Cookies and other technologies

When you interact with us (for example use our sites, apps or subscribe to marketing emails) we and third-party organisations may collect information by using 'cookies' and other technologies such as pixel tags (for simplicity we refer to all such technologies as 'cookies'). By continuing to use this site, when you create an account or when you buy our products, you agree to us and third-party organisations using cookies in line with your cookie settings. For information about how your personal information is used please see our Privacy Policy.

What are cookies and how do they work?

Cookies are small bits of text that are downloaded to your computer or other device when you visit a website. Your browser sends these cookies back to the website every time you visit the site again, so it can recognise you and can then tailor what you see on the screen.

Pixel tags (sometimes called web beacons): A pixel tag is an invisible image with a line of code which is placed within an email message or on a web page.

What do we use cookies for?

We have summarised the cookie types into the following three categories:

1. To provide you with the service you have asked for

For example, keeping you logged in during your visit. Without cookies the site might forget you and you'd have to constantly log back in. When you buy products, cookies make sure they're still in your shopping basket when you get to the checkout. These cookies are sometimes called essential cookies and are necessary to provide you with the services or products you have requested.

2. To provide you with adverts that are more relevant to your interests

We and third-party organisations may use cookies to restrict the number of times you see the same advert or to show other adverts that may be more relevant to you - often called online behavioural advertising (OBA). OBA is a way of using information about your web-browsing activity, collected by using cookies implemented when browsing on the Internet or opening our emails, and other information we or third-party organisations have collected elsewhere to group you with other users into interest groups and show you advertisements based on those interests

3. To analyse and improve your browsing and email experience

For example, for analysis purposes, we like to know what pages and links are popular, including the information in our emails, and which ones don't get used so much to help us keep our sites and emails relevant and up to date. We also use them to customise your visits to the site, for example to remember the choices you make such as your language or region.

How to manage cookies

Most browsers will enable you to manage your cookies preferences e.g. have the browser notify you when you receive a new cookie or use it to disable cookies altogether. If you do decide to disable or delete them altogether some sites won't work as well as they rely on cookies to provide you with the service you have requested.

If you do not wish to allow us and third-party organisations to use cookies within our emails, such as pixel tags, the best way to do this is not to enable images when you view our emails. In other words, only view the plain-text of the email. Some web browsers and email clients have settings or extensions available to disable / block such cookies. Gmail for example have a dedicated page to advise you exactly how to enable and disable.