Legal
Cookie Policy
Effective
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how Build The Shelf uses them on our website, and how you can control them. It complements our Privacy Policy, which describes how we handle personal data more broadly.
1. What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They allow the site to recognise your browser on subsequent visits, remember preferences, and measure how the site is used. Similar technologies — such as local storage, pixels, and tracking snippets — work in roughly the same way and are covered by this policy.
2. The categories of cookies we use
We group cookies into the categories below. Strictly necessary cookies are always set; the other categories are only set with your consent (where applicable under UK GDPR / EU ePrivacy rules).
2.1 Strictly necessary
Required for the site to function. They handle things like maintaining your logged-in state, remembering items in your cart at checkout, and basic security. Disabling them would break parts of the Service.
2.2 Functional
Remember your preferences (e.g. saved newsletter signup state) so you don't have to re-enter them on every visit. Set with your consent or implied through use of the relevant feature.
2.3 Analytics
Help us understand how the site is used in aggregate — which pages get visited, how long people stay, where they drop off — so we can improve content and layout. Set with your consent. Analytics data is aggregated and not used to identify individual visitors.
2.4 Marketing
Used to measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns and, where you have consented, to deliver personalised advertising on third-party sites. Set with your consent.
3. Specific cookies we set
The list below reflects our current configuration. We update it whenever we change tooling.
| Cookie / storage key | Set by | Category | Purpose | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| __stripe_mid, __stripe_sid | Stripe | Strictly necessary | Fraud prevention during checkout | 1 year / 30 minutes |
| cookie_consent | Build The Shelf | Strictly necessary | Stores your cookie preferences | 12 months |
| _ga, _ga_* | Google Analytics (optional) | Analytics | Aggregated usage measurement — only set with consent | 2 years |
Third-party services we embed (currently: Stripe Checkout, our newsletter provider, and any YouTube videos) may set additional cookies governed by their own policies.
4. Managing cookies
You can control cookies in three places:
- Our consent banner — when one is shown, it lets you accept, reject, or customise non-essential categories.
- Your browser settings — most browsers allow you to view, delete, and block cookies. See aboutcookies.org for general instructions.
- Your devices's privacy settings — mobile and desktop platforms expose cookie and tracking controls at the OS level.
Blocking strictly necessary cookies will break parts of the Service (for example, you won't be able to complete a checkout). Blocking the other categories has no effect on functionality.
5. Do Not Track
We honour browser-level "Do Not Track" and Global Privacy Control signals where they are sent. When detected we treat the visit as if you had declined optional cookies.
6. Changes to this policy
We update this policy when our cookie usage changes. The effective date at the top of the page reflects the most recent revision.
7. Contact
Questions about cookies or this policy can be sent to hello@buildtheshelf.com.