Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

STOA Markets ("STOA", "we", "us") operates stoamarkets.com, a platform for market and pop-up event organizers. Questions about this policy can be sent to hello@stoamarkets.com.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly when you create an account or use our platform:

• Name and email address (from your login provider or entered directly)
• Organization name, city, and contact details
• Payment handle information (Venmo, Zelle) you choose to add
• Market details and vendor application data you create

We also collect standard technical data including IP address, browser type, and usage patterns via cookies and analytics tools to help us improve the platform.

3. How We Use Your Information

• To provide and operate the STOA platform
• To send transactional emails on behalf of organizers (vendor notifications, approval emails)
• To respond to support requests and feedback
• To improve and develop new features
• To notify you of important changes to the platform or these policies

4. Vendor Data

When vendors apply to markets through STOA, their application data (name, email, business info, etc.) is stored in the organizer's account. The organizer is the data controller for their vendors' information. STOA acts as a data processor on their behalf. We do not use personally identifiable vendor application data for any purpose beyond operating the platform.

Emails sent through STOA are delivered on behalf of organizers. STOA does not independently contact vendors except as part of the organizer's use of the platform.

5. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. We may share data with trusted third-party services that help us operate STOA (such as our email provider and database host). These providers only process data as necessary to operate the service and are bound by their own privacy policies.

6. Data Retention and Deletion

You can delete your account at any time from your account settings. When you delete your account, we permanently remove your profile, your markets, and all personally identifiable vendor application data (names, emails, business details). Some data may be retained in encrypted backups for a short period before being purged.

We retain anonymized, aggregated records of application activity (such as category, booth size, month submitted, and market city) with all personal identifiers removed. This data cannot be linked back to any individual and is used solely to understand platform usage trends and improve the product. We do not sell or share this data with any third party.

7. Security

We take reasonable administrative and technical measures to protect your data, including secure encrypted data storage and access controls. However, no system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. If you believe your account has been compromised, please contact us immediately at hello@stoamarkets.com.

8. Cookies

We use cookies to keep you logged in and to understand how the platform is used. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some features may not work correctly without them.

9. Children's Privacy

STOA is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify you via email of any material changes. Your continued use of STOA after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

Privacy questions or data requests? Email us at hello@stoamarkets.com.