).
Analyse website traffic and usage to improve performance and user experience.
Enable secure payments and account functions.
Support marketing and communications, where you have given consent.

We do not use cookies to collect sensitive personal information, and we do not use automated decision-making or profiling based on cookies in a way that produces legal or similarly significant effects.

4. Types of Cookies We Use

Cookie Type	Purpose	Example / Provider	Retention	Consent Required?
Strictly Necessary Cookies	Required for core website functions such as page navigation, security, shopping basket, and checkout. The website cannot function properly without these.	e.g., Stripe session cookies, cookie-consent management cookie	Session / short-term	No
Statistical / Analytics Cookies (exempt under DUAA)	Collect aggregate, anonymised data about how visitors use our site (e.g., page views, popular pages, user journeys) solely to improve our website and services.	Google Analytics (_ga, _gid, etc)	Up to 26 months	No (if conditions met – see below)
Functional Cookies	Enable enhanced functionality and personalisation, such as remembering your preferences or settings.	Consent/ preference cookies	Persistent	No (if solely for functionality)
Marketing / Tracking Cookies	Used to deliver or measure marketing campaigns, track conversions, or enable targeted advertising (only with your consent).	Mailchimp email tracking pixels	Variable	Yes

Important notes on statistical/analytics cookies:

Under the DUAA amendments to PECR, we may rely on the statistical purposes exemption for cookies whose sole purpose is to collect aggregate statistics to improve our website or service. This does not require prior consent, provided we give you clear information (as in this policy) and offer a simple, free way to object/opt out at any time.

Google Analytics is configured to support anonymised, aggregate analysis where possible. If any use goes beyond this exemption, we will seek consent.

5. Personal Data We Collect

We collect and process the following categories of personal information:

Category	Examples	Source
Contact Data	Name, email address, postal address, phone number	You (when purchasing or contacting us)
Transactional Data	Payment details (processed securely by Stripe), purchase history, order values	You / Stripe
Technical Data	IP address, browser type, device information, time zone settings, operating system	Automatically via cookies / analytics
Marketing Preferences	Consent to receive emails or newsletters via Mailchimp	You
Partner Redemption Data	Card redemptions and partner locations (no children’s data)	Our partners / systems

We do not collect personal data directly from children. All transactions are made by parents or guardians.

6. How We Use Your Personal Data

We use your data for the following purposes and lawful bases under GDPR:

Purpose	Lawful Basis (Article 6 UK GDPR)
To process and deliver your gift card order	Performance of a contract
To manage payments and prevent fraud	Legitimate interests / legal obligation
To communicate with you about your order or account	Performance of a contract
To send you marketing communications (where you have opted in)	Consent
To improve our website and user experience (analytics, cookies)	Consent / legitimate interests
To comply with legal obligations (e.g. accounting, tax)	Legal obligation

7. Managing Cookies and Your Choices

When you visit our website for the first time, you will see a cookie banner that explains our use of cookies and allows you to:

- Accept all non-essential cookies;

- Reject non-essential cookies; or

- Customise your preferences.

You can change your preferences or withdraw consent/opt out at any time by clicking the cookie settings link (usually in the footer) or adjusting your browser settings.

You can also manage or delete cookies directly in your browser:

- Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647

- Safari: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/safari/sfri11471/mac

- Edge: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4027947

- Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/clear-cookies-and-site-data-firefox

Please note that disabling strictly necessary cookies may affect how the website functions.

For statistical/analytics cookies used under the DUAA exemption, you can opt out via the cookie settings banner or by using the opt-out mechanisms provided by our analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on).

8. Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies are placed by third-party services that appear on our website, including:

Google Analytics – for anonymised traffic analysis (subject to the statistical purposes exemption where applicable).
Stripe – to enable secure payment processing (strictly necessary).
Mailchimp – for tracking consented marketing interactions.

These providers have their own privacy and cookie policies. We encourage you to review them:

We only share data with these providers in line with our Privacy Policy and Data Processing Agreements.

9. Your Consent and Rights

By clicking “Accept All” on our cookie banner, you consent to our use of marketing and any other non-exempt cookies.

You can withdraw your consent or exercise your opt-out rights for exempt statistical cookies at any time. You also have rights under UK GDPR regarding any personal data processed via cookies (see our Privacy Policy for details on how to exercise these rights).

Breaches of PECR (including improper use of cookies) can now attract fines of up to the greater of £17.5 million or 4% of global annual turnover.

10. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy periodically to reflect changes in our cookie practices, technology, or legal requirements (including further DUAA guidance from the ICO).

The latest version will always be available at www.littlestartsgiftcards.com/cookies. Where appropriate, we will notify you of significant changes via our website or email.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:

Email: [email protected]
Post: Little Starts Gift Cards Ltd, Oculis House, Eddystone Road, Southampton, SO40 3SA (operational address)

Registered Office: Flat 5 Montclair House, 19 Southgate, Chichester, England, PO19 1DN

You can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): www.ico.org.uk | Tel: 0303 123 1113