Theo Paphitis bought Ryman in 1995 before becoming a Dragon on Dragons' Den.
Ryman is a British stationery retailer with a history dating back to 1893, when Henry Ryman established the original business in London. Paphitis acquired the company in 1995 and expanded its retail presence, helping turn the chain into a familiar high-street stationery brand.
Paphitis later became known publicly through his role as an investor on the BBC's Dragons' Den. His retail experience influenced the kinds of questions he asked entrepreneurs, especially about store economics, distribution, purchasing and whether a product could work beyond a small test market.
Ryman is often mixed up with other British stationery chains. WHSmith, Staples and Paperchase are separate businesses with different ownership histories. The relevant acquisition for Paphitis is Ryman, the retailer associated with stationery, office supplies and printing services.