Salon Owners United Privacy Policy (for Top Secret Stuff)

Last updated: October 2025

At Salon Owners United (“SOU”, “we”, “us”, “our”), we take your privacy seriously. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use our website, services, and membership platform.

By providing your personal information to us, you agree that we may store and use it in accordance with this Privacy Policy and all applicable data protection laws, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. Keeping Your Information Safe

We keep all member and customer information strictly confidential. Your information is stored securely in our data management system and can only be accessed by authorised members of the SOU team or trusted third-party providers who help us operate our services.

We never sell your information or share it with anyone else, except for carefully selected service providers (such as email, hosting, or payment processors) who are bound by confidentiality and data-processing agreements.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following information:

  • Your name, email address, phone number, business name, and similar non-sensitive details.

  • Information you provide when signing up, purchasing memberships or products, or contacting us.

  • Messages or communications sent to us (e.g. support requests or feedback).

  • Technical data such as your IP address, browser type, device information, and website usage data (collected automatically).

  • Optional marketing preferences and cookie data (see below).

If you choose not to provide certain information, you may not be able to fully access all features of our service.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

  • Provide and improve our services and resources.

  • Communicate with you about your membership, account, or purchases.

  • Send updates, newsletters, or marketing emails (only if you’ve opted in).

  • Personalise your experience and improve website functionality.

  • Meet our legal and regulatory obligations.

You can unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time by following the link in our emails or contacting us directly.

4. Your Rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:

  • Access the personal data we hold about you.

  • Request correction or deletion of your data.

  • Object to or restrict certain types of processing.

  • Withdraw consent at any time (where consent is the lawful basis).

To exercise your rights, please contact us at:
📧 support@sou.org.uk

We will respond promptly and in line with UK GDPR requirements.

5. Data Storage and Security

Your information is stored securely using reputable cloud-based systems such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and other GDPR-compliant partners (for example, SendGrid or Twilio for communications).

We use strong technical and organisational measures to protect your data from unauthorised access, loss, misuse, or alteration. However, no internet-based system is 100% secure, so any transmission of information is at your own risk.

If a data breach is ever identified, we will notify affected users and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in line with UK GDPR requirements.

6. Cookies and Tracking

We use standard browser cookies to make our website work effectively and to understand how visitors use it. Cookies are small data files stored on your device to improve your experience.

We do not store personally identifiable information in cookies. You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings, though some features of our site may not function properly without them.

Cookies may also be set by third-party tools we use (for example, analytics or embedded content). We have no control over third-party cookies and recommend reviewing their privacy policies.

7. Data Retention

We keep your information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purpose it was collected for — for example, to maintain your membership or comply with legal obligations.

If you request to be forgotten or cancel your membership, we will delete or anonymise your personal data unless we are legally required to retain it.

8. Sharing Information

We may share information only when necessary to:

  • Fulfil a service or contract (for example, sending emails or processing payments).

  • Comply with the law, court orders, or legal obligations.

  • Protect our rights, safety, or property, or those of others.

We never sell your personal information to any third party.

9. Member Accounts

If you have an SOU account, please keep your login details confidential. You are responsible for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately if you believe your account has been compromised.

10. External Links & Public Areas

Any personal information you share publicly, such as in community spaces, social groups, or forums can be viewed and used by others. We cannot control or take responsibility for the actions of third parties in these spaces. Please think carefully before sharing personal details online.

11. Sensitive Information

Our platform is not designed to collect sensitive personal data (such as health information or financial records). If you choose to share such data, you do so at your own risk, and we accept no liability without explicit written consent from our Chief Executive Officer.

12. International Transfers

Your data may be stored or processed outside the UK (for example, in the EU or USA) by GDPR-compliant service providers. We ensure that any such transfers are protected by standard contractual clauses or other appropriate safeguards as required by law.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The latest version will always be available on our website. Significant changes will be communicated via email or platform notice.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact:

Salon Owners United
Email: admin@sou.org.uk
Website: www.sou.org.uk

If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at www.ico.org.uk.

✅ Summary:
We’re committed to protecting your privacy, being transparent about how we use your information, and giving you full control over your personal data.

Because even though we deal with a lot of top-secret salon owner stuff, we believe your trust is the most important part of our community. 💪