In the British television programme Dragons' Den, Theo Paphitis is the dragon who bought stationery retailer Ryman in 1995.
Ryman is a British retailer specialising in stationery, office supplies, printing and related services. Paphitis’s acquisition of the company became one of the defining steps in his retail career and helped establish his public image as a business builder with particular experience in high-street brands.
Paphitis later became known to television audiences as a dragon, where he assessed pitches involving consumer products, retail concepts and growing companies. His Ryman connection is sometimes mixed up with his ownership of other brands, including lingerie retailer La Senza in the United Kingdom. Those are separate business milestones.
The 1995 date is useful because it places the Ryman acquisition well before Paphitis joined Dragons' Den. His television appearances showcased an established retail entrepreneur rather than someone whose commercial career began on the programme.