GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is crucial for UK ecommerce stores because it lays out the rules for handling customer data, making sure it is managed privately and securely. It also helps businesses avoid significant fines by not being compliant.
GDPR has been key to business management and consumer law throughout Europe since May 2018. It was designed to protect the privacy of EU citizens by regulating how companies across the world process and use their personal data.
The GDPR radically changed the definition of ‘personal data’. The scope of it includes any information that relates to an identified or identifiable living individual, such as names, photos, physical addresses, email addresses, IP addresses, cookie IDs etc.
Why Is GDPR Important For Shopify Stores?
Your company doesn’t have to be based in the UK or EU to be required to comply - if you make even one sale in the UK or EU, or collect just one customer’s personal data from those regions, you must be GDPR-compliant. Here's why:
Data Protection:
GDPR requires businesses to collect and use personal data fairly and transparently, with clear consent and data subject rights.
Building Trust:
Complying with GDPR demonstrates a commitment to data privacy, enhancing customer trust and strengthening business reputation.
Avoiding Penalties:
Non-compliance can result in substantial fines, potentially crippling smaller businesses.
Managing Risk:
GDPR helps mitigate the risks associated with data breaches and cyberattacks, protecting both customers and the business.
Transparency:
GDPR requires businesses to inform customers about how their data is being used and to provide clear privacy policies.
Enhanced Data Management:
GDPR encourages better data management practices, making data more organised and secure.
Global Expansion:
GDPR principles are increasingly recognised globally, making it easier for businesses to expand into new markets.
To ensure your Shopify store is GDPR compliant, especially for visitors from the EU/UK, you’ll need to take several specific steps. As we’ve explored, GDPR focuses on transparency, consent, and control over personal data, so here’s a practical checklist to help make sure you tick all those boxes:
🔐 1. Display a GDPR-Compliant Cookie Banner
Inform users cookies are used before any non-essential cookies (e.g. marketing, analytics) are set.
Get consent: Include "Accept" and "Decline" (or "Manage preferences") buttons.
Shopify apps for this:
Pandectes GDPR Compliance
Cookiebot (external service, integrates via script)
🧾 2. Update Your Privacy Policy
Go to Online Store > Pages and create or edit a Privacy Policy page.
Include:
What data you collect
Why and how you use it
Who you share it with (e.g. Shopify, Google, Facebook)
Legal basis for processing data
How users can request or delete their data
Contact information for data inquiries
Tip: Shopify provides a basic privacy policy generator under Settings > Legal, but you should customise it for your own store and apps.
📧 3. Collect Consent for Marketing (Email & SMS)
Shopify lets you add a consent checkbox to the checkout for email marketing.
Make sure this checkbox is:
Un-ticked by default
Clearly worded (e.g. “Yes, I want to receive updates and offers”)
🧑⚖ 4. Enable Data Request & Deletion Options
Under GDPR, users can:
Request their data
Ask for their data to be deleted
Shopify helps with this:
Customers can contact you, and you can then use Shopify's admin tools to export/delete customer data.
Add a “Request My Data” section to your Privacy Policy or a dedicated page with a contact form.
🧰 5. Audit the Apps You Use on Your Shopify Store
Any third-party app (reviews, analytics, CRM, etc.) may handle customer data.
Make sure each app is GDPR-compliant.
Only keep apps you need, and review their privacy policies.
📍 6. Include Your Business Address
If you're collecting personal data, your Privacy Policy and marketing emails must include your business address (even if it's a home office).
✅ Option: Use Shopify Markets (if selling to EU/UK)
Markets by Shopify can help segment your customers by region and apply local regulations more accurately. Markets aggregates everything into one location in Shopify admin. If you want to start selling to a new country, expand to a new B2B market, or set up a retail market, the process stays consistent: simply create a new market, make your customisations, and you’re ready to go.
If you need support expanding internationally or want to work with a Shopify Plus Partner agency who can ensure all the boxes are ticked, get in touch with our team for a chat.
