The Simple Version
We respect your privacy. We collect minimal data, we don’t sell your information, and we’re transparent about what we do collect and why. This page explains everything in detail, but here’s the essence: we only gather what we need to run the site, send you beautiful picnic inspiration (if you ask for it), and improve your experience.
If you have questions, email us at picknickity@mail.com. We’re real people who actually read our emails.
Who We Are
Picknickity is a picnic inspiration and lifestyle blog celebrating the art of outdoor dining, golden hour gatherings, and making ordinary moments extraordinary. Our website is located at https://picnickity.com.
We’re a small team spread across three continents (US, South Africa, and Australia) who genuinely care about both your picnic experiences and your privacy.
Information We Collect
What We Collect and Why
When you visit our site:
- Basic browsing data (pages visited, time spent, device type) through analytics tools
- Why: To understand what content you love and improve our site
When you leave a comment:
- Your name, email address, website URL (if provided), and comment content
- Your IP address and browser user agent string
- Why: To display your comment and prevent spam
When you subscribe to our email list:
- Your email address and name (if provided)
- Why: To send you picnic inspiration, new blog posts, and occasional updates
When you contact us:
- Whatever information you choose to share in your message
- Why: To respond to your questions or feedback
When you interact with our affiliate links:
- Cookie data from affiliate networks (managed by them, not us)
- Why: To track referrals and earn commission on purchases
What We Don’t Collect
We don’t ask for sensitive information like:
- Social security numbers or government IDs
- Financial information (credit cards, bank accounts)
- Precise geolocation data
- Health information
- Anything we don’t actually need
How We Use Your Information
We use your data to:
- Provide and improve our content
- Respond to your comments and messages
- Send you email updates (only if you’ve subscribed)
- Analyze site traffic and understand what content resonates
- Prevent spam and protect site security
- Comply with legal requirements
We do NOT:
- Sell your personal information to anyone
- Share your email address with third parties for their marketing
- Use your data for purposes beyond what’s described here
- Send you spam (we hate it as much as you do)
Comments & Discussion
When you leave a comment on Picknickity:
What happens:
- Your comment appears publicly with the name you provided
- We collect your email address (not shown publicly) for communication and spam prevention
- Your IP address and browser information are logged to help detect spam
- An anonymized hash of your email may be sent to Gravatar to display your profile picture (if you use that service)
Your Gravatar: If you use Gravatar, your profile picture will appear next to your comments. Learn about Gravatar’s privacy practices at https://automattic.com/privacy/
Comment moderation: We review comments to prevent spam and maintain a kind, constructive community. Comments and their data are retained indefinitely so we can approve follow-up comments automatically.
Control your comments: You can request deletion of your comments at any time by contacting us at picknickity@mail.com
Cookies & Tracking
Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help websites remember your preferences and analyze traffic.
Cookies We Use
Essential cookies:
- Remember your comment details so you don’t have to re-enter them
- Keep you logged in if you have an account
- Remember your preferences
Analytics cookies:
- Track which pages you visit and how you use the site
- Help us understand what content you find valuable
- Allow us to improve user experience
Affiliate cookies:
- Track purchases made through our affiliate links
- Managed by affiliate networks (Amazon, ShareASale, etc.), not by us
- Help us earn commissions on products you purchase
Cookie Duration
- Comment cookies: Last for one year
- Login cookies: Last for two days (or two weeks if you select “Remember Me”)
- Screen preference cookies: Last for one year
- Temporary session cookies: Deleted when you close your browser
Managing Cookies
You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect site functionality (like staying logged in or saving comment details).
Media & Images
If you upload images to our site: Please avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS). Any images you upload can be downloaded by visitors, who could extract embedded location data.
Images we use: We create, license, or use royalty-free images for our content. These images don’t contain personal data about our visitors.
Email Communications
If you subscribe to our email list:
- We store your email address and name (if provided)
- You’ll receive blog updates, picnic inspiration, and occasional special content
- Every email includes an unsubscribe link
- We use an email service provider (such as Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or similar) who has their own privacy policy
- We will never sell or share your email with third parties for their marketing purposes
Unsubscribing: Click the “unsubscribe” link in any email, or contact us at picknickity@mail.com
Analytics & Third-Party Services
We use third-party services to understand how visitors use our site and to improve your experience:
Google Analytics (or similar analytics platforms)
- Tracks aggregate visitor behavior
- Uses cookies to collect anonymized usage data
- Helps us understand which content resonates with you
- You can opt out using browser extensions or privacy settings
Social Media Plugins
- Pinterest, Instagram, and other social sharing buttons
- These platforms may collect data about your visit
- Governed by their respective privacy policies
Embedded Content When we embed content from other sites (YouTube videos, Pinterest boards, etc.), those sites may:
- Collect data about you
- Use cookies
- Track your interaction with embedded content
- Monitor your activity if you’re logged into their service
This content behaves the same way as if you visited those websites directly.
Affiliate Partnerships
We participate in affiliate programs. When you click affiliate links and make purchases:
What happens:
- The affiliate network places a cookie on your device
- If you make a purchase, we may earn a small commission
- Your purchase price is the same whether you use our link or not
Privacy implications:
- Affiliate cookies are managed by the affiliate networks, not by us
- We don’t see your personal purchase information
- We only know that a purchase was made through our link
For more details, see our Affiliate Disclosure.
Data Sharing & Third Parties
Who We Share Data With
We may share your information with:
Service Providers:
- Email platform providers (to send newsletters)
- Analytics services (to understand site usage)
- Hosting providers (to keep the website running)
- Comment spam prevention services (like Akismet)
Legal Requirements:
- When required by law or legal process
- To protect our rights or the safety of others
- In connection with a business transaction (merger, sale, etc.)
We do NOT:
- Sell your personal data to anyone
- Share your data for others’ marketing purposes
- Provide your information to data brokers
Password Reset Requests
If you request a password reset, your IP address will be included in the reset email for security purposes.
Data Retention
How long we keep your data:
Comments: Retained indefinitely to maintain conversation continuity and automatically approve follow-up comments
User accounts: Personal information in user profiles is stored as long as the account exists. Users can delete their information at any time.
Analytics data: Aggregate and anonymized data retained for analysis and site improvement
Email subscribers: Until you unsubscribe or request deletion
Contact form submissions: Retained for as long as necessary to respond to your inquiry
You can request deletion of your data at any time (see “Your Rights” below).
Your Rights & Control
You have the following rights regarding your personal data:
Access & Portability
Request a copy of all personal data we hold about you in a downloadable format
Correction
Update or correct any inaccurate information in your user profile or comments
Deletion
Request deletion of your personal data (with some exceptions for legal or administrative requirements)
Objection
Object to our processing of your data for specific purposes
Restriction
Request that we limit how we use your data
Data Portability
Receive your data in a structured, commonly-used format
To exercise these rights: Email us at picknickity@mail.com with your request. We’ll respond within 30 days.
Account holders: If you have a Picknickity account, you can view, edit, or delete your personal information anytime in your profile (except username). Website administrators can also access this information.
Security
We take reasonable measures to protect your personal information:
- Secure hosting infrastructure
- Regular security updates
- Encrypted connections (HTTPS)
- Limited access to personal data
- Spam and abuse prevention measures
However, no internet transmission is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Children’s Privacy
Picknickity is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you’re a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at picknickity@mail.com so we can delete it.
International Visitors
Picknickity is operated from the United States, but we have team members in South Africa and Australia. Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. By using our site, you consent to this transfer.
If you’re in the EU/EEA, we comply with GDPR requirements for data protection.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this privacy policy occasionally to reflect:
- Changes in our practices
- New legal requirements
- Improvements to our site or services
When we make significant changes, we’ll update the “Last Updated” date at the top and may notify email subscribers.
Your continued use of the site after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Us
Questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your data?
Email: picknickity@mail.com
We’re real humans who read every message. If something in this policy is unclear or if you have concerns about your privacy, please reach out. We’re here to help.
Legal Compliance
This privacy policy is designed to comply with:
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – for EU visitors
- California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) – for California residents
- Other applicable privacy laws and regulations
California Residents: You have specific rights under CCPA, including the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to delete your information, and the right to opt-out of data sales (note: we don’t sell personal information).
The Bottom Line
We built Picknickity to inspire beautiful outdoor moments, not to harvest data. We collect what we need to run the site and serve you better, we’re transparent about what we do, and we’ll never sell your information.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out. We promise to respond like the real people we are, not like a faceless corporation.
Now let’s get back to the important stuff—like whether sunset or sunrise picnics are better. (Spoiler: they’re both magical.)
This privacy policy applies to all content and services provided through picnickity.com, including our blog, email communications, and social media interactions.