Privacy Policy

Last updated: 11/30/2025

This policy applies to Explore NWNJ, a local business directory for Northwest New Jersey (Warren, Sussex, and Morris Counties).

Explore NWNJ (“we”, “us”, or “our”) runs a local business directory and website at https://explorenwnj.com.

This page explains what personal data we collect, how we use it, and what choices you have. This is a small, human-run site, and we only collect what we actually need to run the directory and respond to messages.

If you have any questions, you can email hello@explorenwnj.com.

Who we are

Explore NWNJ is a local directory highlighting small businesses in Northwest New Jersey (Warren, Sussex, and Morris Counties). The site is owned and operated by Kimberly Casteel Torres in Hackettstown, NJ.

Website: https://explorenwnj.com
Contact email: hello@explorenwnj.com

What personal data we collect and why we collect it

We collect information in a few ways:

1. Business listing submissions

When you submit your business to the directory, we collect the information you provide in the form, which may include:

  • Business name and address
  • City, state, and zip code
  • Phone number and email address
  • Website and social media links
  • Hours of operation
  • Descriptions, services, keywords, and other business details
  • Logo, photos, map embed, and video links
  • Your name and contact details as the person submitting the listing

We use this information to:

  • Review your submission
  • Create and publish your business listing on the site
  • Contact you about your listing, updates, or clarifications

Only the fields we choose to show in the directory will be public. Some fields (like internal notes) are for admin use only.

2. Contact form submissions

When you contact us through the website, we collect:

  • Your name
  • Email address
  • Subject and your message
  • Any business details you choose to share

We use this information only to read and respond to your message.

3. Comments (if enabled)

If comments are enabled on certain posts and you leave a comment, we collect:

  • The data shown in the comments form
  • Your IP address and browser user agent string (to help with spam detection)

An anonymized string created from your email address (a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available at: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After your comment is approved, your profile picture (if any) is visible to the public in the context of your comment.

4. Media

If you upload images or logos to the website, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS). Visitors to the website can download and extract location data from images on the website.

Cookies

We use cookies for basic site functionality and convenience.

If you leave a comment, you may opt in to saving your name, email address, and website in cookies. These are for your convenience so you do not have to fill in your details again when you leave another comment. These cookies last for one year.

If you visit our login page, we set a temporary cookie to check if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.

When you log in (for site admins), we set cookies to save your login information and screen display preferences. Login cookies last for two days, and screen options cookies last for one year. If you select “Remember Me”, your login will persist for two weeks. If you log out, the login cookies are removed.

If you edit or publish an article or business listing (for admins), an additional cookie is saved in your browser. This cookie includes no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article you just edited. It expires after one day.

Embedded content from other websites

Pages on this site may include embedded content such as:

  • Google Maps
  • Videos (e.g. YouTube, Vimeo)
  • Social media posts
  • Images or articles from other sites

Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if you visited the other website directly. These sites may:

  • Collect data about you
  • Use cookies
  • Embed additional third-party tracking
  • Monitor your interaction with that embedded content (including tracking your interaction if you have an account and are logged in to that website)

We do not control the privacy practices of those external services.

Analytics and spam protection

We may use basic analytics and spam protection tools (such as anti-spam services or security plugins) to keep the site secure and understand general traffic patterns.

These services may log anonymous information such as IP addresses, browser type, pages visited, and time spent on the site. This is used to protect the site from abuse and to improve the experience, not to build individual profiles.

Who we share your data with

We do not sell your personal data.

Your data may be processed by:

  • Our web hosting provider and related service providers who help us run the website
  • Anti-spam and security services (for example, comment spam filtering or form spam detection)
  • Email services we use to send messages or replies

If you request a password reset (for admin accounts), your IP address may be included in the reset email for security purposes.

How long we retain your data

  • Business submissions: We keep business listing data as long as the listing is active in the directory or until you ask us to remove it.
  • Contact form messages: We keep contact messages for as long as needed to respond and maintain a record of our communication.
  • Comments: If you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata are retained indefinitely so we can recognize and approve any follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them in a moderation queue.
  • User accounts (if any): For users who register on the site (for admin or contributor roles), we store the personal information they provide in their user profile. Users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (except they cannot change their username). Site administrators can also see and edit that information.

What rights you have over your data

If you have submitted a business, contacted us through the site, have an account here, or have left comments, you can request:

  • An exported file of the personal data we hold about you
  • That we correct or update your information
  • That we delete your personal data, where we are not required to keep it for administrative, legal, or security purposes

To make a request, email hello@explorenwnj.com.

Where your data is sent

Visitor comments and some form submissions may be checked through automated spam detection or security services.

Information may also be stored on servers managed by our hosting provider and other trusted service providers that help us operate this website.

Contact information

If you have privacy-related questions or requests, you can contact:

Explore NWNJ
Email: hello@explorenwnj.com

Note: This privacy policy is provided for general informational purposes and reflects how Explore NWNJ currently operates. It is not legal advice. If you need a fully customized policy or have specific legal concerns, consider speaking with a legal professional.