Theo Paphitis is the Dragon associated with the retail chain Robert Dyas.
Paphitis acquired Robert Dyas in 2004. The company is a British retailer selling household goods, hardware, electrical items, garden products and other practical merchandise. Its shops are known for serving everyday consumer needs rather than specialising in a single narrow product category.
This acquisition reinforced Paphitis's reputation as a retail entrepreneur. It also gave him experience relevant to many Dragon's Den pitches, because new products often need reliable retail distribution, attractive margins and clear customer demand. A product can be inventive yet still fail commercially if it cannot be manufactured, priced or placed in stores effectively.
Robert Dyas is sometimes mixed up with Ryman, another retailer strongly connected with Paphitis. The distinction is that Paphitis acquired Ryman in 1995 and Robert Dyas in 2004. Both are retail businesses, but they sell different ranges: Ryman focuses on stationery and office supplies, while Robert Dyas has a broader household and hardware assortment.