Privacy Policy

The Maryland Small Business Examiner

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 1/1/2026

The Maryland Small Business Examiner (“we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and the choices you have. By using our website (mdsbexaminer.com), purchasing our products, or communicating with us, you agree to the practices described below.

Section 1

Information We Collect

We collect information in the following ways:

Information You Provide Directly

  • ›Name, business name, mailing address, email address, and phone number
  • ›Order details including award category, product personalization information, and shipping address
  • ›Payment information processed securely through our payment processor (we do not store full credit card numbers on our servers)
  • ›Communications you send to us via email, contact forms, or the winner access portal

Information Collected Automatically

  • ›IP address, browser type, device information, and operating system
  • ›Pages visited, time spent on pages, and referring website
  • ›Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Cookies section below)

Section 2

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • ›Process and fulfill orders, including production, shipping, and customer service
  • ›Notify award recipients and provide access to winner hub pages
  • ›Send transactional emails (order confirmations, shipping updates, account notices)
  • ›Respond to inquiries, support requests, and refund or reprint claims
  • ›Improve our website, products, and customer experience
  • ›Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents
  • ›Comply with legal obligations

Section 3

Third-Party Service Providers

We share limited information with trusted service providers who help us operate our business. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the services they provide to us:

Stripe

Processes payments and stores payment card information securely. Stripe is PCI-DSS compliant and handles all card data directly. View their privacy policy at stripe.com/privacy.

GoHighLevel (HighLevel)

Manages our customer relationship database, email communications, and marketing automation. Stores contact information, order history, and email engagement data. View their privacy policy at gohighlevel.com/privacy-policy.

WordPress & WooCommerce

Powers our website and online store. Stores order details, customer accounts, and product personalization information.

Shipping Carriers & Print Partners

We share shipping addresses and order details with carriers (such as USPS, UPS, and FedEx) and our production partners to fulfill and deliver your order.

Analytics & Hosting Providers

We may use analytics tools to understand site traffic and performance. These providers may collect IP addresses and usage data on our behalf.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes.

Section 4

Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to keep your shopping cart functional, remember your preferences, analyze site traffic, and improve your experience. You can control cookies through your browser settings, but disabling them may affect site functionality (including checkout).

Stripe and GoHighLevel may set their own cookies when you interact with payment forms or embedded elements on our site.

Section 5

Your Rights & Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

  • ›Access the personal information we hold about you
  • ›Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
  • ›Request deletion of your information (subject to legal and business retention requirements)
  • ›Opt out of marketing emails by clicking “unsubscribe” in any message we send
  • ›Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information (we do not sell your information)

To exercise any of these rights, email us at info@mail.mdsbexaminer.com. We will respond within 30 days.

Section 6

Data Security & Retention

We use industry-standard security measures including SSL encryption, secure payment processing through Stripe, and access controls to protect your information. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

We retain your information for as long as needed to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Order records are typically retained for at least seven years for tax and accounting purposes.

Section 7

Children’s Privacy

Our website and products are intended for business owners and adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected such information, we will delete it promptly.

Section 8

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. The “Effective Date” at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

Questions? Contact Us

The Maryland Small Business Examiner

info@mail.mdsbexaminer.com
6340 Security Blvd, Ste 100 #1176
Baltimore, MD 21207

We typically respond to privacy inquiries within 2 business days.