Privacy Policy for Cottagestead

Effective Date of this Privacy Policy: December 26, 2025

Date of Latest Update: December 26, 2025

This Privacy Policy describes how Cottagestead (“Cottagestead”, “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, shares, and protects personal information obtained through our online digital magazine platform, services and related features (collectively, the “Platform”). This Privacy Policy applies to all users who access and/or use the Platform. By using the Platform, you agree to be bound and subject to the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy.

Cottagestead operates exclusively within the United States and is governed by North Carolina law. Cottagestead acts as a data controller for information collected through the Platform. The Platform operates as a digital publisher, not a direct provider of business services to the public.

This Privacy Policy has been drafted based upon privacy and data protection laws applicable in the United States.

This Privacy Policy applies to personal information and non-personal information submitted and collected in connection with the Platform, unless otherwise indicated.

For reference purposes, when used in this Privacy Policy and in compliance with applicable law, personal information refers to personal information relating to an identified or identifiable individual person, who may be referred to in applicable laws as a data subject. Personal information can be used to identify an individual person and may include, without limitation, your name, location, email address and image.

Non-personal information refers to information that cannot be used to personally identify an individual person. Non-personal information may include anonymous usage data, demographic information, preferences selected and preferences generated based on data submitted and previous behavior.

II.               Application

This Privacy Policy sets forth the terms and policy applicable to our collection, protection, use, and disclosure of your personal information, as provided on or through the Platform. This Privacy Policy will also provide the terms applicable to your submission of personal information on the Platform, and the rights granted to you in connection with your personal information.

Our collection, handling, retention, protection and use of your personal information is governed by this Privacy Policy. Further, your provision or submission of personal information on the Platform is subject to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

Your access or use of the Platform signifies your full acceptance of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, your sole recourse is to refrain from using the Platform.

III.             Information We Collect

We collect both personal and non-personal information from you when you browse or use the Platform:

  1. The following information is collected automatically:

– Your IP address is collected for security, analytics, and location purposes.

– Your device and browser information, namely, the type, version, operating system, and related technical details, are automatically collected.

– The Platform uses cookies.

– Usage data, including pages visited, time spent on the site, clicks, referring and exit pages, and general navigation patterns, is also automatically collected.

  • We collect the following information that you voluntarily provide on the Platform:

– Your subscriber data: Name, email address submitted during the signup process.

– As a subscriber, you agree to our standard communication preferences consisting of up to 1 newsletter per week, sent in email notification, newsletter, and marketing communication format.

  • We also collect the following information from third-party integrations:

– When purchasing products within the Platform, including digital products, payment information is processed by third-party providers such as Stripe, PayPal, or Authorize.net. Cottagestead does not store full payment card details but may retain transaction records and billing history.

– Hosting and technical infrastructure: Data is stored on servers managed by Bluehost/WordPress; which may have access to certain technical and usage data for hosting and maintenance purposes.

– Information from external links: Cottagestead provides contact information and resource links as part of our editorial content, including links to featured authors, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. These third-party links may direct you to external websites for business information, charitable donations, shopping (including affiliate links), or booking services (e.g., Calendly).

When you click on these third-party links, you will leave our website and be subject to the privacy policies and terms of service of those external sites. We do not control and are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites.

D. Cottagestead collects additional data through custom forms, plugins, and analytics integrations:

Contact Forms

-Nonprofit Organizations: When nonprofit organizations submit our contact form to inquire about partnerships, advertising opportunities, or editorial features, we collect business contact information including organization name, contact person’s name, email address, phone number, website URL, and any additional information provided in the message field. This information is used solely to respond to inquiries and evaluate potential partnerships.

-Contributors: When prospective contributors submit our writer inquiry form, we collect professional contact information including name, email address, phone number, website or portfolio links, social media handles, areas of expertise, writing samples or links to published work, and any additional information provided about their background and interests. This information is used to evaluate contributor applications, communicate with accepted contributors, and manage our editorial calendar.

Automated Data Collection

-Analytics and Website Usage: Cottagestead uses analytics tools (including Google Analytics) to collect information about how visitors interact with our website. This includes IP addresses, browser type and version, device information, pages viewed, time spent on pages, referring websites, geographic location (city/state level), and user behavior patterns. This data helps us understand our audience, improve user experience, and create relevant content.

-Cookies and Tracking Technologies: Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to remember user preferences, track website navigation patterns, enable certain website features, and deliver relevant advertising. Users can control cookie preferences through their browser settings.

Third-Party Integrations: We use various plugins and third-party services that may collect additional information, including:

  • Email marketing platforms (for newsletter subscriptions)
  • Social media plugins (for content sharing)
  • Commenting systems (for reader engagement)
  • Affiliate tracking systems (to monitor product recommendations)
  • Payment processors (for any paid products or services)

Each third-party service operates under its own privacy policy and may collect data independently.

IV.            How We Use Your Information

We use the information collected for the following purposes:

  • Communication: To send transactional emails (e.g., newsletter signup confirmations), respond to inquiries, deliver newsletters, and provide updates about platform changes or new features.
  • Analytics and Performance: To analyze usage patterns, monitor site performance, and enhance user experience through aggregated data and technical insights.
  • Marketing and Promotions: To inform users about promotional offers, affiliate programs, and new services, subject to user preferences and opt-out choices. We may use your email address to send marketing materials, a newsletter or other promotional communications.
  • Content Moderation and Community Standards: To review, moderate, and manage user-generated content in accordance with our conduct and community guidelines.
  • Legal and Regulatory Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, respond to legal requests, and enforce our Terms and Conditions, as published on the Platform.
  • Consent: We may use personal information to fulfill the purpose for which you provided it. Accordingly, we may use your personal information to respond to your questions, support requests and other inquiries with respect to the Platform.
  • Improvements: We may use both personal information to improve the Platform and provide customized experiences. We may also aggregate non-personal information to improve the Platform by reviewing established patterns of usage of the Platform to monitor usage information. We may analyze data to improve the Platform’s functionality, user experience and efficiency. Analytical Purposes: We may use non-personal information for analytical and statistical purposes, and more particularly, to: (i) analyze performance data and statistics relating to you; (ii) assess the effectiveness of the Platform; and (iii) perform research and development in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. For security purposes, any personal information will be de-identified or aggregated before being used for analytical purposes.

We strive to maintain transparency in our data practices and provide you with control over your personal information, including options to manage communication preferences and exercise privacy rights as described in subsequent sections.

V.              Sharing of Information

Cottagestead may share your personal information with third parties under the following circumstances:

  • Service Providers: We share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist in operating the Platform, such as payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net) for purchasing transactions, hosting providers (Bluehost), and Software as a Service Providers (Saas) (Brevo), for data storage and technical infrastructure. These providers are authorized to use your information only as necessary to provide their services and are required to maintain appropriate safeguards no less stringent than those set forth in this Privacy Policy.
  • Legal Compliance and Protection: We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Cottagestead, our users, or others. This includes responding to subpoenas, court orders, or law enforcement inquiries.
  • Affiliates and Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the relevant third party, subject to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
  • User Consent: We may share information with third parties when you have provided explicit consent, such as when using external booking links or participating in affiliate programs.
  • Community Features: Information you choose to make public (e.g., comments, reviews, photos) may be visible to other users and visitors of the Platform.

Cottagestead does not sell, trade or lease your personal information to third parties. Any sharing of data is conducted in accordance with applicable privacy laws, the terms of this Privacy Policy and with respect for user preferences and consent.

VI.            Data Security and Retention

We implemented reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

  1. Encryption: Passwords and sensitive data are encrypted and stored securely on Bluehost servers.
    1. Access Controls: Only authorized personnel have access to user data, and administrative access is limited to the specific and cleared resources.
    1. Regular Backups: Data is backed up automatically as part of managed hosting services.

Data Retention: User data is retained for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, or as required by law. Once your information is deleted from the Platform, your personal information will be retained for a limited period for backup and security purposes. Upon request, Cottagestead will delete or anonymize personal information in accordance with applicable privacy regulations. Records related to resolved conflicts are archived after 30 days and retained for up to three years, consistent with internal policies and legal requirements. Once we have de-identified or aggregated the data, such data may be retained indefinitely for analytical and research purposes.

VII.          User Rights and Choices

  1. Depending on your state of residence, you may have specific rights regarding your personal information under applicable privacy laws, including but not limited to the CCPA, CPRA, VCDPA, CPA, CTDPA, UCPA, and others. These rights may include:
    1. Access: You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
    1. Correction: You may request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
    1. Deletion: You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions. We may retain your personal information to comply with legal and financial obligations. In addition, we may also retain your personal information in our servers for payment purposes until all funds owed have been paid or to resolve disputes.
    1. Data Portability: You may request to receive your personal information in a portable format.
    1. Opt-Out of Sale/Sharing: While you have the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information, Cottagestead does not sell personal information.
    1. Marketing Preferences: You may opt out of marketing communications at any time via unsubscribe links in emails, dashboard settings, or by contacting support at [email protected]
  2. How to Exercise Your Rights: To exercise any of these rights, please send us an email at [email protected]. We will respond to requests in accordance with applicable law and may require verification of your identity before fulfilling your request. If you have questions or concerns about your privacy rights, you may also contact us using the information provided in the “Contact Us” section.

VIII.        California Users

If you reside in the State of California, you have rights granted by the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). You have the right to request the deletion of your personal information and the right to receive information regarding the collection and the categories of personal information. You also have the right to opt out of having your personal information sold to third parties for direct marketing or targeted advertising purposes.

In compliance with the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), we restrict our use of personal information to that which is necessary for our business and operational purposes.

It is strictly prohibited for us to discriminate against you (by engaging in retaliatory conduct or otherwise) for exercising privacy rights granted to you by the CCPA.

IX.            Nevada Users

If you reside in the State of Nevada, you have the right to direct us not to sell or license your personal information to third parties (even if your personal information is not currently being sold). To exercise this right, you may submit a verifiable request through the contact information provided in this Privacy Policy.

We are committed to honoring user rights and providing transparency and control over personal information.

X.              Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Cottagestead uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on the Platform. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help manage sessions, remember logins, and track activity across the site. We utilize cookies to analyze usage patterns, improve site performance, and support essential Platform functions.

In addition to cookies, we may use pixels or comparable technologies for analytics and advertising purposes, although no additional third-party analytics integrations are currently implemented beyond those provided by our hosting provider, Bluehost/WordPress.

You may manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings, which allow you to block -or delete cookies. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality and usability of certain features on the Platform.

XI.            Children’s Privacy

The Platform is intended for use by individuals aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 18, in compliance with applicable laws. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided personal information to us, please contact us promptly so that we can take appropriate steps to remove such information from our records.

XII.          International Data Transfers

Cottagestead operates exclusively within the United States; however, user data is stored on servers managed by third-party providers, which may involve cross-border data transfers. We implemented commercially reasonable safeguards to protect your information in accordance with applicable privacy laws. If you reside outside the United States and access the Platform, you acknowledge that your data may be transferred to and processed in the United States.

In compliance with applicable laws, we will not transfer personal information to external recipients located outside our primary jurisdiction or hosting region, except to countries that adhere to strict data protection standards.

XIII.        Third-Party Services

This Privacy Policy applies solely to the Platform and personal information collected from the Platform. This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party services, such as payment processors. Any links or mentions of third-party services on the Platform are for reference and information purposes only, and do not constitute our endorsement or affiliation with such third-party services.

To enhance functionality, we may integrate the following third-party services within the Platform. These third-party services are integrated in accordance with our data protection practices, subject to internal data processing and security policies. Any data shared with such services is minimized and handled securely in compliance with relevant privacy laws.

Any personal information submitted to a third-party service will be governed by the third-party service’s privacy policy, and not by the present Privacy Policy. We are not responsible for the third-party service’s collection and processing of personal information. The submission of personal information to such third-party services is at your own risk.

XIV.        Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or Platform features. Any material changes will be communicated via email to registered users and by notice on the Website. The effective date of the updated policy will be clearly indicated. We encourage you to review this policy periodically  to remain compliant with the latest version.

XV.          Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us at:

Email: [email protected]
Address: Aquamarine Publishing, 150 Highland Sq Dr #1057, Hendersonville, NC 28792