Last updated: 5 October 2026
This policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, and how we look after it.
Who we are
Ben Sturgeon Design is a trading name for Apple Tree Group Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales (company number 13814639). Registered office: Donington, Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE11 4.
Ben Sturgeon is the data controller for the personal information described in this policy. If you have any questions, email ben.sturgeon.design@gmail.com.
What we collect
- When you place an order: your name, billing and delivery address, email address, phone number and the details of your order.
- When you pay: payments are handled by our payment provider, Tapp. We do not see or store your full card details.
- When you contact us or ask about design work: your name, email address, your message and any drawings, sketches or files you send us.
- If you create an account: your login details and order history.
- When you use our website: with your consent, cookies and similar technologies collect information such as the pages you visit, the device and browser you use, and how you found us. Our Cookie Policy gives full details.
How and why we use it
- To process, deliver and support your order. This is necessary to carry out our contract with you.
- To reply to enquiries and prepare quotes for design work. This is in our legitimate interests, or is a step you have asked us to take before entering a contract.
- To keep accounting and tax records. This is a legal obligation.
- To understand how our website is used and to measure our advertising. We only do this with your consent, which you can withdraw at any time through the cookie settings on our website.
- To send marketing emails. We only do this if you have opted in, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Design project files
Drawings, models and other files you share with us for design work are kept confidential. We only use them for your project and do not share them without your permission.
Who we share it with
We never sell your personal information. We share it only where needed with:
- Tapp, to take payments
- Royal Mail and other delivery services, to deliver your order
- Hostinger, which hosts our website
- Google, for website analytics and advertising (with your consent)
- Pinterest, Reddit and Snapchat, for advertising measurement (with your consent)
- our accountant, for keeping our business records
- Etsy, eBay or TikTok Shop, if you bought from us through one of those marketplaces
Some of these providers may process information outside the UK, for example in the United States. Where this happens, we rely on the safeguards required by UK data protection law.
How long we keep it
- Order and accounting records: 6 years after the end of the financial year they relate to, as required by HMRC.
- Enquiries that do not lead to an order or project: up to 2 years.
- Design project files: for the length of the project and as long as you may need support afterwards, unless you ask us to delete them sooner.
- Account details: until you ask us to close your account.
- Website analytics: for the period set in our Google Analytics account, and no longer than 14 months.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law you have the right to:
- ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you
- ask us to correct information that is wrong
- ask us to delete your information
- ask us to limit how we use your information, or object to us using it
- ask us to move your information to another organisation
- withdraw your consent at any time, where we rely on consent
To use any of these rights, email ben.sturgeon.design@gmail.com. We will reply within one month.
Complaints
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your information, please contact us first so we can try to put it right. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk or by calling 0303 123 1113.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will always be on this page.