Introduction

Welcome to the Cookies Policy for Find Local Gems. This policy explains how we use cookies and similar technologies on our website to improve your browsing experience, personalize content, and analyze website traffic. By using our website, you consent to the use of cookies as described in this policy.

Find Local Gems is dedicated to connecting residents and visitors with the best local businesses in Chicago. We value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Cookies Policy is part of our broader effort to be transparent about our data practices.

This policy was last updated on October 26, 2026. We may update this policy from time to time, so please review it periodically.

What are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site. Cookies can be "persistent" or "session" cookies. Persistent cookies remain on your computer after you close your browser and are used to remember your preferences for future visits. Session cookies are temporary and are deleted when you close your browser.

Cookies serve various functions, such as remembering your login details, customizing your browsing experience, and providing website analytics. They can also be used for targeted advertising, although Find Local Gems does not currently engage in this practice.

How We Use Cookies

At Find Local Gems, we use cookies for the following purposes:

• Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. They enable you to navigate the site and use its features, such as accessing secure areas.
• Performance Cookies: These cookies collect information about how visitors use our website, such as which pages they visit most often and if they encounter any error messages. This information helps us improve the website's performance and user experience.
• Functionality Cookies: These cookies allow the website to remember your preferences, such as your language or region, and provide enhanced features.
• Analytics Cookies: We use Google Analytics to collect information about website traffic and user behavior. This data helps us understand how users interact with our site and identify areas for improvement.

Specifically, we use the following cookies:

Third-Party Cookies

In addition to our own cookies, we may also use third-party cookies on our website. These cookies are set by third-party service providers, such as Google, and are used for analytics and other purposes.

We have no control over these cookies and are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review the privacy policies of these third-party service providers for more information.

Currently, the primary third-party cookie used is for Google Analytics, used to better understand user navigation of the site and improve overall user experience.

Managing Cookies

You can control the use of cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies, as well as to set preferences for different types of cookies. However, please note that blocking or deleting cookies may affect your browsing experience and may prevent you from accessing certain features of our website.

To manage cookies in your browser, please refer to the browser's help documentation or visit the browser's website for instructions. Here are some helpful links for popular browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Edge
• Safari

You can also opt-out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

Cookie Consent

When you first visit our website, we will display a cookie banner that asks for your consent to use cookies. By clicking "Accept" or continuing to browse our website, you consent to the use of cookies as described in this policy. You can withdraw your consent at any time by managing your cookie preferences through your browser settings.

If you choose to decline cookies, some features of our website may not function properly.

Changes to this Policy

We may update this Cookies Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our data practices or legal requirements. We will post any updates on this page and encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of our website after any changes to this policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

We will also update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy to indicate when the most recent changes were made.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about our Cookies Policy, please contact us at:

Find Local Gems
Attn: Data Protection Officer
123 Michigan Avenue, Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60601
Email: privacy@findlocalgemschicago.com
Phone: (312) 555-1212

Our Data Protection Officer, Elena Rodriguez, is available to address any inquiries related to data privacy and cookie usage on our website.