Legal

The Aartisian.

(Terms of Use & Marketplace Rules)

Last updated: [31st October]

Welcome to The Aartisian (“The Aartisian”, “we”, “us”, “our”). We operate a digital marketplace and creative services platform that connects independent makers and creative businesses with buyers and partners who value high-quality, handmade products and services.

By accessing or using our website, marketplace, community spaces, or services (together, the “Platform”), you agree to be bound by this Legal Policy (“Terms”). If you do not agree with these Terms, you must not use the Platform.

Important note: This Legal Policy is a general framework and does not constitute legal advice. You should seek independent legal advice before relying on or publishing these Terms.

1. Who we are

The Aartisian is a handmade-focused marketplace and creative partner that:

Showcases and sells products created by independent makers (“Sellers”);
Enables customers to browse, purchase and commission goods (“Buyers”); and
Offers additional marketing, storytelling, PR and workshop services (the “Services”).

Our contact details are:

Name: The Aartisian
Website: https://theaartisian.online
Email:. legal@theaartisian.online
Postal address: The Aartisian Limited, 7 Bell Yard, London, United Kingdom. WC2A 2JR.

2. Scope of this Legal Policy

These Terms govern:

Your access to and use of the Platform as a visitor, Buyer or Seller;
The relationship between us and our users; and
The general rules for buying and selling on the Platform.

Additional policies may also apply, including:

Privacy Policy – how we collect and use personal data;
Cookie Policy – how we use cookies and similar technologies;
Modern Slavery & Ethical Sourcing Statement – how we approach ethical and responsible trade; and
Seller Subscription & Fee Policy – subscription plans, fees & commissions.

If there is any conflict between this Legal Policy and a more specific policy or agreement (for example, a Seller Agreement), the more specific document will usually take precedence.

3. Eligibility & account registration

3.1 Eligibility

To use certain parts of the Platform (for example, to make a purchase or become a Seller), you must:

Be at least 18 years old (or the age of legal majority in your country);
Have the authority to enter into binding contracts; and
Use the Platform for lawful purposes only.

3.2 Account registration

To access certain Services, you may need to create an account. You agree to:

Provide accurate, current and complete information;
Keep your login details secure and confidential;
Promptly update your information if it changes; and
Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account.

We may suspend or close accounts we reasonably believe are being used in breach of these Terms or applicable law.

4. Our role as a marketplace

4.1 Platform, not the manufacturer (in most cases)

The Aartisian primarily acts as a marketplace facilitator. In most cases:

Sellers create, own and are responsible for their products;
Contracts for the sale of goods are formed directly between the Buyer and the Seller;
The Aartisian may process payments and provide support, but is not the manufacturer or Seller of record for those goods (unless explicitly stated for specific items or collaborations).

4.2 Responsibilities of Sellers

Sellers are responsible for:

Ensuring their products are safe, lawful and accurately described;
Complying with all applicable laws (consumer protection, product safety, labelling, tax, intellectual property, etc.);
Setting and clearly communicating pricing, shipping, returns and warranty terms; and
Delivering goods and services with reasonable care and skill, and within indicated timeframes.

4.3 Responsibilities of Buyers

Buyers are responsible for:

Carefully reading product descriptions, pricing, shipping terms and any Seller policies before purchasing;
Providing accurate delivery and contact details;
Paying applicable charges in full; and
Complying with relevant customs, import duties or taxes where applicable.

5. Orders, payments & fees

5.1 Orders

When you place an order on the Platform, you are making an offer to purchase products from the relevant Seller. The contract is formed when the order is accepted (for example, via an order confirmation email or dispatch notification).

We reserve the right, on our own behalf or on behalf of Sellers, to refuse, cancel or limit orders where there is a legitimate reason (for example, suspected fraud, pricing errors, or unavailability).

5.2 Payments

Unless otherwise stated:

Payments are processed through third-party payment providers;
You authorise us and/or the payment provider to charge your chosen payment method;
We do not store full payment card details on our servers.

You are responsible for any bank charges, currency conversion fees, or other payment-related costs.

5.3 Fees & commissions (for Sellers)

Sellers agree to pay the subscription, listing and/or commission fees described on our Subscription & Fees page and/or any Seller Agreement accepted during registration.

We may update our pricing structure periodically. Any changes will be communicated in a reasonable manner (for example, via email or platform notifications) and will generally apply prospectively.

6. Shipping, returns & refunds

Each Seller is responsible for:

Defining and publishing their shipping options, costs, and estimated delivery times;
Providing clear and lawful information about returns, refunds and cancellations; and
Complying with any statutory consumer rights applicable in the Buyer’s jurisdiction.

Where The Aartisian offers centralised support (for example, dispute support or platform-wide guarantees), additional terms may apply. These will be clearly explained on the relevant pages.

7. Content, IP & brand use

7.1 Our content

Unless otherwise stated, all content on the Platform – including text, graphics, logos, images, video, and software – is owned by or licensed to The Aartisian and protected by intellectual property laws.

You may not:

Copy, reproduce, distribute or create derivative works from our content;
Use our trademarks (including “The Aartisian” and any associated logos or taglines such as “Handmade. Heart-led. Human-first.”) without our prior written consent.

7.2 Seller content & product images

Sellers retain ownership of their own product images, descriptions, branding and other creative materials (“Seller Content”). By uploading Seller Content to the Platform, Sellers grant The Aartisian a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to:

Host, store and display the content;
Edit and format the content for presentation on the Platform;
Use the content to promote the Seller, their products, and the Platform (for example, in Business Spotlights, social media, newsletters and ads).

Sellers are responsible for ensuring they have all necessary rights to upload and license their content.

7.3 User reviews and community contributions

If you submit reviews, comments, feedback, images or other contributions (“User Content”):

You grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, display, reproduce, modify and distribute that content in connection with the Platform;
You confirm that your User Content is accurate (where it states facts) and genuinely held (where it states opinions);
You agree not to post anything unlawful, defamatory, discriminatory, hateful, harassing or otherwise harmful.

We may moderate, remove or decline to publish User Content that breaches these standards or applicable law.

8. Acceptable use

You agree not to use the Platform to:

Engage in any unlawful, fraudulent, misleading or harmful activity;
Infringe or misuse anyone’s intellectual property or privacy rights;
Upload viruses, malware or other harmful code;
Harass, abuse, threaten or discriminate against others;
Promote modern slavery, human trafficking, exploitation, unsafe labour practices or unethical sourcing;
Circumvent fees, commissions or platform controls (for example, steering Buyers away from the Platform to avoid fees when the relationship started here);
Interfere with or disrupt the operation of the Platform or our systems.

We may investigate and, where appropriate, report suspected illegal activities to relevant authorities.

9. Data protection & privacy

We take privacy seriously. Our Privacy Policy explains:

What personal data we collect;
How we use, share and store it; and
Your rights in relation to your personal data.

By using the Platform, you acknowledge that we may process your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.

Our Cookie Policy explains how we use cookies and similar technologies.

10. Modern slavery, ethics & sustainability

The Aartisian is committed to supporting ethical, responsible and human-centred trade. We expect Sellers using our Platform to:

Avoid any involvement in modern slavery, forced labour or human trafficking;
Provide safe working conditions and fair treatment for all workers;
Comply with applicable labour, health and safety laws; and
Be transparent about materials, sourcing and production practices wherever reasonably possible.

Further detail may be provided in our Modern Slavery & Ethical Sourcing Statement and any additional guidelines we publish for Sellers.

11. Third-party services & links

The Platform may include links to third-party websites or services (for example, payment providers, social media platforms or courier services). We do not control and are not responsible for:

The content or policies of those third parties; or
Any loss or damage arising from your use of them.

You use third-party sites and services at your own risk and should review their terms and privacy policies.

12. Disclaimers

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

The Platform is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis;
We do not guarantee that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free or always secure;
We do not endorse or guarantee the quality, safety, legality or suitability of products and services offered by Sellers, although we may curate and review listings and content.

Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude or limit any rights or remedies that you may have as a consumer which cannot be excluded under applicable law.

13. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

We will not be liable for any indirect, consequential, incidental, punitive or special loss or damage (including loss of profits, revenue, data or goodwill) arising out of or in connection with your use of the Platform;
Our total aggregate liability to you for any claim arising out of or in connection with the Platform and these Terms shall, where permitted, be limited to the greater of:
- (a) the total fees you have paid to us in the 12 months before the event giving rise to the claim, or
- (b) [insert a reasonable monetary cap].

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

14. Indemnity (for Sellers and business users)

If you are a Seller or using the Platform in the course of business, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless The Aartisian, its directors, employees and partners against any claims, damages, losses, costs and expenses arising from:

Your breach of these Terms or any other applicable policy;
Your violation of any law or third-party right;
Any claim relating to your products, services, content or conduct on the Platform.

15. Suspension & termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Platform (in whole or part) where we reasonably believe that:

You have breached these Terms or applicable law;
Your conduct poses a risk to other users or to our reputation; or
We are required to do so by law, regulation or a competent authority.

You may stop using the Platform or close your account at any time. Some provisions of these Terms will continue to apply after termination, including those relating to intellectual property, limitations of liability and indemnity.

16. Changes to this Legal Policy

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect:

Changes in law or regulation;
Improvements or changes to the Platform; or
Operational, technical or commercial adjustments.

When we make changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify users via the Platform or by email.

Your continued use of the Platform after changes take effect will constitute acceptance of the updated Terms.

17. Governing law & jurisdiction

These Terms and any disputes arising out of or in connection with them shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales (or insert your preferred jurisdiction).

You and we agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have non-exclusive jurisdiction, subject to any consumer protection rules that provide you with mandatory rights to bring claims in your local courts.

18. Contact us

If you have any questions about this Legal Policy or how we operate, please contact us at:

Email: hello@theaartisian.online
Postal address: The Aartisian Limited, 7 Bell Yard, London. WC2A 2JR.

We’re committed to building a marketplace that is handmade, heart-led and human-first, and we welcome feedback on how we can better support our community of makers and buyers.