Tumi Holdings, Inc., is a manufacturer of high-end

suitcase A suitcase is a form of luggage. It is a rectangular container with a handle typically used to carry one's clothes and other belongings while traveling. The first suitcases appeared in the late 19th century due to the increased popularity of ma ...

s and bags for travel based in Edison, New Jersey. Founded in 1975 by Charlie Clifford after a stint in the

Peace Corps The Peace Corps is an independent agency and program of the United States government that trains and deploys volunteers to provide international development assistance. It was established in March 1961 by an executive order of President John F. ...

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

, the company is named after a Peruvian

tumi Tumi ( ''Quechua'' for 'Knife', ''variants'': 'Tome', 'Tume'), is a generic term encompassing the many kinds of sharp tools utilized in pre- and post-colonial eras of the Central Andes region, Tumis were employed for a diverse set of purposes s ...

ceremonial knife used for sacrifices. Tumi, Inc. was a unit of Doughty Hanson & Co. from 2004 until after its 2012

initial public offering An initial public offering (IPO) or stock launch is a public offering in which shares of a company are sold to institutional investors and usually also to retail (individual) investors. An IPO is typically underwritten by one or more investment ...

. Tumi's products are known for their black-on-black ballistic nylon. Tumi is available at

department store A department store is a retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different areas of the store, each area ("department") specializing in a product category. In modern major cities, the department store made a dramatic app ...

s and specialty stores, as well as over 120 Tumi stores and 200 shops around the world. Tumi also supplies accessories such as belts,

pens A pen is a common writing instrument that applies ink to a surface, usually paper, for writing or drawing. Early pens such as reed pens, quill pens, dip pens and ruling pens held a small amount of ink on a nib or in a small void or cavity whi ...

, and electronic equipment. The company teamed with designer Anish Kapoor in 2006 to produce the PowerPack Backpack that incorporated solar technology for charging phones and PDAs. The company also had a licensing agreement with the Italian motorcycle manufacturer

Ducati Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. () is the motorcycle-manufacturing division of Italian company Ducati, headquartered in Bologna, Italy. The company is directly owned by Italian automotive manufacturer Lamborghini, whose German parent company is Au ...

to launch a collection of eight

co-branded Co-branding is a marketing strategy that involves strategic alliance of multiple brand names jointly used on a single product or service. Co-branding is an arrangement that associates a single product or service with more than one brand name, o ...

pieces in 2006, sold through both of the brands' retail outlets. Tumi puts a metal plate with a unique 20-digit registration number in each of its bags. Customers can register for the Tumi Tracer program to have their contact information entered into a central database so they can be reunited with their bag if it is found. In 2004, Doughty Hanson & Co, a London-based private equity firm, took over Tumi for $276M. The takeover came with a price drop in their products and a change in warranty from their famed lifetime warranty to 5 years. However, beyond the 5 years, the brand does still offer its customers a lifetime service and repair warranty, with possible assessed fees and costs. Jerome Griffith became the CEO of Tumi, Inc. in 2009. On April 19, 2012, Tumi made an initial public offering of 18,779,865 shares, as Tumi Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TUMI). In December 2013, Joseph R. Gromek was named Chairperson of Board of Directors. On March 4, 2016,

Samsonite Samsonite International S.A. () is an American premium luggage manufacturer and retailer, with products ranging from large suitcases to small toiletries bags and briefcases. The company was founded in Denver, Colorado, United States. Its regis ...

announced it would acquire Tumi in an all-cash transaction worth US$1.8Bn.

Website

References

{{Commons category, Tumi Holdings, Inc.
Tumi company website
at Tumi.com Companies based in Middlesex County, New Jersey Manufacturing companies based in New Jersey Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange Manufacturing companies established in 1975 Luggage brands Samsonite South Plainfield, New Jersey 2012 initial public offerings 2016 mergers and acquisitions American subsidiaries of foreign companies 2004 mergers and acquisitions High fashion brands