Theo Paphitis was the original dragon who founded the stationery retailer Ryman.
Paphitis is a British-Cypriot retail entrepreneur. He acquired Ryman, the stationery chain, in 1995 and later expanded his business interests into other retail brands and investments. His retail background shaped the practical, commercially focused perspective he brought to Dragons' Den.
He joined the original panel when the British version launched in 2005. On the programme, he became associated with direct questioning about products, margins, distribution and the practicalities of selling at scale.
Ryman is sometimes described simply as an office-supplies business, but its shops have long served consumers as well as small businesses. Paphitis's later portfolio included brands such as Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue, although the Ryman connection is the most direct clue in this question.