Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 1 April 2026

Shop South (ABN: 48152097650) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

By using our website and services, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in this Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our website.

1. Who We Are

Shop South is an online marketplace connecting Australian customers with independent vendors based in anywhere in the world. We operate the platform at www.shopsouth.com.au.

For privacy enquiries, contact our Privacy Officer at: info@shopsouth.com.au

2. What Personal Information We Collect

2.1 From Customers

When you shop with us, we may collect:

  • Full name and delivery address
  • Email address and phone number
  • Payment information (processed securely - we do not store full card details)
  • Order history and purchase behaviour
  • Browser type, IP address, and device information
  • Cookies and website usage data
2.2 From Vendors

When you register as a vendor, we may collect:

  • Business name, address, and contact details
  • GSTIN and other tax identification numbers
  • Bank account details for payout processing
  • Product listings, images, and pricing information
  • Identity verification documents where required
2.3 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information including your IP address, browser type, pages visited, time spent on pages, and referring website. This is collected via cookies and analytics tools.

3. How We Collect Personal Information

We collect personal information:

  • Directly from you when you register, place an order, apply as a vendor, or contact us
  • Through our website via cookies, analytics tools (such as Google Analytics), and tracking pixels
  • From third-party payment processors (such as Stripe) while processing transactions
  • From third-party shipping providers when tracking deliveries

4. Why We Collect and Use Your Personal Information

4.1 Customers

We use your information to:

  • Process and fulfil your orders
  • Send order confirmations, shipping updates, and receipts
  • Respond to your enquiries and provide customer support
  • Improve our website and user experience
  • Send marketing communications (only with your consent - you can unsubscribe at any time)
  • Comply with legal and regulatory obligations
4.2 Vendors

We use your information to:

  • Process your vendor application and manage your account
  • Process payouts and issue financial statements
  • Communicate about your listings, orders, and platform updates
  • Ensure compliance with our Vendor Terms and Conditions
  • Comply with Australian and Indian legal obligations

5. Disclosure of Personal Information

We may share your personal information with:

  • Vendors - we share your name, delivery address, and order details with the relevant vendor to fulfil your order
  • Payment processors - Stripe and/or PayPal, for secure transaction processing
  • Shipping carriers - name and address shared for delivery purposes
  • Email marketing platforms - such as Klaviyo or Mailchimp, where you have opted in to marketing
  • Analytics providers - such as Google Analytics, to help us understand website usage (data is aggregated and de-identified where possible)
  • Legal and regulatory authorities - where required by law or to protect our rights

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We do not use your data for advertising on third-party platforms without your explicit consent.

6. International Data Transfers

Because our vendors are located in anywhere in the world, some of your order information (name, delivery address, order details) will be shared with those vendors internationally. We take reasonable steps to ensure vendors handle your information securely and only use it to fulfil your order.

Our third-party service providers (Stripe, Google, Klaviyo etc.) may store data on servers located outside Australia. We only use providers who maintain adequate data protection standards.

7. Cookies & Tracking

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to:

  • Keep you logged in to your account
  • Remember your cart and preferences
  • Analyse website traffic and behaviour via Google Analytics
  • Enable social sharing functionality

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our website. Our cookie consent banner allows you to accept or reject non-essential cookies when you first visit our site.

8. Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access. Our website uses SSL encryption (HTTPS), and payment processing is handled by PCI-DSS compliant providers.

While we take these precautions, no data transmission over the internet is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of information transmitted to our website.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with our legal obligations. Specifically:

  • Customer order data is retained for 7 years for tax and accounting purposes
  • Vendor financial records are retained for 7 years
  • Marketing data is retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion
  • Website analytics data is retained for up to 26 months

When data is no longer required, we will securely delete or de-identify it.

10. Your Rights

Under the Australian Privacy Act, you have the right to:

  • Access the personal information we hold about you
  • Request correction of inaccurate or out-of-date information
  • Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal retention obligations)
  • Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time
  • Complain about how we have handled your personal information

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@shopsouth.com.au. We will respond within 30 days.

11. Marketing Communications

We will only send you marketing emails if you have opted in. Every marketing email includes an unsubscribe link in compliance with the Australian Spam Act 2003. You can also unsubscribe by contacting us directly.

We do not send unsolicited SMS or push notifications without your prior consent.

12. Children's Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately and we will delete it.

13. Complaints

If you believe we have breached the Australian Privacy Principles, you may lodge a complaint with us at info@shopsouth.com.au. We will acknowledge your complaint within 5 business days and respond fully within 30 days.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version will be posted on our website with a revised effective date. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically. Continued use of our website after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.

15. Contact Us

For any privacy-related enquiries, access requests, or complaints:

Email: info@shopsouth.com.au

Website: www.shopsouth.com.au

ABN: 48152097650

We aim to respond to all privacy enquiries within 5 business days.