Privacy Notice

Specialists Marketing Services, Inc. (“SMS”) values the privacy of its customers and consumers.  We’ve created this resource to help you understand what personal information we collect, how we use it, and what choices you have about it.  We strive to provide consumers with transparency and choice.

Introduction to SMS’ Services

SMS helps our clients to provide more targeted, relevant, and effective marketing and communications through various media channels including but not limited to direct mail, email, social media, display ads, and to understand more about their clients and prospects through our wide variety of data products and services.

Information SMS Collects

SMS Website

SMS does not collect personal information about visitors to our site except when visitors specifically provide such information on a voluntary basis. Personal information may be gathered from forms submitted to request additional information as well as content or blog subscriptions. We may collect personal information, such as your name, email address, mailing address, telephone number, contact preferences, and other identifiers as part of our effort to transact business with you and to respond to your inquiries. We may also collect personal information from you for marketing purposes unless you specifically opt-out and request that you not be contacted in conjunction with such marketing activities.

Marketing Data Products and Services

The personal information we collect for our marketing data products and services is not collected on this website. Our marketing data products contain personal information such as name/address, demographics, interest-based data, email, phone number and other identifiers.  This data is sourced through Business to Business companies, self-reported surveys, publicly available information, census information, telecommunications companies, publishing product companies, data compilers, aggregators, partners and clients.

SMS does not knowingly collect, use, or disclose personal information for marketing purposes on anyone under the age of 18.

Your Choices

Nevada Do Not Sell My Personal Information Opt-Out

Nevada residents have the right to opt-out of the sale of their personal information from SMS to third parties. To exercise this right, please submit a Do Not Sell My Personal Information request.

Opt-Out of SMS Marketing Communications

SMS maintains contact lists to communicate with our prospects and clients.  All email messages sent to these contact lists include an unsubscribe or opt-out mechanism.  This allows you to opt-out of receiving future marketing and promotional communications.  You may also request to unsubscribe or Opt-Out of our marketing email communications by contacting us at [email protected].  Please include full name, company name, address, email address, and telephone number in your request.

Opt-Out of our Marketing Data Products and Services

To Opt-Out of our Marketing Data Products and Services Databases, please email us at [email protected]. Please include full name, address, email address, and telephone number in your request. Please note that by opting out of our marketing database, it will not prevent other companies from sending you marketing promotions through various channels, including but not limited to direct mail, email, social media and display ads.

Other Privacy Choices and Opt-Out Solutions

DMAchoice.org (https://dmachoice.thedma.org/) offers consumers a simple, step-by-step process that enables them to decide what mail they do and do not want.

In addition, DMAchoice, offers online and mail in registration for DMA’s:

Digital Advertising Alliance (https://youradchoices.com/) When you click on the YourAdChoices icon, you get control over how information about your interests is used for relevant advertising.

Network Advertising Alliance (link to http://optout.networkadvertising.org/?c=1) NAI offers an opt-out page where you can learn more about NAI members who deliver tailored online ads and your choices to opt-out of receiving them.

Cookie Notice

We do not use 1st Party Cookies to record your visit to our website.

We do permit Third-Party cookies on our website. We use Google Analytics cookies to assess performance and analytics or to perform business research.

Managing and refusing the use of Cookies

Most browsers allow you to choose whether you wish to accept cookies.  Generally, your browser will offer you the choice to accept, refuse, or delete all cookies, or third-party cookies on a website.  Controls will vary by browser.  We’ve provided links below to some popular browser instructions:

 

Links to Third Party Sites

Our website contains links to third party sites. SMS does not endorse or make any representations about any third party sites including any information found there. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of these third party sites.

Security

SMS maintains security procedures designed to keep information we aggregate, license and process from being accessed by any unauthorized person, persons or business. SMS has safeguards in place to keep your personal information accurate, complete, and up to date for the purposes for which it is used. Strict measures are taken to assure against unauthorized access, alteration, or dissemination of personal information. We also maintain physical security for our facilities and limit access to certain critical areas of our business.

Additional Rights for Consumers in the States of California, Virginia, Colorado, Utah, Connecticut, Oregon and Texas

The rights outlined below are provided for consumers who reside in California, Virginia, Colorado, Utah, Connecticut, Oregon and Texas. Each of these states has passed its own unique privacy law, which offers additional rights for individuals living in these states. Such rights are detailed below and apply to consumers in all or some of these states as applicable pursuant to the California Consumer Protection Act (“CCPA”), the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (“VCPA”), the Colorado Privacy Act (“CPA”), the Utah Consumer Privacy Act (“UCPA”), the Connecticut Data Privacy Act (“CTDPA”), the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act (“OCPA”) and the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act ( TDPSA). 

Marketing Data Products and Services

The personal information we collect for our marketing data products is not collected on this website. Our marketing data products contain publicly available information, census information, as well as personal information from data compilers, aggregators, and partners.

SMS collects the following categories of information about consumers:

  • Name/address
  • Demographic
  • Interest-based data
  • Device
  • Browser
  • Email, clear or hashed
  • IP address
  • Telephone
  • Inferences about your predicted characteristics and preferences
  • Other information about you that is linked to personal information above, for example, information on individuals who have recently moved, purchased a home, obtained a hunting license, registered a boat.
 

SMS does not knowingly collect, use or disclose personal information for marketing purposes on anyone under the age of 18.

SMS has collected personal information from the following categories of sources in the last twelve (12) months:

  • Business to Business companies
  • Data Compilers/Aggregators/Resellers
  • Public or Government entities
  • Publishing Product companies
  • Telecommunications companies
 

In the past twelve (12) months, SMS has disclosed or sold the categories of personal information referenced above to the following categories of third parties:

  • Advertising/Marketing companies
  • Advertising networks
  • Apparel & Accessory companies
  • Automotive companies
  • Business Services/Agencies
  • Business to Business companies
  • Communication Services companies
  • Consumer Data resellers
  • Consumer Packaged Goods companies
  • Consumer Services companies
  • Data Analytics providers
  • Data Onboarding companies
  • Educational Institutions & companies
  • Electronics companies
  • Food & Beverage companies
  • Furniture & Home Goods companies
  • General Merchandise and Gift Product companies
  • Health and Wellness Product and Service companies
  • Insurance & Financial Services companies
  • Lifestyle & Interest Product companies
  • Marketing Data companies
  • Not for Profit organizations
  • Publishing Product companies
  • Technology/Computer Software companies
  • Telecommunications companies
  • Travel, Leisure & Entertainment companies
 

SMS shares data for the following purposes:

  • Analytics
  • Customer Acquisition
  • Data Enrichment
  • Enhanced Targeting
  • Market Research
  • Multi-Channel Marketing

            Direct Mail
            Social Media
            Display

 

SMS has also collected “Sensitive Personal Information” over the past twelve (12) months.  “Sensitive Personal Information” has a different definition under the CCPA, the VCPA, the CPA, the UCPA, and the CTDPA.  Under all laws, this type of information requires additional protection.

Sensitive Personal Information that is “publicly available” is generally not considered sensitive personal information or personal information.

The categories of Sensitive Personal Information that SMS collects are as follows:

  • A consumer’s racial or ethnic origin, religious or philosophical beliefs, or union membership.
  • Personal information collected and analyzed concerning a consumer’s health.
 

SMS does not collect Sensitive Personal Information for residents of VA, CO or CT, OR or TX 

As a resident of CA you have the right to request that SMS limit the use and disclosure of your Sensitive Personal Information. To do so, please click here.

Right to Know and Access

As a resident of CA, VA, CO, UT, CT, OR or TX, you have the right to request that SMS disclose the specific pieces or categories of personal information that we have collected about you in the preceding twelve (12) months.  Click here to submit a verifiable request to exercise this right.

In order for SMS to properly verify the Consumer’s identity prior to any disclosure of information, SMS will require, at a minimum, the Consumer’s full name, address, email address, and telephone number.

Alternatively, you may email [email protected] to initiate this request.

If SMS cannot verify the identity of the person making the request, SMS may request additional information for verification or deny your request.

SMS is not obligated to provide information to the same consumer more than twice in a twelve (12) month period.

Right to Know Data Shared

As a resident of CA, VA, CO, UT, CT, OR or TX, you have the right to request that SMS disclose the categories of your personal information we have disclosed or sold to third parties for a business or commercial purpose in the preceding twelve (12) months.  Click here to submit a verifiable request to exercise this right.

In order for SMS to properly verify the Consumer’s identity prior to any disclosure of information, SMS will require, at a minimum, the Consumer’s full name, address, email address, and telephone number.

Alternatively, you may email [email protected] to initiate this request.

If SMS cannot verify the identity of the person making the request, SMS may request additional information for verification or deny your request.

SMS is not obligated to provide information to the same consumer more than twice in a twelve (12) month period.

Right to Delete

As a CA, VA, CO, UT, CT, OR or TX, resident, you have the right to request that SMS delete any personal information we have collected or maintain about you.  Click here to submit a verifiable request to exercise this right.

In order for SMS to properly verify the Consumer’s identity prior to any disclosure of information, SMS will require, at a minimum, the Consumer’s full name, address, email address, and telephone number.

Alternatively, you may email [email protected] to initiate this request.

If SMS cannot verify the identity of the person making the request, SMS may request additional information for verification or deny your request.

Right to Opt-Out of Sale (and Profiling, and Sharing for Targeting Advertising)

As a CA, VA, CO, UT, CT, OR or TX, resident, you have the right to opt-out of the sale or sharing of your personal information, targeted advertising, or profiling by SMS.  Click here to submit a verifiable request to exercise this right.

In order for SMS to properly verify the Consumer’s identity prior to any disclosure of information, SMS will require, at a minimum, the Consumer’s full name, address, email address, and telephone number.

Alternatively, you may email [email protected] to initiate this request.

If SMS cannot verify the identity of the person making the request, SMS may request additional information for verification or deny your request.

Right to Correct

As a CA, VA, CO, CT, OR or TX, resident, you have the right to correct your personal information.  Click here to submit a verifiable request to exercise this right.

In order for SMS to properly verify the Consumer’s identity prior to any disclosure of information, SMS will require, at a minimum, the Consumer’s full name, address, email address, and telephone number.

Alternatively, you may email [email protected] to initiate this request.

If SMS cannot verify the identity of the person making the request, SMS may request additional information for verification or deny your request.

Right to Non-Discrimination

You have the right not to receive discriminatory treatment by SMS for exercising your privacy rights.

Data Retention Policy

SMS may store your information for as long as it is required for our business purposes, including those set forth in this Privacy Notice.  SMS regularly deletes information that is deemed unreliable or inaccurate.

Authorized Agent

As a CA, CO, CT, or OR resident, you can designate an authorized agent to make a request on your (the consumer’s) behalf.  Please check your state’s specific guidelines for properly authorizing an agent.

Annual CA Consumer Request Reporting

2023 Delete  Correct  Know Opt-OutLimit Use of Sensitive PI 
Number of requests received 34,760  0  0  44  0 
Number of requests complied with in full 33,493  N/A  0  29  N/A 
Number of requests complied with in part 0  N/A  0  0  N/A 
Number of requests denied due to incomplete information provided/inability to verify consumer 1,266  N/A  0  15  N/A 
Mean number of days we took to substantively respond to requests 5  N/A  15  5  N/A 
Median number of days we took to substantively respond to requests 3  N/A  15  3  N/A 

Data Broker

The entity maintaining this website is a data broker under Texas law. To conduct business in Texas, a data broker must register with the Texas Secretary of State (Texas SOS). Information about data broker registrants is available on the Texas SOS website.

Purchaser Credentialing Process

SMS takes reasonable steps to confirm that our clients are who they say they are and will be using the data collected for the purposes they say they will be using it for and will not use the data for nefarious purposes. For more information on our credentialing process, please contact [email protected].

Privacy Notice Updates

SMS may revise this Privacy Notice at our discretion. Any future version of the Privacy Notice generally becomes effective at the time of posting. We encourage you to periodically review the website for the latest changes.  You can determine when this Notice was last revised by checking the “Last Revised” date at the bottom of this Notice. By using, and continuing to use the site, you agree to this Notice.

Questions about this Privacy Notice may be submitted by mail to the address below or via email to [email protected].

Specialists Marketing Services, Inc.
Attn: Data Privacy Team
250 Pehle Avenue – Suite 200
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663-5830

This notice was last revised June 21, 2024. 

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