Theo Paphitis founded the stationery retailer Ryman before becoming an investor on the British TV show Dragons' Den.
Paphitis is a British-Cypriot entrepreneur whose retail interests include Ryman, the stationery chain. He acquired the business in the 1990s and developed it into a prominent high-street retailer. His wider portfolio has also included other consumer and retail brands.
On Dragons' Den, Paphitis was known for combining commercial questioning with attention to retail presentation, margins and distribution. Those concerns reflected his own experience of building businesses that depend on products reaching customers efficiently through shops and recognizable brands.
Ryman is sometimes confused with businesses founded by other Dragons because the panel contains several retail specialists. The relevant distinction is that Paphitis is associated with Ryman's ownership and expansion. The company sells stationery, office supplies and related products, not financial services or technology.