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Privacy Policy

This privacy statement covers the site www.walstongroup.com and www.theloftlady.com. We are committed to respecting and maintaining the privacy of our clients and visitors and wish to demonstrate that commitment by adherence to the following policy. This policy defines the following topics:

  • What personally identifiable information Walston Group collects.
  • What personally identifiable information third parties collect through the web site.
  • What organization collects the information.
  • How Walston Group uses the information.
  • With whom Walston Group may share user information.
  • What choices are available to users regarding collection, use and distribution of the information.
  • What types of security procedures are in place to protect the loss, misuse or alteration of information under Walston Group control.
  • How users can correct any inaccuracies in the information.

If users have questions or concerns regarding this statement, they should email admin@walstongroup.com

Information Collection and Use

Information Collection
Walston Group is the sole owner of the information collected on www.walstongroup.com and www.theloftlady.com. Walston Group collects information from our users at several different points on our Web site.

Subscriptions

For all subscriptions, users are required to provide a name and email address. This allows newsletters, updated, and surveys to be emailed to the user.

Information Use

Profile
We store information that we collect through cookies and log files, and clear gifs to create a composite profile of our users. Profile information stored includes as a minimum the name, e-mail address, and preferences on receiving information by e-mail (newsletter and news releases). Through the contact preferences this information is joined to newsletter content and news releases to record a composite view of the user’s content preferences. Profile information is used to tailor a user's visit to our Web site, and to direct pertinent marketing promotions to them. Your profile is shared in aggregate form only.

Cookies
A cookie is a small text file that is left behind on a visitor’s browser when they visit a website that helps identify the user on future visits.  Cookies enable us to track and log pages that a visitor views on our website to enhance the experience.  

We use cookies to keep track of pages user’s visit on our website to deliver customized content within the Website and subscription service to visitor’s whose behavior indicated that they are interested in a particular subject area or page.  

You have the right to decide to accept or reject cookies, you can exercise our cookie preference by clicking the appropriate opt-out links provided in email communication or subscription links. Cookies can also be removed by following your internet browsers help files directions. 


Log Files
Like most standard website servers we use log files. This includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user's movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses, etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information.

Clear Gifs
We employ a software technology called clear gifs (a.k.a. Web Beacons/ Web Bugs), that help us better manage content on our site by informing us what content is effective. Clear gifs are tiny graphics with a unique identifier, similar in function to cookies, and are used to track the online movements of Web users. The main difference between the two is that clear gifs are invisible on the page and are much smaller, about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Clear gifs in the e-mail synopsis page of the newsletter are tied to users: personally identifiable information, in that they pass a unique user ID back to the server to enable setting (or reading) a cookie.

In addition, we use clear gifs in our HTML-based emails to let us know which emails have been opened by the recipients. This allows us to gauge the effectiveness of certain communications and the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns. If users would like to opt-out of these emails, please see the Opt-out section.

Communications from the Site

Updates
We send all new subscribers a welcome email to verify profile information. Established members who have subscribed to the newsletter or news releases will receive regular mailings. Out of respect for the privacy of our users we present the option to not receive these types of communications. Please see the Choice and Opt-out sections.

Newsletter
If a user wishes to subscribe to our newsletter, we ask for contact information such as name and email address. Out of respect for our user’s privacy we provide a way to opt-out of these communications. Please see the Choice and Opt-out sections.

Service Announcements
On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service-related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance, we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service
We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regards to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone, in accordance with the users wishes.

Sharing

Legal Disclaimer
Though we make every effort to preserve user privacy, we may need to disclose personal information when required by law wherein we have a good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a current judicial proceeding, a court order or legal process served on our website.

Aggregate Information (non-personally identifiable)
We share aggregated demographic information with our partners and clients. This information consists of correlating survey results or article reading preferences with business types. This is not linked to any personally identifiable information.

We DO NOT Share or Sell Personal Information with Third Parties.

Business Transitions
In the event Walston Group goes through a business transition, such as a merger, being acquired by another company, or selling a portion of its assets, users' personal information will, in most instances, be part of the assets transferred. Users will be notified via email and a prominent notice on our website for 30 days prior to a change of ownership or control of their personal information. If as a result of the business transition, the users: personally identifiable information will be used in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection they will be given choice consistent with our notification of changes section.

Choice: Opt-out
Our users are given the opportunity to "opt-out" of having their information used for purposes not directly related to our site at the point where we ask for information.
Users who no longer wish to receive our newsletter or promotional communications may opt-out of receiving these communications clicking on the link at the bottom of the message, or by emailing us at admin@walstongroup.com with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject line, or the user may contact us by phone at (719) 477-1410.

Users of our site are always notified when their information is being collected by any outside parties. We do this so our users can make an informed choice as to whether or not they should proceed with services that require an outside party.

Links
This Web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we, Walston Group, are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every website that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by www.walstongroup.com and www.theloftlady.com.

Surveys and Forms
From time-to-time our site requests information from users via surveys or forms. Participation in these surveys or forms is completely voluntary, and the user therefore has a choice whether or not to disclose this information. The requested information typically includes contact information (such as name and email address)and users preferences.. Anonymous survey information will be used for purposes of monitoring or improving the use and satisfaction of this site. Users' personally identifiable information is not shared with third parties unless we give prior notice and choice.
Security
This website takes every precaution to protect our users' information. When users submit sensitive information via the website, their information is protected both online and off-line.

If users have any questions about the security of our website, users can send an email to admin@walstongroup.com.

Correcting: Updating, Deleting, and Deactivating Personal Information
If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as zip code, phone, email or postal address), or if a user no longer desires our service, we provide a way to correct, update or delete/deactivate users' personally identifiable information. This can usually be done by emailing our Customer Support at admin@walstongroup.com. Or, contact us by telephone or postal mail at the contact information listed below.

Notification of Changes
If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes to this privacy statement, the homepage, and other places we deem appropriate so our users are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it. We will use information in accordance with the privacy policy under which the information was collected.

If, however, we are going to use users' personally identifiable information in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection we will notify users via email. Users will have a choice as to whether or not we use their information in this different manner. However, if users have opted out of all communication with the site, or deleted/deactivated their account, they will not be contacted, nor will their personal information be used in this new manner. In addition, if we make any material changes in our privacy practices that do not affect user information already stored in our database, we will post a prominent notice on our Web site notifying users of the change. In some cases where we post a notice we will also email users, who have opted to receive communications from us, notifying them of the changes in our privacy practices.

Contact Information

If users have any questions or suggestions regarding our privacy policy, please contact us at:

Phone: (719) 477-1410
Email: admin@walstongroup.com
118 N. Tejon, Suite 400
Colorado Springs CO 80903
www.walstongroup.com