Theo Paphitis owned Ryman when he became known as a Dragon on Dragons' Den.
Ryman is a British stationery retailer with a long history on the high street. Paphitis acquired the business in 1995 and became closely associated with its expansion and retail strategy. His business background helped establish his public reputation before he joined the Dragons' Den panel.
Paphitis appeared as one of the programme's original Dragons. His investment style on the show was often associated with retail knowledge, practical commercial questions and attention to how a product would reach customers.
Ryman should not be confused with WHSmith, another major British stationery and books retailer. The two companies operate in overlapping parts of the retail market, but Ryman is the business most specifically linked with Paphitis's entrepreneurial profile.