Privacy Policy

MyTownShowcase (“MyTownShowcase,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) operates mytownshowcase.com (the “Site”), a directory that helps patrons discover independent local businesses organized by community. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have.

Information we collect

Account information

When you create an account, we collect your email address, first and last name, and whether you’re signing up as a patron or a business owner. Authentication is handled by our database provider, Supabase, which also stores your password in hashed form — we never see or store your password directly.

Business listing information

If you create a business listing, we collect the information you choose to submit about that business: name, address, phone number, hours, logo, bio, website, offer text, contact email, and the communities it’s affiliated with. We use the address you provide to look up map coordinates via Mapbox’s geocoding service so your listing can appear on the map correctly.

Content you post

Photos you upload (as a business owner or as a patron), forum posts, community wall posts and replies (including attached photos or videos), event submissions, and favorited businesses are stored and associated with your account. Patron-uploaded photos and community posts are shown publicly along with your first name, and uploaded media can be opened by anyone with its link.

Businesses can send updates to patrons who favorited them. Businesses can’t see who favorited them, only how many patrons a message reaches. We store the messages you receive and whether you’ve read them.

Information collected automatically

Our hosting provider (Vercel) automatically logs standard technical information for security and reliability purposes, such as IP address and request timestamps. We also use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use the Site, such as which pages are viewed and roughly where visitors come from. Google Analytics collects this usage information through cookies and similar technologies and shares it with Google. We do not use advertising trackers on the Site.

How we use your information

• To create and maintain your account
• To display business listings and community content to visitors
• To operate features like favorites, the forum, and event calendars
• To review and moderate submitted content (listings, photos, forum posts, event requests)
• To communicate with you about your account or in response to a message you send us
• To keep the Site secure and functioning correctly

How we share information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only in these situations:

• Public listing content. Information you choose to include on a published business listing (name, address, phone, offer text, etc.) is publicly visible to anyone who visits the Site, by design.
• Service providers. We use Supabase (database, authentication, and file storage), Vercel (hosting), Mapbox (maps and address geocoding), Stripe (payments, so we never see full card numbers), Resend (support emails), and Brevo (email updates, using your email address and first name) to operate the Site. These providers process data on our behalf and are not permitted to use it for their own purposes.
• Legal reasons. We may disclose information if required by law or to protect the rights, safety, or property of MyTownShowcase, our users, or others.

Cookies

We use a cookie to keep you signed in, set by our authentication provider (Supabase). This cookie is required for the Site to function and isn’t used for advertising or tracking you across other websites. Google Analytics sets its own cookies to measure Site usage. You can block them with your browser’s settings or by installing Google’s opt-out browser add-on.

If you arrive through a link from one of our sales representatives, we set a cookie for 90 days that remembers which representative sent you. It is used only to credit them if you later claim or list a business or buy a plan, and it is not used for advertising.

Data retention and deletion

We keep your account and content for as long as your account is active. If you’d like your account or personal information deleted, contact us at the email below and we’ll process your request, except where we’re required to retain certain records by law.

Children’s privacy

The Site is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Future changes to how we process data

If we add features or service providers that change how your information is handled, we’ll update this Privacy Policy. We send occasional email updates to account holders, and every one includes an unsubscribe link.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we’ll update the “Last updated” date above.

Contact us

Questions about this Privacy Policy, or requests about your information, can be sent to support@mytownshowcase.com.