Last updated: 30 August 2026
Global Retail Directory Limited (“Global Retail Directory”, “we”, “us” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting personal information in accordance with applicable data protection and privacy laws.
This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, who we may share it with, how long we retain it, and the rights available to you.
This policy applies to visitors, registered users, directory members, business representatives and other individuals who interact with globalretaildirectory.com.
1. Who We Are
Global Retail Directory Limited
Company No. 17423561
Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: Turnpike House, 1208/1210 London Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 2UA
Website: globalretaildirectory.com
Email: info@globalretaildirectory.com
Global Retail Directory Limited is the data controller for personal information processed through the Global Retail Directory platform where we determine the purposes and means of processing.
Our platform provides an international business directory and Knowledge Hub connecting retail installation companies, transport and logistics providers, manufacturers and suppliers, iconic brands, retailers and related businesses worldwide.
2. Personal Information We May Collect
The information we collect depends on how you use Global Retail Directory.
Information You Provide to Us
We may collect information including:
- your first and last name;
- email address;
- telephone number;
- username or account name;
- billing or business address where required;
- company name and business information;
- information submitted when creating or managing an account;
- information submitted when creating, editing or maintaining a directory listing;
- correspondence, enquiries and customer-support communications;
- membership, subscription, order and transaction information; and
- other information you voluntarily provide to us.
Directory Listing Information
Businesses and their authorised representatives may submit information for publication in the Global Retail Directory, including:
- company name;
- company description;
- business category;
- country or location;
- services and features;
- website address;
- business email address;
- telephone number;
- social-media links;
- business address;
- opening hours;
- company logos;
- photographs and other media;
- project information;
- FAQs; and
- other business information submitted for inclusion in a listing.
Information intentionally submitted for publication as part of a directory listing may be publicly accessible on the internet and may be indexed by search engines.
You should only submit personal information about another individual where you are authorised to do so.
3. Information Collected Automatically
When you use our website, certain technical information may be processed automatically, including:
- IP address;
- browser and device information;
- pages visited;
- referral information;
- approximate geographic information;
- interactions with the website;
- cookie and consent preferences; and
- security and diagnostic information.
Where required by applicable law, non-essential analytics or similar technologies are used only after appropriate consent has been obtained.
4. Accounts and Membership
Global Retail Directory allows eligible users to register an account and create or manage business listings.
We may process account information to:
- create and administer your account;
- authenticate users;
- allow you to create and edit listings;
- communicate about listing approval or moderation;
- administer trials and memberships;
- provide customer support;
- process membership payments;
- manage renewals, expiry, cancellation and reactivation; and
- protect the platform against fraud, misuse and unauthorised access.
Account and membership information that is not intended for publication is not made publicly available merely because you hold a directory account.
5. How We Use Personal Information
We may process personal information for purposes including:
- operating and maintaining Global Retail Directory;
- responding to enquiries;
- registering and administering user accounts;
- creating and managing directory listings;
- reviewing and moderating submitted listings;
- providing directory membership and related services;
- processing and recording payments;
- providing customer support;
- communicating important service, account, listing, trial, payment or renewal information;
- complying with legal, accounting and regulatory obligations;
- maintaining website and account security;
- detecting fraud, abuse or technical problems;
- analysing website usage and improving our services;
- maintaining records of consent;
- managing cookie and privacy preferences; and
- establishing, exercising or defending legal claims.
We do not sell personal information as a commercial database.
Certain disclosures or use of advertising technologies may nevertheless fall within broader definitions of “sale”, “sharing” or targeted advertising under particular privacy laws. Where applicable, we provide the consent or opt-out controls required by those laws.
6. Lawful Bases for Processing
Where UK GDPR or similar legislation applies, our lawful bases may include:
Contract
We process information where necessary to provide services you request, including account registration, directory membership, listing administration, payments and customer support.
Legitimate Interests
We may process information where necessary for legitimate business interests, including:
- responding to business enquiries;
- operating and improving the platform;
- maintaining security;
- preventing fraud and abuse;
- administering our business; and
- protecting our legal rights.
We consider the impact on individuals before relying on legitimate interests.
Legal Obligation
We may process and retain information where necessary to comply with legal, tax, accounting, regulatory or other statutory obligations.
Consent
Where required, we rely on consent for activities such as non-essential cookies, analytics or other technologies requiring prior permission.
You may withdraw consent at any time through the consent-management controls available on the website or by contacting us. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before consent was withdrawn.
7. Cookies and Similar Technologies
Global Retail Directory uses cookies and similar technologies for website functionality, security, preferences and, where consent is provided, analytics and other optional purposes.
We use Complianz Privacy Suite to manage cookie consent and privacy preferences across applicable regions.
Visitors can accept, deny or manage non-essential cookie categories through the consent banner and can subsequently change their preferences using the Manage Consent control.
Further information about individual cookies, services, purposes and retention periods is available in our Cookie Policy.
8. Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use Global Retail Directory and to improve the platform.
Where consent is required, Google Analytics is not activated until the visitor has provided the relevant consent.
Analytics information may include website interactions, device/browser information, approximate geographic information and related technical information.
We configure analytics and consent mechanisms with privacy and applicable data-protection requirements in mind.
9. Payments
When paid memberships are available, payments may be processed through third-party payment service providers.
Global Retail Directory does not intend to store full payment-card numbers itself where payments are handled by an external payment processor.
We may retain information relating to transactions, including:
- customer identity;
- billing information;
- membership or service purchased;
- transaction references;
- payment status;
- invoices; and
- related accounting records.
Payment and accounting records may be retained after membership ends where required for tax, accounting, legal or regulatory purposes.
10. Sharing Personal Information
We may share personal information where necessary with trusted service providers that support the operation of Global Retail Directory, including providers of:
- website hosting and infrastructure;
- email and communications;
- payment processing;
- analytics;
- security and fraud prevention;
- website functionality;
- mapping or location services;
- consent and privacy management;
- professional accounting, legal or compliance services; and
- other technology required to operate the platform.
We require service providers to handle personal information appropriately and only for authorised purposes where applicable.
We may also disclose information where required by law, court order, regulatory authority or where reasonably necessary to establish, exercise or defend legal rights.
11. Public Directory Information
Global Retail Directory is a public business directory.
Information submitted for publication in a company listing is intended to be publicly accessible. Public listing information may therefore:
- be viewed by visitors worldwide;
- appear in search-engine results;
- be cached or indexed by search engines;
- be shared through social media or other websites; and
- remain temporarily visible in third-party caches after it has been changed or removed from Global Retail Directory.
Members are responsible for ensuring that information they submit for publication is accurate and that they have authority to publish it.
12. International Data Transfers
Global Retail Directory operates internationally and some service providers may process personal information outside the United Kingdom.
Where UK data-protection rules on restricted international transfers apply, we use an applicable lawful transfer mechanism, which may include UK adequacy regulations or appropriate safeguards such as the UK International Data Transfer Agreement or the UK Addendum to approved standard contractual clauses, as appropriate.
We assess international data-transfer arrangements where required and take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate protection of personal information.
13. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including legal, accounting, security and dispute-resolution requirements.
Retention periods vary depending on the type of information.
For example:
- enquiry and correspondence information is retained while reasonably necessary to respond, maintain relevant business records or resolve disputes;
- account information may be retained for the duration of the account or service and deleted or anonymised when no longer required;
- public listing information may remain published while the listing is active;
- transaction and accounting records may be retained for up to six years after the relevant relationship or transaction, or longer where required by law;
- analytics information is retained according to our configured analytics retention settings; and
- consent records may be retained where necessary to demonstrate compliance.
We may retain limited information for longer where reasonably necessary to establish, exercise or defend legal claims or comply with legal obligations.
14. Security
We use appropriate technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.
These measures may include access controls, secure hosting, encryption where appropriate, software updates, backups, security monitoring and restrictions on administrative access.
No internet-based service can guarantee absolute security, and users should also protect their account credentials and notify us if they suspect unauthorised access.
15. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights including:
- the right to access personal information held about you;
- the right to correct inaccurate information;
- the right to request deletion;
- the right to restrict certain processing;
- the right to object to certain processing;
- the right to data portability where applicable;
- the right to withdraw consent;
- the right to opt out of certain sharing, targeted advertising or similar processing where applicable; and
- the right to complain to a relevant data-protection authority.
Rights are subject to applicable legal conditions and exemptions.
To exercise a privacy right, contact:
info@globalretaildirectory.com
We may need to verify your identity before completing certain requests.
16. Complaints
If you have concerns about how Global Retail Directory handles your personal information, please contact us first so that we can investigate.
Where UK data-protection law applies, you also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
17. Children’s Privacy
Global Retail Directory is a business-to-business platform and is not intended for children.
We do not knowingly offer directory memberships or business accounts to children. If we become aware that personal information relating to a child has been collected inappropriately, we will take reasonable steps to delete or otherwise address that information.
18. Third-Party Websites
Directory listings and Knowledge Hub content may contain links to third-party websites.
Global Retail Directory is not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of third-party websites. Users should review the privacy information provided by those third parties before providing personal information to them.
19. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our services, technology, legal obligations or data-processing practices.
The current version will be published on this page with an updated revision date.
Material changes may also be communicated through the website or other appropriate means where required.
20. Contact Us
For privacy questions, requests or complaints relating to Global Retail Directory:
Global Retail Directory Limited
Company No. 17423561
Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: Turnpike House, 1208/1210 London Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 2UA
Website: globalretaildirectory.com
Email: info@globalretaildirectory.com
If a dedicated privacy contact address is introduced, this policy will be updated accordingly.