Privacy Policy

Last updated: 21 September 2026

Softer Volumes respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information we collect and hold.

This Privacy Policy explains how Softer Volumes collects, uses, stores and discloses personal information when you visit our website, purchase our products, contact us, subscribe to our communications, or otherwise interact with us.

Softer Volumes operates an international online retail business, and some of our service providers and business partners may be located outside Australia.

Where applicable, we handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

1. Who we are

In this Privacy Policy, "Softer Volumes", "we", "us" or "our" refers to the Softer Volumes business responsible for collecting and handling your personal information.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us at:

Email: readers [@] softervolumes.com
Address: Level 1, 1-5 Link Road, Zetland, NSW 2017, Australia

2. What personal information we collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect and hold information including:

your name;
billing and delivery addresses;
email address;
telephone number;
payment and transaction information;
order history and details of products purchased;
information you provide when contacting customer service;
information provided when you subscribe to our mailing list;
information relating to wholesale or business enquiries;
information you provide when entering a promotion, competition or other marketing activity;
information about your interactions with our website, including IP address, browser type, device information and pages visited; and
information collected through cookies and similar technologies.

We generally do not need to collect sensitive information about our customers. We ask that you do not provide sensitive personal information to us unless it is necessary for the particular purpose for which you are contacting us.

3. How we collect personal information

We may collect personal information directly from you when you:

create or use an account;
place an order;
enter your details during checkout;
subscribe to our newsletter or other marketing communications;
contact us by email, telephone, social media or through our website;
make a wholesale or business enquiry;
participate in a competition or promotion; or
otherwise interact with us.

We may also collect information automatically when you use our website, including through cookies, analytics services and similar technologies.

In some circumstances, we may receive personal information from third parties, such as payment providers, delivery and fulfilment providers, ecommerce platforms, fraud prevention services or marketing platforms.

Where required by the Australian Privacy Principles, we will take reasonable steps to notify you of the relevant matters concerning the collection of your personal information.

4. Why we collect and use personal information

We collect and use personal information for purposes including:

processing and fulfilling orders;
processing payments;
arranging delivery and tracking shipments;
providing customer service and responding to enquiries;
managing returns, refunds and exchanges;
communicating with you about your orders;
maintaining and administering customer accounts;
sending marketing communications where permitted;
understanding how customers use our website and improving our products and services;
administering wholesale and business relationships;
preventing fraud, misuse and other unlawful activity;
maintaining the security and functionality of our website and systems;
complying with legal and regulatory obligations; and
other purposes that are reasonably expected in connection with operating our business.

We will generally only use or disclose personal information for the purpose for which it was collected, or for another purpose permitted by applicable privacy law.

5. Marketing communications

If you subscribe to our marketing communications, we may use your contact information to send you information about Softer Volumes, including new products, publications, promotions, events and other updates.

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in the relevant communication or by contacting us.

We will provide a simple means for you to opt out of future direct marketing communications.

Australian Privacy Principle 7 places specific requirements on the use and disclosure of personal information for direct marketing, including providing appropriate opt-out mechanisms.

Transactional communications, such as order confirmations, shipping updates, invoices and other communications necessary to fulfil an order, are not marketing communications and may continue to be sent where necessary.

6. Payment information

Payments made through our website may be processed by third-party payment providers.

We do not generally store complete payment card details ourselves. Payment information may instead be collected and processed directly by the relevant payment provider in accordance with its own privacy policy and security practices.

We may retain limited payment and transaction information necessary to maintain records of your purchases, process refunds and meet accounting, tax and legal obligations.

7. Shopify and other service providers

Our website and ecommerce operations rely on third-party service providers.

Depending on how you interact with us, these may include providers involved in:

ecommerce and website hosting;
payment processing;
order fulfilment;
warehousing;
shipping and delivery;
customs and duties processing;
fraud prevention;
customer service;
email and marketing communications;
analytics;
website functionality and security; and
accounting and business administration.

These providers may receive personal information where reasonably necessary to provide services to us or to you.

We do not sell your personal information as a standalone commercial product.

8. Shipping, fulfilment and customs

When you place an order, we may provide relevant personal information to shipping, fulfilment and logistics providers so that your order can be processed and delivered.

This may include your name, delivery address, email address, telephone number, order information and information required for customs clearance.

For international orders, information may also be provided to carriers, customs brokers, postal operators and other parties involved in international delivery and import processing.

These parties may be located in Australia or overseas.

9. Overseas disclosure of personal information

Because Softer Volumes sells products internationally and uses international service providers, your personal information may be disclosed to recipients located outside Australia.

Depending on the services being used, overseas recipients may be located in countries including, but not limited to:

the United States;
Canada;
the United Kingdom;
countries within the European Union;
China; and
other countries where our ecommerce, fulfilment, payment, logistics, technology or service providers operate.

The particular countries to which information is disclosed may vary depending on the services used and the destination of your order.

Where applicable, Australian Privacy Principle 8 requires an APP entity to take reasonable steps in relation to overseas disclosures of personal information.

Before providing personal information to an overseas recipient, we will take the steps required by applicable privacy law, including considering the privacy protections that apply to the recipient and the circumstances of the disclosure.

10. Cookies and analytics

Our website may use cookies, pixels and similar technologies to:

operate and secure the website;
remember preferences;
understand how visitors use our website;
measure website performance;
improve our products and services;
analyse website traffic; and
support marketing and advertising activities.

Some third-party services used on our website may collect information about your browsing activity.

You can generally control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Some website functions may not operate correctly if certain cookies are disabled.

Where tracking technologies involve the collection, use or disclosure of personal information, we will handle that information in accordance with applicable privacy obligations. The Office of the Australian Information Commission notes that tracking technologies can engage obligations under APP 6 and APP 8 where personal information is involved.

11. How we hold and protect personal information

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information we hold from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

Depending on the circumstances, security measures may include access controls, authentication, secure systems, encryption, contractual controls with service providers and other appropriate technical and organisational safeguards.

However, no method of transmitting or storing information electronically can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

12. How long we retain personal information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including to:

provide products and services;
maintain business and transaction records;
deal with customer enquiries and disputes;
comply with taxation, accounting and other legal obligations;
prevent fraud and maintain security; and
establish, exercise or defend legal claims.

When personal information is no longer required and we are not legally required to retain it, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify it.

Australian Privacy Principle 11 includes obligations concerning the security and disposal or de-identification of personal information.

13. Access to your personal information

You may request access to personal information we hold about you.

To make an access request, contact us using the details in Section 1.

We will generally provide access unless an exception under applicable privacy law applies.

We may need to verify your identity before providing access to personal information.

14. Correction of personal information

If you believe personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date, you may ask us to correct it.

We will take reasonable steps to ensure that personal information we collect, use or disclose is accurate, complete and up to date, having regard to the purpose for which it is used.

Australian Privacy Principles 12 and 13 deal specifically with access to, and correction of, personal information.

15. Privacy complaints

If you believe we have mishandled your personal information or breached applicable privacy obligations, please contact us using the details in Section 1.

Please provide sufficient information for us to understand and investigate your complaint.

We will acknowledge and investigate privacy complaints and respond within a reasonable period.

If you are not satisfied with our response, or if your complaint is not resolved, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

More information about making a privacy complaint is available from the OAIC.

16. Data breaches

We take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorised access to personal information and to respond appropriately if a data breach occurs.

If the Privacy Act 1988 and the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme apply to us, we will comply with our obligations under that scheme.

Where an eligible data breach is likely to result in serious harm to an affected individual, the NDB scheme generally requires the organisation to notify affected individuals and the Australian Information Commissioner.

The NDB scheme applies to entities with existing obligations under the Privacy Act to secure personal information.

17. Third-party websites

Our website may contain links to websites or services operated by third parties.

This Privacy Policy does not apply to the privacy practices of those third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any third-party website or service you use.

18. Children

Our products and website are not specifically directed at children.

We do not knowingly seek to collect unnecessary personal information from children. Where a parent or guardian believes that a child has provided personal information to us and wishes to discuss or request its deletion or correction, they may contact us using the details in Section 1.

19. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our business, technology, service providers or legal obligations.

The updated policy will be published on our website and the "Last updated" date will be changed accordingly.

We recommend that you review this Privacy Policy periodically.

20. Contact us

For questions, requests for access or correction, privacy complaints, or other privacy enquiries, please contact:

Softer Volumes
Email: readers [@] softervolumes.com
Address: Level 1, 1-5 Link Road, Zetland NSW 2017, Australia