Tumi Surges 44% in Debut The luggage maker Tumi surged in its debut on Thursday, amid strengthening demand for newly public consumer companies. Shares of Tumi, which priced its initial public offering at $18, jumped 44 percent to $26, valuing the company at $1.76 billion. The strong showing follows robust demand for the offering, in which Tumi set its price above the expected range and raised $338 million. It's all about the brand. Tumi, best known for its black, neoprene briefcases and luggage pieces, has expanded its reach by adding retail outlets. The company, which was acquired in 2004 by Doughty Hanson, a London-based private equity firm, now has 97 stores and operates in 70 countries. While the retailer doesn't generate substantial profits, it has steadily increased its sales. Last year, Tumi recorded revenue of $330 million, up 30.5 percent gain from the previous year. In recent months, investors have embraced the public offerings of consumer-oriented companies. The handful of newly public companies in the space are up about about 69.7 percent on average from their offering prices, according to data from Renaissance Capital, an I.P.O. advisory firm. Annie's, the organic food maker, which went public last month, surged 89 percent on its first day of trading. Like Tumi, Annie's priced above its expected range, and it remains well above its offering price.