1. INTRODUCTION
This Cookie Policy explains how SMC Smart Shop, operated by [INSERT REGISTERED LEGAL BUSINESS NAME] (“SMC Smart Shop”, “SMC”, “we”, “us” or “our”), uses cookies and similar technologies when you visit or interact with smcsmart.shop.
This Policy explains:
- what cookies are;
- why we use them;
- the types of cookies that may be used;
- how third parties may use cookies through our Website;
- how long cookies may remain on your device;
- how you can accept, reject or manage cookies; and
- how cookie-related information may be processed.
This Cookie Policy should be read together with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
2. WHAT ARE COOKIES?
Cookies are small text files or pieces of information placed on or accessed from your computer, smartphone, tablet or other device when you visit a website.
Cookies allow websites to recognise a browser or device and may be used to:
- operate essential Website functions;
- remember user preferences;
- keep shopping-cart information;
- maintain secure sessions;
- analyse Website performance;
- understand how visitors use a Website;
- provide enhanced functionality; and
- measure or personalise advertising where permitted.
Some cookies may contain or generate identifiers that may constitute personal data when they can be associated with an identifiable individual or device.
3. SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES
In addition to traditional cookies, our Website or service providers may use similar technologies such as:
- local storage;
- browser storage;
- pixels;
- tags;
- scripts;
- software development kits;
- tracking technologies;
- session identifiers; and
- server-side technologies.
For simplicity, this Policy generally refers to these technologies collectively as “cookies”.
4. WHY SMC SMART SHOP USES COOKIES
We may use cookies for purposes including:
- keeping the Website operational;
- maintaining your shopping cart;
- protecting checkout and account functions;
- preventing fraud;
- remembering cookie preferences;
- remembering Website settings;
- improving Website performance;
- understanding how visitors navigate the Website;
- identifying technical problems;
- measuring marketing effectiveness;
- providing relevant advertising where permitted; and
- integrating third-party functionality.
We will seek to use cookies only for legitimate and disclosed purposes.
5. COOKIE CATEGORIES USED ON OUR WEBSITE
SMC Smart Shop’s cookie-management system currently provides the following categories:
- Necessary Cookies
- Functional Cookies
- Analytical Cookies
- Advertisement Cookies
- Unclassified Cookies
The availability of individual cookies within these categories may change as our Website, plugins, services and third-party integrations change.
6. NECESSARY COOKIES
Necessary Cookies are always active where required for essential Website functionality.
These cookies may be necessary for functions such as:
- maintaining secure Website sessions;
- operating the shopping cart;
- processing checkout steps;
- remembering cookie-consent choices;
- preventing fraudulent activity;
- protecting Website security;
- maintaining login sessions where accounts are available; and
- enabling essential Website navigation.
Without these cookies, parts of the Website may not function correctly.
Because these cookies are required to provide essential Website services, they may not require consent where applicable law permits their use without consent.
Users may still be able to block these cookies through their browser settings, but doing so may prevent parts of the Website from functioning correctly.
7. FUNCTIONAL COOKIES
Functional Cookies help provide additional Website features and personalised functionality.
They may be used to:
- remember preferences;
- remember language or display choices;
- enable customer-support tools;
- provide embedded content;
- enable communication tools;
- integrate social-media functions;
- collect customer feedback; and
- provide other enhanced Website features.
Some of these cookies may be set by third-party services integrated into the Website.
If you reject Functional Cookies, certain optional features may not operate as intended.
Where required by law, Functional Cookies will only be activated after you provide consent.
8. ANALYTICAL COOKIES
Analytical Cookies help us understand how visitors interact with SMC Smart Shop.
These cookies may collect information such as:
- number of Website visitors;
- pages viewed;
- approximate session duration;
- referring pages;
- traffic sources;
- navigation paths;
- device categories;
- browser information;
- page-loading performance;
- error information;
- bounce rates; and
- general interaction patterns.
We may use this information to:
- measure Website performance;
- identify popular content;
- understand customer journeys;
- diagnose technical issues;
- improve navigation;
- optimise Website design; and
- improve the shopping experience.
Where required, Analytical Cookies will only operate after you consent to them.
9. ADVERTISEMENT COOKIES
Advertisement Cookies may be used to support, personalise or measure online advertising.
They may be used to:
- measure whether advertisements result in Website visits;
- measure advertising campaign effectiveness;
- understand interactions with advertisements;
- limit how frequently advertisements are shown;
- create audiences for advertising campaigns;
- display advertising based on previous Website interactions where permitted; and
- support remarketing or retargeting campaigns.
Advertising cookies may be placed by SMC Smart Shop or by third-party advertising providers.
Where required by applicable law, Advertisement Cookies will not be activated unless you have provided consent.
You may reject Advertisement Cookies without preventing you from purchasing Products from SMC Smart Shop.
10. UNCLASSIFIED COOKIES
Unclassified Cookies are cookies whose purpose or category is still being reviewed.
Where an unidentified cookie is detected, we will seek to determine:
- who provides it;
- why it is used;
- what information it processes;
- how long it remains active; and
- the appropriate cookie category.
We aim to classify identified cookies appropriately as our cookie records are updated.
11. FIRST-PARTY COOKIES
First-party cookies are cookies placed directly by SMC Smart Shop or the technology operating smcsmart.shop.
They may be used for purposes such as:
- shopping-cart functionality;
- account sessions;
- Website security;
- preference storage;
- cookie-consent records; and
- Website performance.
12. THIRD-PARTY COOKIES
Some cookies may be placed by third-party service providers whose technologies are integrated into our Website.
These providers may include, depending on the services enabled:
- payment providers;
- Website analytics providers;
- advertising platforms;
- social-media platforms;
- embedded-content providers;
- customer-support services;
- security providers;
- ecommerce technology providers; and
- cookie-consent management services.
Third-party providers may process data according to their own privacy and cookie policies.
SMC Smart Shop seeks to use third-party services responsibly and in accordance with applicable data-protection requirements.
13. COOKIE CONSENT MANAGEMENT
When you first visit SMC Smart Shop, you may be presented with a cookie-consent banner.
The banner may provide options including:
Accept All
Selecting this option allows optional cookie categories to be activated in accordance with your preferences and the configuration of the Website.
Reject All
Selecting this option rejects optional cookies.
Necessary Cookies required for essential Website functionality may remain active.
Customize
This option allows you to review individual cookie categories and select the categories you wish to permit.
Save My Preferences
This records your selected cookie preferences.
14. CONSENT
Where we rely on consent to use a cookie or related technology, consent should be:
- freely given;
- specific;
- informed;
- unambiguous; and
- expressed through an affirmative choice.
We will not intentionally treat silence or failure to interact with the cookie banner as consent where applicable law requires affirmative consent.
15. REJECTING COOKIES
You may reject optional cookies.
Rejecting optional cookies should not prevent access to the basic shopping functionality of SMC Smart Shop, although some optional features may operate differently or become unavailable.
Necessary Cookies may remain active because they are required for the Website to function or provide a service you have requested.
16. WITHDRAWING OR CHANGING CONSENT
Where cookie processing is based on your consent, you may withdraw or change that consent.
You may do this through the Website’s cookie preference tool where available.
Changing your preference will apply to future processing.
Withdrawal of consent does not make processing that lawfully occurred before withdrawal unlawful.
17. COOKIE PREFERENCE RECORDS
A necessary cookie or similar mechanism may be used to remember whether you:
- accepted cookies;
- rejected optional cookies; or
- selected customised preferences.
Without this mechanism, the Website may need to ask for your cookie choices every time you visit.
18. SESSION COOKIES
Session cookies normally operate only while your browser session remains active.
They may be automatically removed when you close your browser.
Session cookies may be used for:
- shopping carts;
- login sessions;
- Website security;
- checkout processes; and
- temporary Website preferences.
19. PERSISTENT COOKIES
Persistent cookies may remain on your device after the browser is closed.
They may be used to:
- remember preferences;
- maintain consent records;
- measure returning visits;
- support analytics; or
- support advertising where consent has been provided.
The duration of a persistent cookie depends on its purpose and configuration.
20. COOKIE RETENTION
Different cookies may have different lifespans.
Cookies may last for:
- the duration of a browsing session;
- several hours;
- several days;
- several months; or
- another appropriate period.
We aim not to retain cookie-derived personal information for longer than reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.
Third-party cookies may be subject to retention periods established by the relevant third-party provider.
21. SHOPPING CART COOKIES
As an ecommerce Website, SMC Smart Shop may use cookies or similar technologies to remember:
- Products added to your cart;
- Product quantities;
- checkout progress; and
- certain shopping preferences.
These technologies may be necessary to provide the shopping service requested by the customer.
22. ACCOUNT AND LOGIN COOKIES
Where customer accounts are available, cookies may be used to:
- recognise an authenticated session;
- keep you signed in;
- protect account security;
- prevent unauthorised access; and
- support account navigation.
These cookies are generally considered necessary for account functionality.
23. SECURITY AND FRAUD-PREVENTION COOKIES
Cookies and related technical identifiers may be used to help:
- detect suspicious activity;
- prevent automated attacks;
- reduce fraudulent Orders;
- prevent unauthorised access;
- protect payment processes; and
- maintain Website security.
Information processed for security purposes may include:
- IP address;
- device information;
- browser characteristics;
- session information; and
- Website interaction information.
24. PAYMENT COOKIES
When you proceed to payment, a payment service provider may use cookies or similar technologies to:
- maintain a secure payment session;
- verify transactions;
- detect fraud;
- authenticate payment methods; and
- comply with financial-security requirements.
These cookies may be governed partly by the relevant payment provider’s privacy and cookie policies.
25. WHATSAPP AND COMMUNICATION FEATURES
SMC Smart Shop may provide communication features such as a WhatsApp contact function.
If you choose to interact with these features, the relevant third-party provider may receive technical or usage information according to its own privacy practices.
Opening or using a third-party communication platform may result in cookies or other technologies being used by that provider.
26. SOCIAL MEDIA
If social-media buttons, feeds, videos or similar integrations are added to SMC Smart Shop, third-party platforms may place cookies when those features are used.
Depending on the provider and your account status, the third party may be able to associate your Website interaction with your account on its platform.
Where appropriate, such optional integrations will be subject to your cookie choices.
27. ANALYTICS SERVICES
If analytics platforms are enabled, they may process information such as:
- IP address;
- browser type;
- device type;
- Website pages visited;
- interaction events;
- general geographic information;
- referral source; and
- session information.
We may use analytics information to improve our Website and understand Website performance.
Where required, analytics technologies will only operate after appropriate consent.
28. ADVERTISING AND REMARKETING SERVICES
SMC Smart Shop may use advertising platforms in the future or from time to time.
These platforms may use cookies, pixels or related technologies to:
- measure sales attributable to advertising;
- create advertising audiences;
- provide relevant advertisements;
- understand campaign performance; and
- conduct remarketing.
Advertising technologies that require consent will only be activated where appropriate consent has been obtained.
29. BROWSER CONTROLS
Most browsers allow you to manage cookies directly.
Depending on your browser, you may be able to:
- view existing cookies;
- delete cookies;
- block all cookies;
- block third-party cookies;
- prevent new cookies from being stored; or
- receive notifications when cookies are being used.
The exact method depends on your browser and device.
Please consult your browser’s privacy or cookie settings for instructions.
30. EFFECT OF BLOCKING ALL COOKIES
Blocking all cookies at browser level may affect essential Website functionality.
For example, the Website may have difficulty:
- remembering items in your shopping cart;
- maintaining login sessions;
- remembering cookie choices;
- processing checkout steps; or
- keeping secure sessions active.
For this reason, managing optional cookies through our Cookie Preference tool may provide better Website functionality than completely disabling cookies in your browser.
31. PERSONAL DATA AND COOKIES
Information collected through cookies may constitute personal data where it relates to an identified or identifiable person.
Cookie-related personal information may include:
- IP addresses;
- device identifiers;
- browser identifiers;
- session identifiers;
- account identifiers;
- Website activity; and
- advertising identifiers.
Such information will be processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data-protection requirements.
32. LAWFUL BASIS
Depending on the cookie and its purpose, processing may rely on:
- your consent;
- performance of a service requested by you;
- legal obligations;
- legitimate interests; or
- another lawful basis available under applicable law.
Where consent is legally required, SMC Smart Shop will seek consent before activating the relevant optional technology.
33. YOUR DATA-PROTECTION RIGHTS
Where cookie information constitutes personal data, you may have rights under applicable data-protection law, including rights to:
- be informed about processing;
- request access to personal data;
- request correction;
- request deletion where applicable;
- object to certain processing;
- request restriction of processing;
- withdraw consent; and
- lodge a complaint with the appropriate data-protection authority.
For more information, please review our Privacy Policy.
34. CHILDREN
SMC Smart Shop is primarily intended for adult customers.
We do not intentionally use cookies to create marketing profiles of children.
If we become aware that cookie-related personal information concerning a child has been processed unlawfully, we will take appropriate steps in accordance with applicable law.
35. INTERNATIONAL PROCESSING
Some third-party technology providers may operate systems or servers outside Kenya.
Cookie-derived information may therefore be processed outside Kenya in some circumstances.
Where personal information is transferred internationally, we will seek to ensure that applicable data-protection requirements regarding international transfers are respected.
Further information is available in our Privacy Policy.
36. DO WE SELL COOKIE DATA?
SMC Smart Shop does not sell customers’ personal data as a commodity.
Where information is shared with technology providers, analytics companies, payment processors or advertising providers, it should be limited to legitimate operational or marketing purposes and handled in accordance with applicable agreements and law.
37. CHANGES TO OUR COOKIE USE
The specific cookies used on SMC Smart Shop may change over time.
This may happen when we:
- update the Website;
- install or remove plugins;
- change ecommerce software;
- introduce analytics tools;
- change payment providers;
- add marketing platforms;
- integrate new services; or
- improve security.
The Cookie Preference tool may therefore display the most current list or classification of cookies detected on the Website.
38. COOKIE AUDITS
We may periodically review the cookies and tracking technologies used by the Website.
The purpose of these reviews may include:
- identifying new cookies;
- removing unnecessary cookies;
- confirming cookie purposes;
- verifying consent settings;
- reviewing third-party providers; and
- updating this Cookie Policy.
39. CHANGES TO THIS COOKIE POLICY
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect:
- technological changes;
- new Website services;
- new third-party integrations;
- changes to cookie practices;
- changes in applicable law; or
- regulatory guidance.
The current version will be published on smcsmart.shop with an updated Last Updated date.
40. CONTACT US
If you have questions regarding this Cookie Policy or the use of cookies on SMC Smart Shop, contact:
SMC SMART SHOP
Legal Business Name: [INSERT REGISTERED BUSINESS/COMPANY NAME]
Website: smcsmart.shop
Registration Number: [INSERT REGISTRATION NUMBER]
Physical Address: [INSERT PHYSICAL ADDRESS]
41. DATA-PROTECTION AUTHORITY
If you have concerns about the processing of personal data through cookies, you may also contact the relevant data-protection authority.
For Kenya, this is the:
Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC)
42. YOUR COOKIE CHOICES
When presented with SMC Smart Shop’s cookie banner, you may choose to:
Accept All – permit all enabled cookie categories;
Reject All – reject optional cookies while allowing necessary cookies to remain active;
Customize – choose specific categories; or
Save My Preferences – save your selected choices.
You may change your preferences later through the Website’s cookie-management controls where available.
