Privacy Policy

Introduction

Gj B.V. (referred to as "we," "our," or "the company") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal data when you visit our website, use our baking courses, and interact with our educational services.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing and using this website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy. If you disagree with any part of this policy, please do not use our website or services.

1. Cookie Categories

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience and provide essential services. Cookies are divided into three categories based on their purpose and requirement for consent.

Essential Cookies

Essential cookies are required for core website functionality and your security. These include session management, CSRF protection, cookie consent status, and authentication tokens. Examples include session_id, csrf_token, and cookie_consent_status. These cookies are activated automatically and do not require your consent. They are retained for the duration of your session or up to 12 months for preference storage.

Analytics Cookies

Analytics cookies allow us to measure traffic, understand user behavior, and evaluate site performance. We use Google Analytics 4 for this purpose. Common analytics cookies include _ga, _ga_XXXXXXX, _gid, and _gat. These cookies require your explicit consent and are activated only after you accept analytics in the cookie preferences panel. Data is retained for up to 14 months and helps us improve your learning experience.

Marketing and Advertising Cookies

Marketing cookies enable us to deliver personalized advertisements and measure campaign effectiveness. These require your explicit consent and are activated only after you accept marketing cookies. They are retained for up to 540 days (Google Ads default retention period). Marketing cookies allow us to show ads based on your previous visits across different websites and platforms.

2. Marketing Cookies and Third-Party Advertising

Third-Party Ad Serving

Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's previous visits to this website and other sites on the internet. This allows advertisers to display relevant content tailored to your interests and browsing history.

Advertising Partners

We work with advertising partners such as Google and Meta to deliver advertisements tailored to your interests across various websites and platforms. These partnerships allow us to reach prospective students who may be interested in our baking courses and educational services.

Remarketing Services

We use remarketing services to advertise to previous visitors of our website. After you visit our site, you may see our ads on other websites, apps, social media platforms, and services you use. This technology helps us stay connected with interested learners and remind you about our courses.

YouTube and Display Network Advertising

Advertisements for our baking courses may appear across Google services including YouTube, Gmail, and the Google Display Network. These placements allow us to reach learners across multiple channels and touchpoints.

Tracking Technologies Active on This Site

We use the following tracking technologies on this website:

• Cookies (first-party and third-party)
• Tracking pixels (Google Ads tag / gtag.js, Meta Pixel)
• Device identifiers (browser fingerprint, IP address)
• Conversion event tags

Advertising Measurement and Conversion Tracking

We use conversion tracking to understand which advertisements lead to actions on our website, such as form submissions, course inquiries, or contact requests. This allows us to measure campaign effectiveness and allocate marketing budget appropriately. Conversion data may be shared with Google Ads and Meta for campaign optimization and performance analysis.

Technologies in Use

The following advertising and analytics technologies are active on this website:

• Google Ads (gtag.js and Google Tag Manager)
• Google Analytics 4
• Google Remarketing Tag
• Meta Pixel (Facebook and Instagram)

Opt-Out from Personalized Advertising

You may opt out of personalized advertising at any time through the following channels:

• Google Ads Settings: https://adssettings.google.com
• Your Online Choices (EU): https://www.youronlinechoices.eu
• Network Advertising Initiative: https://optout.networkadvertising.org
• Digital Advertising Alliance: https://optout.aboutads.info

Please note that opting out of personalized advertising does not remove ads entirely. You will continue to see non-personalized advertisements based on your current page content and search queries.

Cookie Preference Management

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time by clicking the "Manage Cookie Preferences" link in the website footer. This opens a preferences panel where you can accept or reject each cookie category independently. Essential cookies cannot be disabled as they are necessary for website functionality.

3. Consent and Cookie Management

Cookie Consent Banner

When you first visit our website, a cookie consent banner appears offering you three options: "Accept All Cookies," "Reject Non-Essential Cookies," and "Manage Preferences." Analytics and marketing cookies are not activated until you explicitly accept them. You can dismiss the banner without accepting all cookies by clicking "Reject Non-Essential," which activates only essential cookies.

Consent Storage and Duration

Your cookie consent choice is stored in your browser's local storage for 12 months. After this period, you will see the consent banner again to renew your preferences. You can change your consent status at any time without affecting the lawfulness of data processing that occurred before your change.

GDPR Compliance for EEA and UK Users

Users in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom receive this consent notice in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and UK GDPR. Marketing and analytics cookies are activated solely after explicit, informed, and freely given consent under GDPR Article 6(1)(a). Your consent is recorded with a timestamp and may be audited upon request. You have the right to withdraw consent at any time without penalty through the cookie preferences panel.

Withdrawal of Consent

You may withdraw your cookie consent at any time by clicking "Manage Cookie Preferences" in the website footer or by clearing cookies via your browser settings. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing that occurred while your consent was valid.

4. Data Sharing with Advertising Partners

We share certain data with advertising partners to deliver and measure campaign effectiveness. Recipients of your data and the information shared include:

Google LLC

We share cookie identifiers, conversion events, anonymized behavioral data, and remarketing lists with Google. Google uses this information to deliver targeted advertisements and measure campaign performance. Data is governed by Google's Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Meta Platforms, Inc.

We share pixel events, conversion data, and custom audience information with Meta for Facebook and Instagram advertising. Meta uses this information to optimize ad delivery and measure campaign results. Data is governed by Meta's Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy

Data Transfer and Protection

We do not sell your personal data to unaffiliated third parties. All transfers to Google and Meta operate under Standard Contractual Clauses where applicable, ensuring adequate protection of your information. Data is processed solely for advertising delivery, campaign measurement, and optimization. Google and Meta may use this data across their own platforms in accordance with their respective privacy policies. We encourage you to review those policies directly to understand how they process your information.

5. Lead Forms and Contact Requests

When you submit a contact form, request a course quote, or register interest in our baking courses, we collect the information you provide. This typically includes your full name, email address, phone number, preferred course, and your message.

Legal Basis for Processing

We process this information based on your consent (GDPR Article 6.1.a) when you submit a form. Where a service relationship exists, we also process your data to perform the contract (GDPR Article 6.1.b).

Data Retention

Form submission data is retained for up to 2 years from the date of submission, unless a longer period is required by applicable law or our legitimate business interests. After this period, your data is securely deleted.

Your Rights

You may request deletion of your form data at any time by contacting us at [email protected]. A link to this Privacy Policy appears adjacent to every submission button on our site. By submitting a form, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy.

6. Google Services and Advertising

This website uses several Google services to measure performance and deliver targeted advertising. Below is a complete disclosure of each service and how your data is handled.

Google Analytics 4

Google Analytics 4 collects anonymized usage data, device information, and behavioral signals to help us understand how visitors interact with our site. IP anonymization is enabled to protect your privacy. Data retention is set to 14 months. You may opt out from Google Analytics using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

Google Ads Conversion Tracking

We use conversion tracking to record when a user completes a defined action (such as submitting a contact form or course inquiry) after clicking one of our advertisements. This data is used solely for measuring the effectiveness of our ad campaigns and understanding which marketing efforts drive results.

Google Remarketing

Google Remarketing allows us to show targeted advertisements to previous visitors across Google's network as they browse other websites. Remarketing lists are not created from sensitive data categories including health information, financial status, religious beliefs, political views, or sexual orientation.

Google Tag Manager

Google Tag Manager deploys tracking tags on our website on our behalf. Google Tag Manager itself does not collect personal data; it acts as a container for the tracking tags listed above. All data collection is controlled by the individual tags within the container.

Google's Privacy Policies

For complete information about how Google processes your data, refer to Google's policies at https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads

7. Meta Advertising Services

This website uses the Meta Pixel to measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns on Facebook and Instagram. Below is a detailed explanation of how this technology works and what data we collect.

Meta Pixel Functionality

The Meta Pixel records specific events on our website, including page views, time spent on site, and conversion actions such as form submissions or course inquiries. This information helps us understand which advertising campaigns are most effective and which audiences are most likely to engage with our courses.

Custom Audiences and Retargeting

We use Meta Pixel data to create custom audiences for retargeting purposes. This allows us to show advertisements to people who have previously visited our site as they browse Facebook, Instagram, and other Meta-owned platforms.

Data Protection

We do not use the Meta Pixel to collect sensitive personal data. We do not target users based on health status, financial situation, religion, political views, sexual orientation, or any other special-category attribute prohibited under Meta's advertising policies. Meta acts as an independent data controller for data collected via the Pixel and processed within its own platform.

Meta's Privacy Policies

For complete information about how Meta processes your data, refer to Meta's Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy

Managing Your Ads Preferences

To manage your ad preferences on Meta platforms, visit https://www.facebook.com/adpreferences/ where you can control what types of ads you see.

8. Prohibited Content Declaration

This website does not promote, sell, or facilitate access to prohibited product or service categories. These include weapons, controlled substances, counterfeit goods, unlicensed gambling services, adult content, or services that make misleading health or financial claims. All advertising conducted through Google Ads and Meta Ads complies fully with the respective platform policies.

9. Landing Page and Content Integrity

The content of this website accurately represents the baking courses and educational services we offer. We do not employ bait-and-switch practices. The experience delivered to users arriving from paid advertisements is identical to the experience for all other visitors. We do not use cloaking, automatic redirects, or content variation based on traffic source.

10. Children's Privacy

This website is not directed at individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. If we discover that personal data has been collected from a person under 16 without verifiable parental consent, we will delete it promptly. If you believe we have received data from a minor, please contact us at [email protected].

11. International Data Transfers

Personal data collected through this website may be transferred to and processed in countries outside the European Economic Area, including the United States, where Google LLC and Meta Platforms, Inc. are based. These transfers are conducted under Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission, which provide appropriate safeguards for your personal data. A copy of the applicable Standard Contractual Clauses can be requested by contacting us directly at [email protected].

12. Your Rights Under GDPR and UK GDPR

If you are located in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

Right of Access (Article 15)

You may request a copy of all personal data we hold about you in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.

Right to Rectification (Article 16)

You may request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data we hold about you.

Right to Erasure (Article 17)

You may request deletion of your personal data under certain circumstances, known as the "right to be forgotten."

Right to Restrict Processing (Article 18)

You may request that we limit how we use your personal data in certain situations.

Right to Data Portability (Article 20)

You may receive your personal data in a structured, machine-readable format and transmit it to another controller.

Right to Object (Article 21)

You may object to processing of your personal data based on our legitimate interests.

Right to Withdraw Consent (Article 7.3)

You may withdraw consent at any time without penalty. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before withdrawal.

Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please email us at [email protected] with a clear description of your request. We will respond within 30 days. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority:

• EU users: https://edpb.europa.eu
• UK users: https://ico.org.uk

13. What Personal Data We Collect

We collect the following categories of personal data when you interact with our website and services:

• Full name (from contact forms and course registrations)
• Email address (for course enrollment and communications)
• Phone number (for course inquiries and follow-up)
• IP address (automatically from website access logs)
• Browser type and version (for analytics and compatibility)
• Device type and operating system (for responsive design analysis)
• Cookies and tracking identifiers (for user experience and advertising)
• Usage data (pages visited, time on site, click paths)
• Form submission content (course preferences, messages)
• Conversion events (form submissions, course inquiries)

14. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR Article 6)

We process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

Consent (Article 6.1.a)

Contact form data, analytics data, and marketing/remarketing data are processed based on your explicit consent. You can withdraw this consent at any time.

Contract Performance (Article 6.1.b)

Data provided when registering for courses is processed to perform the educational services contract.

Legitimate Interest (Article 6.1.f)

Security, fraud prevention, and abuse detection are processed based on our legitimate interests in protecting our systems and users.

15. Data Retention Periods

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy. Specific retention periods by category:

• Contact form submissions: 2 years from submission date
• Analytics data (Google Analytics 4): 14 months
• Marketing cookies (Google Ads): up to 540 days
• Email communications: duration of relationship plus 1 year
• Server logs: 90 days
• Cookie consent records: 3 years (for audit compliance)

16. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your rights, or need to report a data concern, please contact us:

17. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of material changes via a homepage banner at least 14 days before the new policy takes effect. Your continued use of the website after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy. We encourage you to review this policy regularly.