Privacy policy
Last Updated: August 26, 2026
Howard Wire Cloth Co. ("Howard Wire," "we," "us," or "our") operates this website and provides industrial products, quoting, ordering, account management, customer service, shipping, and related services (collectively, the "Services").
Our online store and certain website functions are powered by Shopify. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal information when you visit our website, request a quote, place an order, establish a customer account, communicate with us, or otherwise use our Services.
By using our Services, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this Privacy Policy.
Personal Information We Collect
"Personal information" means information that identifies, relates to, describes, or can reasonably be linked to an individual. Depending on how you interact with Howard Wire, we may collect the following categories of information:
- Contact Information: Name, company name, job title, billing address, shipping address, email address, and telephone number.
- Account Information: Username, password, account preferences, customer account information, and related settings.
- Order and Transaction Information: Products requested, quotes, estimates, purchase orders, order history, returns, cancellations, shipping information, invoices, and transaction details.
- Payment Information: Payment method, payment confirmation, transaction information, and other information necessary to process payment.
- Commercial Credit Information: Information provided through credit applications, trade references, payment terms, resale certificates, tax-exemption documentation, and other information necessary to establish or maintain a commercial account.
- Communications: Information you provide when communicating with us by email, telephone, website forms, quote requests, purchase orders, customer service inquiries, or other means.
- Device and Technical Information: IP address, browser type, device information, network information, cookies, and other online identifiers.
- Website Usage Information: Information about how you access, browse, and interact with our website and Services.
We do not consider information that has been properly anonymized or de-identified so that it cannot reasonably be associated with an individual to be personal information.
How We Collect Personal Information
We may collect personal information:
- Directly from you through our website;
- When you request a quote or place an order;
- Through telephone calls, emails, purchase orders, credit applications, and other business communications;
- When you visit our facility or communicate with our employees or sales representatives;
- Automatically when you visit or interact with our website through cookies and similar technologies;
- From Shopify and other service providers that support our business;
- From shipping companies, payment processors, manufacturers, suppliers, credit references, and other business partners; and
- From other third parties where permitted by law.
How We Use Personal Information
We may use personal information to:
Provide Products and Services
We use personal information to prepare quotes, process orders, accept payments, arrange shipping, provide customer service, maintain customer accounts, process returns, and otherwise fulfill our obligations to customers.
Establish and Manage Commercial Accounts
We may use information contained in credit applications, trade references, purchase orders, resale certificates, and other business records to establish payment terms, manage customer accounts, verify tax status, evaluate commercial credit, collect amounts owed, and maintain our business relationship with customers.
Communicate With You
We use personal information to respond to quote requests, order inquiries, customer service requests, account questions, and other communications.
Improve Our Services
We may use information about customer transactions and website activity to improve our products, inventory, website, customer service, and overall business operations.
Marketing and Advertising
Where permitted by law, we may use personal information to send information regarding products, services, promotions, company updates, or other marketing communications.
We may also use information regarding website activity to measure advertising effectiveness and provide more relevant advertising.
Security and Fraud Prevention
We may use personal information to protect our website, customers, employees, accounts, and business from fraud, unauthorized transactions, security threats, illegal activity, or misuse.
Legal and Business Purposes
We may use personal information to comply with applicable laws, tax and accounting requirements, subpoenas, court orders, regulatory requirements, legal proceedings, or to enforce our agreements and policies.
Payment Information
Payments made through our website may be processed by Shopify and/or third-party payment processors.
Depending on the method of payment, Howard Wire may receive certain payment and transaction information necessary to process and document your order.
Payment processors may collect and process payment card or financial account information in accordance with their own privacy and security practices.
We do not intentionally retain full payment-card information when such information is processed and securely maintained by our third-party payment processors.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
Our website and our service providers, including Shopify, may use cookies, pixels, analytics tools, and similar technologies.
These technologies may be used to:
- Operate and secure the website;
- Remember preferences;
- Maintain shopping carts and customer sessions;
- Understand website traffic and usage;
- Improve website functionality;
- Measure advertising performance; and
- Provide relevant marketing and advertising where permitted.
Depending on your location, you may be able to manage certain cookie and tracking preferences through our website's privacy or cookie controls.
You may also be able to control certain cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of portions of our website.
How We Disclose Personal Information
We may disclose personal information when reasonably necessary to operate our business, including to:
- Shopify, which hosts and supports our online store and related Services;
- Payment processors and financial institutions;
- Shipping carriers, freight companies, and logistics providers;
- Manufacturers, suppliers, and fulfillment partners when necessary to complete an order;
- IT, website hosting, cybersecurity, cloud storage, and technology providers;
- Accounting, legal, insurance, and other professional service providers;
- Marketing and analytics providers;
- Business partners when necessary to provide requested products or Services;
- Government agencies, courts, regulators, or law enforcement when legally required; and
- Potential buyers, successors, lenders, or advisors in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, restructuring, sale of assets, or similar business transaction.
We may also disclose information when you direct us or consent to the disclosure.
Relationship With Shopify
Our online store is hosted by Shopify.
Shopify collects and processes certain personal information when you visit and interact with our website or make purchases through our online store. Information submitted through our website may be transmitted to and processed by Shopify and other service providers, including providers located outside the country or state in which you reside.
Certain Shopify services may use information regarding your interactions with our store, Shopify, and other Shopify merchants to provide enhanced services, including personalized experiences, analytics, fraud prevention, and advertising-related services.
For additional information regarding Shopify's processing of personal information and the privacy rights available to you, please review Shopify's Consumer Privacy Policy and Privacy Portal.
Sale, Sharing, and Targeted Advertising
Depending on applicable law, certain uses of cookies, advertising technologies, or information shared with advertising partners may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of personal information or the use of personal information for "targeted advertising," even when no money is exchanged.
Where required by applicable law, you may opt out of these activities through the Data Sharing Opt-Out link available on our website.
Where required by applicable law, we may also recognize qualifying browser-based opt-out preference signals, such as Global Privacy Control.
Third-Party Websites
Our website may contain links to websites or services operated by third parties.
Howard Wire does not control the privacy or security practices of third-party websites. If you follow a link to another website, we encourage you to review that website's privacy policy before providing personal information.
Children's Privacy
Our Services are intended for businesses and adults and are not directed to children under the age of 16.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16.
If you believe that a child has provided personal information to us, please contact us so that we can review the matter and take appropriate action.
We do not knowingly sell or share the personal information of individuals under 16 as those terms are defined by applicable privacy law.
Data Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information.
However, no electronic transmission, storage system, or security measure can be guaranteed to be completely secure. You should avoid transmitting highly sensitive or confidential information through unsecured communication methods.
Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy and to operate our business.
Retention periods may depend on factors such as:
- Maintaining customer and order records;
- Providing products and Services;
- Accounting and tax requirements;
- Credit and payment records;
- Warranty or product-related matters;
- Resolving disputes;
- Collecting amounts owed;
- Fraud prevention;
- Legal and regulatory requirements; and
- Enforcing contracts and company policies.
When information is no longer reasonably necessary, we may delete, anonymize, or otherwise dispose of it in accordance with applicable law and our business practices.
Your Privacy Rights
Depending on where you reside and applicable law, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information. These may include:
Right to Know or Access
You may have the right to request information about the personal information we collect, use, or disclose about you.
Right to Delete
You may have the right to request deletion of certain personal information we maintain about you, subject to applicable exceptions.
Right to Correct
You may have the right to request correction of inaccurate personal information.
Right to Data Portability
You may have the right to request a copy of certain personal information in a portable format.
Right to Opt Out
You may have the right to opt out of certain sales or sharing of personal information or the use of personal information for targeted advertising.
Right to Limit Certain Uses
Where provided by applicable law, you may have the right to limit certain uses or disclosures of sensitive personal information.
Right to Non-Discrimination
We will not unlawfully discriminate against you for exercising applicable privacy rights.
These rights are not absolute and may be subject to exceptions under applicable law.
California Privacy Rights
California residents may have additional rights regarding their personal information under California privacy law, depending on whether and to what extent those laws apply to Howard Wire and the particular information or processing activity.
These rights may include the right to:
- Know the categories and specific pieces of personal information collected;
- Know the categories of sources from which personal information is collected;
- Know the purposes for collecting, using, selling, or sharing personal information;
- Know the categories of third parties to whom information is disclosed;
- Request deletion of qualifying personal information;
- Request correction of inaccurate personal information;
- Opt out of qualifying sales or sharing of personal information;
- Limit certain uses and disclosures of sensitive personal information where applicable; and
- Exercise applicable privacy rights without unlawful discrimination.
California residents may submit applicable requests using the contact information below or through privacy controls provided on our website.
We may need to verify your identity before completing certain requests.
Where permitted by law, you may designate an authorized agent to submit a request on your behalf. We may require documentation establishing the agent's authority and may request verification directly from you.
Marketing Communications
You may unsubscribe from promotional emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in the communication.
Even if you opt out of marketing communications, we may continue sending non-promotional communications related to quotes, orders, invoices, payments, shipping, customer accounts, or other business transactions.
International Data Transfers
Howard Wire and our service providers, including Shopify, may process, transfer, or store personal information in locations outside the state, province, or country where you reside.
Where applicable law requires specific safeguards for international transfers of personal information, appropriate transfer mechanisms may be used.
Complaints and Requests
If you have questions or concerns regarding how Howard Wire handles your personal information or would like to exercise an applicable privacy right, please contact us using the information below.
We may request information necessary to verify your identity before responding to certain privacy requests.
We will respond to qualifying requests within the time required by applicable law.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our business practices, technology, Services, legal requirements, or other operational reasons.
When we update this Privacy Policy, we will revise the "Last Updated" date above and provide additional notice where required by applicable law.
Contact Us
For questions about this Privacy Policy, our privacy practices, or requests regarding your personal information, please contact:
Howard Wire Cloth Co.
28976 Hopkins St., Suite A
Hayward, CA 94545
United States
Phone: (510) 887-8787
Email: sales@howardwire.com