Privacy Policy

A. Purpose & Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to Retail Assembly Inc. and its related companies and affiliates (collectively referred to in this Privacy Policy as “Retail Assembly” “we” “us” or “our”).  

Retail Assembly is committed to protecting your privacy and maintaining the integrity of any identifiable information we collect about you (“Personal Information”). Keeping our customers’ Personal Information and affairs in strict confidence is a cornerstone of Retail Assembly's business practices. The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to describe our policies and procedures and how we put them into practice so that you understand what Personal Information we collect, and how we use, manage and share your Personal Information.

Our policies and procedures, which we practice in order to protect your privacy, are in place across the organization. 

Please also note that when you sign up for, participate in or purchase a specific product, service, program, contest, promotion or event available through Retail Assembly, additional terms and conditions may be provided regarding the collection, use or sharing of Personal Information in connection with that product, service, program, contest, promotion or event. Those terms and conditions will apply together with this Privacy Policy.

 

What is Personal Information?

“Personal Information” means any information about an identifiable individual, such as your name, address, telephone number, email address, birth date, and includes non-personal information that we link to Personal Information.

 

Protecting your Privacy Means:

  • We keep your Personal Information and the business you do with us in strict confidence;
  • Your Personal Information is not sold;
  • You have control over how we collect, use, and share your Personal Information;
  • You have access to the Personal Information we have about you; and
  • We respect your privacy when we market our products and services. 

 

B. The Collection Of Personal Information

Why Does Retail Assembly Collect your Personal Information?

Retail Assembly collects Personal Information and uses it in order to:

  • Understand your needs and eligibility for products and services;
  • Inform you about products, services, special offers, programs, contests, promotions or events that Retail Assembly reasonably believes may be of interest to you. We may also automatically enter you in some of our contests and programs. If you are automatically entered in a contest or program, we will let you know.
  • Create, administer, and maintain customer accounts, process your transactions and returns;
  • Establish a record of the Personal Information you provide or that we receive about you;
  • Recommend particular products and services to meet your needs;
  • Provide ongoing service;
  • Improve service delivery;
  • Respond to your questions, enquiries or complaints or verify instructions from you;
  • Review and evaluate job applications filed online through hr@retailassembly.org
  • Provide you with information (e.g. through direct mail and/ or e-newsletters);
  • Verify some of the information you give us;
  • Avoid spam on our Blog;
  • Establish your identification;
  • Protect you and us from error and fraud; and
  • Where required, co-operate with law enforcement authorities, to comply with a court order or to prevent a breach of any applicable law. 

We collect, use and disclose Personal Information only for purposes that a reasonable person would consider appropriate in the circumstances. 

We may review and analyze your use of products and services, to help us serve you better, and to bring other products and services to your attention, which we feel, will be of benefit to you. We also collect and analyze information from other sources for the same purposes.

Please note that aggregated information, where the identity of a specific individual cannot be determined, is not Personal Information. Retail Assembly reserves the right to prepare and use aggregated information in any manner it thinks appropriate. For example, Retail Assembly may also prepare aggregated user statistics or information summaries to describe our services and their popularity to our suppliers and prospective advertisers and for other lawful purposes. Any aggregated user statistics and information will not contain any Personal Information.

 

What Type of Personal Information Does Retail Assembly Collect?

Retail Assembly collects various types of Personal Information. For example, during the registration process with us, you will be asked to provide certain contact information (such as your name and e-mail address) and may be asked, depending upon which services you subscribe for or features you make use of, to provide additional contact information and general information about yourself (such as address, postal code, telephone numbers, age group, birth date, personal interests, personal preferences, product preferences and, with respect to the online job application feature specifically, work experience, formal education, training, certifications, skill set, abilities and other work related information).

 

How Does Retail Assembly Collect Personal Information?

Retail Assembly collects Personal Information in a variety of ways such as during the course of your purchase of products and services or your participation in one or more of our programs, contests, promotions or events. Retail Assembly will only collect Personal Information that you have voluntarily provided to us. Retail Assembly will not collect any Personal Information about you without telling you ahead of time (either through this Privacy Policy or at the time we are requesting Personal Information from you) why and how Personal Information is being collected and how such Personal Information will be used or disclosed (if applicable).

Retail Assembly may collect your Personal Information through a variety of means (e.g. you provide it verbally or in writing, including via electronic media). The following are examples of how we may do so:

  • The completion of manual or electronic forms;
  • In person, by mail, over the telephone, through our websites or in any other direct manner; 

Contests and Promotional Events: From time-to-time Retail Assembly offers various promotions and contests. When participating in these promotions and contests, you may be asked to provide us with certain Personal Information. You are free at any time to have your Personal Information removed from our database or to have your name removed from our marketing distribution list on a go-forward basis;

 Clickstreaming: Clickstreaming is a technology that allows a website operator to track the paths that surfers take as they access a website and look at the site’s pages, and as they use links to other sites. Retail Assembly collects such information from visitors to www.retail-assembly.org, www.retailassembly.org;

Web Beacons: Web beacons are small, graphic images that allow a website operator to collect certain information and monitor user activity on its website. A web beacon is a very small pixel that is invisible to the user. Retail Assembly uses web beacons in our e-newsletters and blogs to collect non-personal information;

Web site traffic information, which is monitored and analyzed in order to determine which features and services are popular and useful to visitors, so that we can improve our services;

Through Third Parties: We may receive Personal Information from other sources. For instance, with respect to our Leased Partners’ products, services or programs who also may collect and share with us, your Personal Information;

Websites, Social Media, Applications and other Electronic Means: We may collect Personal Information electronically, directly from you or through third parties. For example, we may access Personal Information about you when you share information about yourself on our social media platforms and also when you interact with us electronically such as through our websites, blogs and over email; and

 Online Job Applications: Users of our website may search online for available positions at Retail Assembly and submit job applications online with respect to such openings. Users who use such service will be asked to provide a cover letter, a resume and provide particulars as to their work experience, proficiencies and work preferences.

Retail Assembly may also prepare aggregated user statistics or information summaries to describe our services and their popularity to our suppliers and prospective advertisers and for other lawful purposes. Any aggregated user statistics and information will not contain any Personal Information.

 

How Retail Assembly May Share Personal Information:

Retail Assembly does not sell to third parties any Personal Information we collect.

Retail Assembly may share some Personal Information we collect to selected service providers, vendors, Leased Partners and other organizations outside of Retail Assembly that help Retail Assembly provide personalized products, services, programs, promotions, contests or events and advertising to you or help us with our business operations. When Retail Assembly shares Personal Information with any such party, we limit the use of such Personal Information to those purposes requested by us and we require that the party has adequate safeguards for the protection of that Personal Information.

We may share your Personal Information where necessary to protect our interests or in the event of a sale or transfer of all or part of Retail Assembly. For example, disclosure may be necessary:

  • In order to detect or prevent fraud;
  • In connection with a merger with another entity;
  • To insure or securitize our assets; or
  • To engage in another form of corporate or financing transaction. 

In such an event, we will ensure that the parties have entered into an agreement under which the disclosure of the information (including any Personal Information) is restricted to those purposes that relate to the investigation or transaction.

 

C. Your Consent

We identify the purpose for which Personal Information will be used typically at or before the time the Personal Information is collected. Unless permitted or required by law, we will not collect, use or share Personal Information without first obtaining your consent.

As new purposes may develop over time, we may update this Privacy Policy so we encourage you to review our Privacy Policy periodically. 

Your Consent Can Be Express Or Implied.

Express consent can be verbal or written. 

Your consent is implied when we can reasonably conclude that you've given consent by some action you have taken, or when you decide not to take action.  By choosing to provide us with your Personal Information you are consenting to its use in accordance with the principles outlined in this Privacy Policy and as may be further outlined at the time of collection. For example, if we give you an opportunity to tell us you don't want direct marketing material and you don't tell us that you don't want us to send it, we can conclude that you have no objection. We will rely on your implied consent to use and disclose identifying information about you, such as your name and address. 

You May Withdraw your Consent at Any Time.

The protection of your Personal Information is of the utmost importance to us. If you don't want Retail Assembly to use Personal Information collected about you for marketing or publicity purposes, please tell us at the time the information is collected. 

You can withdraw your consent any time after you have given it to us, provided there are no legal or regulatory requirements to prevent this. For information on how to proceed, you can call or email at 514-882-6114 or accounts@retailassembly.org.

Please note if you don't consent to certain uses of information, or if you withdraw your consent, we may not be able to provide you with a particular product or service. If so, we will explain the situation to you to help you with your decision. It is also important to note that it may take some time for all of our records to reflect changes in your contact and consent preferences. For example, if you request that you do not want to receive personalized marketing communications from Retail Assembly your preference may not be captured for a promotion that is already in progress.

 

D. Accessing, Verifying & Amending Your Personal Information

You Can Access and Verify the Accuracy of your Personal Information.

Retail Assembly provides a right of access and review of Personal Information in accordance with applicable laws, and will endeavour to provide you with the Personal Information requested within a reasonable time.

You can request to verify, update and correct Personal Information, and have any obsolete information removed. We will ask you to put your request in writing by emailing accounts@retailassembly.org.

There is no charge for verifying or correcting your information. Depending on the circumstances, there may be a charge if you want a copy of records, which we have already given you. We will let you know in advance if there is a charge.

If you have a sensory disability, we will work with you to provide you access to your Personal Information in an alternative format.

We will respond to access requests as required by applicable laws. We may be unable to provide you with access to certain Personal Information, including for example where the Personal Information requested would reveal confidential information or Personal Information about another customer, or if legal or regulatory requirements prohibit providing access to such information. Where information will not or cannot be disclosed, we will provide you with the reasons for non-disclosure.

 

E. Security

Retail Assembly endeavors to maintain appropriate physical, procedural and technical security with respect to its offices and information storage facilities so as to prevent any loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, or modification of Personal Information. This also applies to our disposal or destruction of Personal Information. Retail Assembly keeps the Personal Information we collect about you strictly confidential. Only authorized personnel have access to this Personal Information.

If any employee of Retail Assembly or personnel of our Leased Partners misuses Personal Information, this will be considered a serious offence for which disciplinary action may be taken, up to and including termination of employment.

If any individual or organization misuses Personal Information - provided for the purpose of providing services to or for Retail Assembly - this will be considered a serious issue for which action may be taken, up to and including termination of any agreement between Retail Assembly and that individual or organization. 

Our computer security specialists build security into all our computer systems. This protects your information at all times, when it is stored in data files or handled by our employees. Our systems also protect your information when it is transmitted, for example, between our data processing centers, our stores and corporate offices.

Retail Assembly has taken steps to protect the confidentiality of your on-line viewing. When you visit retail-assembly.org, retailassembly.org, our websites are able to recognize your Internet service provider, but does not identify you as an individual. 

Retail Assembly has also taken steps to ensure that any service providers and suppliers with whom we share any information are committed to maintaining the privacy of your Personal Information, as outlined in this Privacy Policy, and refraining from making any independent or unauthorized use of such Personal Information.

We cannot guarantee that any information that you may choose to disclose via the Internet will not be intercepted by third parties. We assume no responsibility for Personal Information disclosed through the Internet, which is intercepted, diverted or otherwise accessed.

 

F. Retention & Disposal

We store, access and use Personal Information in Canada. Unless there is a legal or regulatory requirement to keep such information in Canada, Personal Information may also be stored, accessed, or used outside of Canada. For example, when we engage an outside company or service provider, Personal Information may be stored, accessed or used in any country where that company or service provider is located, or from which it provides services, including for example the United States and the United Kingdom. Where Personal Information is located outside of Canada, it is subject to the laws of that jurisdiction.

We keep your Personal Information only so long as we need it for the products and services you're using, to offer you products and services when you are a customer and for a reasonable time thereafter, or to meet any legal requirements. We have retention standards, which meet these requirements. We destroy your Personal Information when it is no longer needed, or we remove your name from the information.

 

G. How We Ensure Compliance With Our Privacy Policy

We are Committed to Upholding the Retail Assembly Privacy Policies.

Our Privacy Policy can be found on the Retail Assembly websites at retail-assembly.org, retailassembly.org. If you have any questions or complaints about this Privacy Policy or how we treat your Personal Information, please let us know right away by contacting the Chief Privacy Officer using the contact information set out below under “Resolving Your Concerns”.

 

We Monitor our Compliance with the Retail Assembly Privacy Policies.

We have procedures in place to assist our employees and Leased Partners personnel in the practice of the Retail Assembly privacy policies and procedures. Our practices will be reviewed on a regular basis and their findings will be reported to the Chief Privacy Officer.

 

H. Resolving Your Concerns

Resolving your Concerns is Important to us.

Retail Assembly is committed to treating you with the greatest respect and consideration, and providing the highest level of service. Please let us know about your questions or concerns and we will do our best to help you. Whatever the circumstances, resolving the problem for you is our primary concern.

 

How to Resolve Concerns and Complaints at Retail Assembly:

Talk to Us. In most cases emailing us will lead to the resolution of your concern.

The Retail Assembly Chief Privacy Officer Acts on your Behalf. If your concerns have not been resolved to your satisfaction, feel free to contact the Chief Privacy Officer for Retail Assembly as follows:

 

Retail Assembly Chief Privacy Officer

304-3 McAlpine Street, Toronto ON M5R 3T5

Email: accounts@retailassembly.org

 

If you are Not Satisfied with the Decision of Retail Assembly’s Chief Privacy Officer regarding your Complaint. Should you not be able to accept the conclusion of Retail Assembly's Chief Privacy Officer, you can ask how your complaint can be further escalated.

 

I. Anti-Spam Policy

Retail Assembly maintains a strict no-spam policy. If you receive unsolicited email from Retail Assembly, our vendors, Leased Partners or agents, please notify us at accounts@retailassembly.org. Include the offending email with all the headers intact. Please be aware that it is not uncommon for spammers to hide behind someone else's email account, as well as use mail servers that they do not own.

 

J. Changes To This Privacy Policy

As Retail Assembly regularly reviews all policies and procedures, we may change our Privacy Policy from time to time. These changes will be posted on our websites as soon as is practical. This Privacy Policy was last updated on January 8, 2015.

Jennifer Pilkington - RA