Trend Group Privacy Statement
At Trend Group, we are dedicated to safeguarding your privacy. This Privacy Statement outlines how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you engage with us, whether through our website at
https://trendgroup.co.za/,
www.trendgroupglobal.com,
www.trendgroup-uk.com, our customer service team, at our offices, or when interacting with our representatives.
Our privacy practices align with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ensuring the highest standards of data protection. We prioritize the confidentiality of your personal data, not only to comply with the law but as a demonstration of our respect for you. We are committed to maintaining the privacy of the information you share with us, and we trust you will respect this commitment in return.
Please note that this Privacy Statement does not cover personal data collected by third-party websites linked from Trend Group. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of those websites to understand their data handling practices.
What Personal Information Does Trend Group Collect?
| Information Type |
Description |
| Identity Information |
This includes your full name, job title, company name, and any other personal details you provide during our interactions. |
| Contact Information |
We gather your email address, phone number, and postal address to facilitate communication with you regarding our services, updates, and related matters. |
| Communication Records |
This includes any interactions you have with us, such as emails, phone calls, or other forms of communication, along with the content and context of those exchanges. We retain this information to ensure effective communication and maintain a record of our engagements. |
| Transaction and Service Data |
When you make a purchase or use our services, we collect the necessary billing, delivery, and contract details to process your transactions. |
| Customer Support Interactions |
If you reach out to us for support, provide feedback, or make inquiries, we may document these interactions. Phone calls may also be recorded for quality assurance and training. |
| Website Usage Data |
We may gather information on how you interact with our website, such as referring pages, IP address, device identifier, operating system, search queries, and downloads. Additionally, our marketing emails may track whether emails are opened or links are clicked to help improve our communications. |
| Third-Party Information |
We may obtain information from business directories or external databases to enhance our services. |
Some information is necessary for processing transactions. Required fields will be marked during collection, and if you choose not to provide the mandatory data, we may be unable to process your request or complete your transaction. Providing optional information helps us tailor our services and communications to your needs.
Trend Group is committed to safeguarding your personal data and adhering to all applicable legal and ethical standards. For further details, please consult our full Privacy Policy on our website.
Is the Supply of Personal Information Voluntary or Mandatory?
Certain personal information must be provided by users, as Trend Group is required by law to collect this data in order to meet legal and contractual obligations. Failure to supply this information may hinder Trend Group’s ability to comply with these obligations and affect its business operations. As such, personal information is collected in accordance with applicable laws and international standards in the regions where Trend Group operates.
For information that is not legally required, its provision is voluntary. However, providing this data is important for Trend Group to deliver its full range of products and services. Without this information, certain services may not be available to the user.
How Does Trend Group Use My Personal Information and What is the Legal Basis for This Use?
Trend Group uses your personal information based on how you engage with our services, the permissions you provide, and your interactions with us. Below are the purposes for which we use your data and the legal basis for each:
| Purpose |
Type of Data |
Legal Basis |
| Register you as a customer and create your account |
Contact details, role and company information, delivery and billing information |
Performance of a contract with you or at your request before entering into a contract. |
| Fulfil your order and provide services |
Contact details, role and company information, delivery and billing information |
Performance of a contract with you. |
| Manage and respond to queries or complaints |
Contact details and interaction data |
Legitimate interest (managing our business and customer relations). |
| Personalize your experience on Trend Group Online |
Account information, purchase history, browsing activity |
Legitimate interest (enhancing the user experience and promoting our products/services). |
| Send marketing messages and show targeted advertising |
Account information, purchase history, browsing activity, company details |
Your consent or legitimate interest (marketing and promoting products/services). |
| Improve and maintain Trend Group Online, monitor usage |
Browsing activity, website interactions |
Your consent or legitimate interest (website operation and improvement). |
| Investigate fraud and protect against wrongdoing |
Account information, transaction history, website usage |
Legitimate interest (preventing fraud and protecting business operations). |
| Complete financial reporting and comply with obligations |
Transaction history, delivery and billing information |
Legal obligation. |
When processing personal information based on legitimate interest, we conduct a balancing test to assess the impact on individuals and determine if their rights outweigh our interests in processing the data.
With Whom Does Trend Group Share My Personal Information?
Trend Group shares your personal information with selected third parties to facilitate our business operations:
- Parent Company: Trend Group’s headquarters are located in South Africa, and we may share information with our parent company when necessary to enhance service delivery and customer insights. For more details about Trend Group UK, visit trendgroupglobal.com or www.trendgroup-uk.com.
- Service Providers: We engage third-party service providers who act on our behalf, such as those offering digital marketing services, statistical analysis, business insights, and website optimization. We also share information with those involved in the delivery process, such as couriers and freight companies. Additionally, personal information may be shared with our professional and legal advisors when necessary.
- Government Authorities: If your order is to be delivered outside the UK, we may share information with customs authorities in both the UK and the destination country. We may also disclose personal information to law enforcement or other government agencies in cases such as fraud reporting or legal requests. For purchases of television equipment, your details may be shared with the TV Licensing Authority in accordance with the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967 and applicable international privacy laws.
- Credit and Fraud Prevention: We may share personal information with credit reference agencies or third parties involved in fraud prevention and detection.
Trend Group may also disclose personal information when necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of our business, customers, employees, or the public, or when required by law.
When sharing information with third parties, especially for cross-border transactions, we ensure that only the necessary data is provided to fulfill delivery and contractual obligations. All recipients of your personal information are required to maintain confidentiality, adhere to security standards, and implement data protection measures that meet or exceed Trend Group’s own safeguards.
In cases of cross-border data sharing, we employ stringent safeguards, including standard contractual clauses and other legally recognized measures, to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure during international processing.
Where Does Trend Group Store My Personal Information, and How Long Is It Retained?
Trend Group may transfer personal data outside the European Economic Area, such as to our headquarters in South Africa. When this occurs, we ensure that your privacy rights are adequately protected by implementing appropriate safeguards, offering a dual layer of security.
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined above, and the retention period varies depending on the nature of our interactions. For example, if you make a purchase, we will keep a record of the transaction for invoicing, tax, and warranty purposes. We may also retain correspondence (e.g., regarding product complaints) for as long as necessary to defend against any potential legal claims.
When we no longer need your information, we will delete it. However, if you unsubscribe from our marketing communications, we will retain your email address to ensure you do not receive further marketing emails.
What Does Trend Group Do to Protect My Personal Information?
Trend Group prioritizes the security and protection of your personal data. Our website is designed with robust security measures to safeguard your information. While we employ comprehensive security protocols, it is important to note that no system can guarantee complete security.
To ensure the protection of your personal details when submitting information, we use the following security measures:
- Cutting-edge technology to encrypt and secure your data during transactions.
- Whenever possible, your information will be stored in an encrypted format, providing additional protection for safe submission.
How Does Trend Group Use My Personal Information for Marketing?
Unless you have opted out during your service interactions or purchase, or if we requested your consent for marketing and you did not provide it, Trend Group may contact you via email, phone, or text about our products and services.
How to Unsubscribe from Trend Group Communications
If you no longer wish to receive communications from us, you can:
You have the right to opt-out of direct marketing or profiling for marketing purposes at any time.
Tailored Advertising
You may encounter Trend Group advertisements on third-party websites, including social media platforms. These ads may be personalized using cookies that track your browsing activity, allowing us to display ads to users who have visited Trend Group Online. In some cases, we may share your email address with the social network for targeted advertising. If you no longer wish to see personalized ads, you can adjust your cookie and privacy settings on your browser or on the relevant third-party websites.
Accessing, Updating, Correcting, or Deleting My Personal Information
You have the right, under data protection laws, to access, correct, delete, or request the restriction of processing of your personal data. You can also object to processing, request data portability, and withdraw consent where applicable. We will comply with such requests in accordance with applicable laws, though certain limitations may apply depending on the circumstances.
If we rely on your consent for processing, you may withdraw it at any time without affecting the legality of the processing carried out before the withdrawal. However, we may still process your data for other purposes based on different legal grounds, as outlined above.
Your Rights
You have several important rights regarding your personal data. These rights allow you to have control over how your information is processed and used. They include:
- The right to access your personal data: You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you, along with details of how it is being processed.
- The right to rectification: If the personal data we hold about you is incorrect or incomplete, you have the right to request that it be corrected or updated.
- The right to erasure (‘right to be forgotten’): You can request that we delete your personal data when there is no legitimate reason for us to continue processing it. This right is not absolute and may be subject to certain conditions.
- The right to restrict processing: You can request that we limit the processing of your personal data, which means we can store it but cannot use it for certain purposes while we address your request.
- The right to data portability: You have the right to request a copy of your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format so that you can transfer it to another data controller.
- The right to object to processing: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data, particularly where we rely on legitimate interests or processing for direct marketing purposes.
- The right to withdraw consent at any time: If we are processing your personal data based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This will not affect the lawfulness of processing prior to the withdrawal of consent.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided below. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable data protection laws and within the required timeframes.
Cookies
Trend Group uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on our website. A cookie is a small data file sent from our websites or apps to your device, where it is stored and used to personalize your experience. It can also help us prevent fraud and analyze site usage.
By using our websites or apps, you consent to the use of cookies. These cookies help us recognize when you revisit the site and identify your device, such as a computer or smartphone.
You can configure your browser to refuse all or specific cookies or to notify you when cookies are being set. Please note that disabling or rejecting cookies may affect the functionality of the website or make some parts of it inaccessible.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this privacy notice or how we handle your personal data, please reach out to us at bronwyn@trendgroup-uk.com or contact our Data Protection Officer at:
| Trend Group London |
| Details: |
Bronwyn Pearce |
| Address: |
Waverley House, 9 Noel St, London W1F 8GQ, United Kingdom |
| Areas served: |
United Kingdom |
| Telephone: |
+27 10 596 5956 |
| Email: |
bronwyn@trendgroup-uk.com |
If you have concerns that remain unresolved, you have the right to file a complaint with the data protection authority in your country of residence, the country of your workplace, or the country where the issue occurred. For global business locations, you can contact the following authorities:
| Information Commissioner’s Office |
| Address: |
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF |
| Helpline: |
0303 123 1113 |
