Privacy Policy

Effective: January 1, 2026 · Locally Owned Appleton / Forward Trends Media

Locally Owned Appleton ("we," "us," or "the Platform"), operated by Forward Trends Media in Appleton, Wisconsin, is committed to being transparent about how we handle data. This policy explains what we collect, why, and how you can control it.

Short version: We collect only what we need to run the platform. We don't sell your data. We don't use it for advertising. We use it to connect Appleton residents with locally owned businesses.

What We Collect

From consumers (people clipping deals):

Email address — collected when you clip a deal so we can deliver your coupon
General location — used to show nearby businesses on the map (not stored)
Anonymous usage data — pages visited, deals clipped (via Google Analytics)

From business members:

Business name, address, phone, website, hours, description, and category
Owner name and email address
Payment information — processed and stored securely by Stripe (we never see your full card number)
Photos and ad creative you upload
Deal and coupon code information
Portal login credentials (passwords are hashed — we cannot see them)

How We Use It

To display your business listing in the directory
To deliver coupon emails to customers who clip your deals
To process your monthly membership payments
To send you renewal notices, invoices, and platform updates
To provide your analytics dashboard (views, clips, redemptions)
To improve the platform based on how people use it

Who We Share It With

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We share data only with the services required to operate the platform:

Stripe — payment processing. Your card data lives on their servers, governed by their privacy policy.
Google Analytics — anonymous usage statistics. No personally identifiable information is shared.
Google Maps — used to display business locations on the directory map.
Email delivery service — used to send coupon emails and member communications.

We do not share business member information with other businesses on the platform.

Consumer Email Addresses

When a consumer clips a deal, we collect their email address to deliver the coupon. We do not add consumers to any marketing list without their explicit consent. Coupon delivery emails are transactional — you get the coupon, that's it.

Cookies & Tracking

We use Google Analytics to understand how people use the site (which pages are popular, how people find us). This uses cookies. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

We do not use advertising cookies or sell data to ad networks. Locally Owned Appleton is ad-free — no one pays us to show you ads.

Data Security

The platform is served over HTTPS. Passwords are hashed using industry-standard methods. Payment data is handled entirely by Stripe and never touches our servers. We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect the information we store.

Data Retention

Business member data is retained for the duration of your membership and for up to 90 days after cancellation for accounting and dispute purposes. Consumer email addresses collected through deal clips are retained for up to 12 months. You may request earlier deletion at any time.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

Request a copy of the data we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate information
Request deletion of your data
Cancel your membership at any time from your business portal

To exercise any of these rights, email us at info@locallyownedappleton.com.

Children's Privacy

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

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy periodically. Active business members will be notified by email of material changes at least 14 days before they take effect.

Contact

Questions about this privacy policy? Reach us at info@locallyownedappleton.com or (920) 810-0949.

Forward Trends Media · Appleton, Wisconsin · (920) 810-0949