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Based in Scottsboro, Alabama, Unclaimed Baggage has built a business unlike any other. The retailer purchases unclaimed luggage from airlines and other transportation companies, then gives the contents a second chance by reselling everything from designer clothing and electronics to jewelry, collectibles, and unexpected treasures.
What began with a borrowed pickup truck and a $300 loan has grown into the country's only retailer dedicated to lost luggage, serving shoppers both in-store and online.
Owner and CEO Bryan Owens believes one of the company's biggest milestones came when it expanded beyond its single retail location. While customers from around the world wanted to shop Unclaimed Baggage, creating an online store presented a unique challenge because every item in its inventory is one of a kind.
"We frequently got requests for an online store, but the prospect of this was harrowing due to the nature of our inventory. Everything is a SKU of one,” explained Owens.
To celebrate the company's 50th anniversary in 2020, the team launched its e-commerce platform. Owens recalls watching a digital map light up with orders from across the country moments after the site went live. Today, online sales rival those of the flagship retail store, allowing more customers to discover the unexpected finds that have made Unclaimed Baggage famous.
If you take care of your team, your customers, and your business partners, they will become your biggest advocates—and make your job a lot more fun.Bryan Owens, Founder of Unclaimed Baggage
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Owens encourages focusing on steady, sustainable growth rather than pursuing rapid expansion at any cost.
"Seek sustainable growth as your north star, not growth at all costs,” Owens said.
He believes successful business owners are willing to take calculated risks while remaining patient, seeking trusted advice, and making decisions that position their companies for long-term success.
More than five decades after Unclaimed Baggage was founded, one lesson has remained constant.
"Relationships are everything. If you take care of your team, your customers, and your business partners, they will become your biggest advocates—and make your job a lot more fun,” explained Owens.
That people-first approach has helped Unclaimed Baggage grow into a nationally recognized retailer while giving millions of lost items—and countless customers—a new beginning.
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